“We are delivering on the legacy of Dr Cheddi Jagan” – Pres Ali

– points to PPP/C pro-poor, pro-business policies, food security emphasis
– says PPP/C will destroy, completely wipe out weapons of racism

Many of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic’s (PPP/C) policies of today, can be traced back to the policies of the party’s founder, Dr Cheddi Jagan, from its pro-poor approach and regional leadership on food security matters to its pro-business policies.
This is according to President Dr Irfaan Ali at Babu Jaan, Corentyne, Region Six, where he and members of the party went to “Celebrate the life and work” of Father of the Nation and party Founder, Dr Cheddi Jagan on Sunday.
According to Ali, Dr Jagan is inextricably linked with the PPP/C. He pointed to similar ideologies in Jagan’s manifesto of 1992, when he was elected to office as President.
“We cannot divorce Dr Jagan from the PPP. And we cannot divorce the PPP from Dr Jagan. That is why the policies we pursue must be reflective of the core values and principles. Go back to the manifesto of 1992.”
“It spoke about food security, universal education, health, public infrastructure, and investment in human capital. And that is what this Government continues to do every single day. Doing it and delivering is living the legacy of Dr Cheddi Jagan,” President Ali said.
Some examples of this are the “Because We Care” grant to help school children, the impending construction of 12 world-class hospitals across the country, and even the legacy left by former President and now Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, who also shared the stage as the party’s General Secretary.
“When we deliver the uniform grant and transportation grant to the children, so they can have an education… by the way that was there before 2014, but taken away during those five years. It is this Government that restored it. We are delivering on the legacy of Dr Cheddi Jagan. When we deliver on the school feeding programme, we’re delivering on the legacy of Dr Jagan.”
“When we deliver on jobs to help the most vulnerable in our society, we’re delivering on the legacy of Dr Jagan. When the party can produce a champion of the earth, a hero on the environment and a man that is respected globally, we’re delivering on the legacy of Dr Cheddi Jagan,” the President further said.

Pro-business
Other examples include the lead role Guyana is playing when it comes to food security in the Region and even the pro-business approach the Government has taken, which has resulted in the rapid growth of Guyana’s non-oil economy, at a time when economic growth in many countries across the world has stagnated.
“When the party in Government can take the leadership on food security in the Caribbean, we’re delivering on the legacy of Dr Cheddi Jagan. When we are building a healthcare system to deliver world class healthcare, we’re delivering on the legacy of Dr Cheddi Jagan. When we uplift the lives of women and children, when we help the vulnerable and poor.

When we help businesses to grow and expand. When we help the private sector to become prosperous, we’re delivering on the legacy of Dr Cheddi Jagan.”
“Because a private sector that is dead, is an economy that is dead. A private sector that cannot produce and grow, is an economy that is static and backward. And we do not intend to develop a country with a dead or static private sector. We must develop the private sector, to help the ordinary people of this country,” President Ali also said.

Racism
The President also addressed the foreboding spectre of racism, which he said has been weaponised by sections of society and the political Opposition. According to Ali, the PPP/C Government will work to rid the “weapons of racism” within the Guyanese society.
“They only weaponise this one great asset that we have. The one great asset is our diversity as a people. It is not a negative. Our diversity is a great asset to us. But there are those who cannot help themselves but weaponise this asset.”
“Today, I say that no weapon formed in the clothing of racism will succeed once this People’s Progressive Party is alive and we don’t intend to die. We will stay alive. We will disband, destroy and completely wipe out the weapon of racism that continues to be used against the people of this country.”
Ali further warned that the days of those who wield racism as a weapon are numbered. According to him, while they focus on claims of racism, the PPP/C is focused on charting a course to heal the wounds of the past and create a fresh platform through which growth and development, progress, and love and unity are spread among the people of this country.
“Those who handle the weapon must understand that their days are a number and their days are coming to an end because that weapon is being destroyed, globally. And that weapon will be buried here in Guyana,” Ali stated. (G3)