Berbice: The historic 30th Congress of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) opens today at the JC Chandisingh Secondary School in Port Mourant, Berbice under the theme “Strengthen the Party, Build Unity and Advance Democracy.”
The ruling People’s Progressive Party will be discussing plans to improve its fortunes over the next three years.
President Donald Ramotar who is the current General Secretary and leader of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), said delegates and observers continues to stand firm in the principles and beliefs of its founder, Dr. Cheddi Jagan.
The three-day congress, which concludes on Sunday, is expected to be one of the largest ever, and is being attended by delegates and observers from across the country.
Persons who have been supporting the party for 25 and 50 years will be honoured at the event, and members will be allowed the opportunity to exercise their right to express their views internally and make suggestions which will be open for discussion and consideration.
On Sunday, the final day of the congress, there will be discussions on amendments to the constitution and programmes of the party, a political declaration and the election of a new 35-member Central Committee.
A commemorative service would also be held in remembrance of Balram Kandhai, who was shot and killed on the final day of the last Congress held in Berbice.
This 30th Congress of the PPP will be the first not attended by founding members of the party, Cheddi and Janet Jagan. While former President Cheddi Jagan died in 1997, his wife and also former President Janet Jagan was still alive and was present at the last congress which was held in Diamond, East Bank of Demerara in August, 2008.
Yesterday, the delegates were scheduled to hear a report from the party’s Central Executive on the reasons for the 2011 poor performance at the polls. Decisions will also be taken today during several workshops on the way forward.
Perhaps the most watched part of the event, though, will be the election of new leaders who would make up the 35-member Central Committee today.
Meanwhile, the only person alive today that is associated with the founding of the PPP is Mr. Ashton Chase, and he is expected to attend the congress.
The PPP was founded in 1950 and its first congress was held in April, 1951. It has been in government since 1992 and currently holds 32 of the 65 seats in the National Assembly.
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