Everyone has a right to exercise their right to support PPP – PM

Prime Minister (PM), (retired) Brigadier Mark Phillips, has stated that everyone has the right to exercise their freedom to support the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C). His comments were made as he addressed thousands of people at Babu Jaan on Sunday, during the party’s commemoration of the 28th death anniversary of the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan and his wife, the late Janet Jagan, a former President of Guyana.
While in office Dr Jagan in underwent heart surgery and days after died in Washington USA on March 6, 1997, sixteen days before his 79th birthday. He was cremated at Babu Jaan while his wife Janet died of an abdominal aneurysm on March 28, 2009, in Georgetown. Her body was also cremated at Babu Jaan.
The party’s annually pilgrimage focuses on the life and work of Dr Jagan, whom PM Phillips said was as a freedom fighter who championed the cause of the working class.
The wreath-laying ceremony in honour of the two former Heads of State is one of the highlights of the annual event.

Phillips stated that the PPP/C is the only national political party that encompasses all ethnic groups and includes individuals from various age groups in leadership positions. He further emphasised that the party is democratic and treats every citizen equally.
“When we talk about shared prosperity, every Guyanese will benefit from the revenue garnered by our nation, that is the legacy left by Dr Jagan… Dr Jagan was concerned about the poor and the working class,” the PM said.
Dr Jagan, the PM noted fought for democratic governance both locally and on the international stage.
The PPP/C, the PM pointed out is a party which focus on education and improvement of citizens’ lives while at the same time ensuring social justice and equity.
“These are the things that we enjoy today all because of the legacy of Dr Jagan and these are the things that we will continue to struggle for on the international scene to ensure many other countries have similar benefits.”
Security of the nation is also of paramount importance to the PPP.
Phillips added that the aim is to ensure society understands what Dr Cheddi Jagan stood for.

“Dr Jagan was a firm believer in demand the rights of citizens to freely participate in the political process.”
He noted that today many are subjected to abuse by leaders of the opposition because they chose to support the PPP/C.
“We have broken the bonds that kept people in bandage. We are free today in every aspect in the word of freedom. You have a right and the freedom to exercise your democratic right to support the PPP/C,” the PM assured.
Meanwhile, in a message from the Rice Producers Association (RPA), President of the Association Leeka Rambrich said that the PPP/C has been giving support to the rice industry both in opposition and in Government.
He said it is the legacy of Dr Jagan to be with the people and to help them.
“When [former] President Granger was in Opposition, he did not understand the rice industry and made many statements about the industry while on the campaign trail as it related to the rice industry. When they went into Government, they said rice is private business because they did not understand the rice industry,” Rambrich reminded.
Meanwhile, General Secretary of Guyana Agriculture and General Workers Union (GAWU) Seepaul Narine in remembering Dr Jagan, reminded that it was the founder of the union, pointed out that he was steadfast in his principals as they relate to the working class. (G4)