RESTRUCTURING AND REORGANISING THE PPP


That the current structure of the PPP is no longer effective, accountable and democratic is clearly indicated by the fact that  since I became a member of the PPP’s leading bodies in the early 1970s, none of these bodies have ever had a financial report, despite the fact that a Secretary for Finance is elected by the new Central Committee after every Congress. The records of Party Congresses up to the 1960s show that at every Congress, which was then held every year, a financial report was given by the Treasurer who, like other officers, was elected by and accountable to, the Congress. No officer is elected any longer by the Congress and no officer gives an individual report except for the now defunct body for the few years of its active existence, the Auditing and Controls Commission.

This situation is evidence that the Party structure implemented by the Constitution in 1977, intended to create a disciplined Party able to survive in authoritarian conditions, has degenerated into a centralized mechanism with no accountability. This is best demonstrated by the fact that only the centralized Central Committee Report is delivered at the Congress. Individuality and individual responsibility have been submerged by collectivity. There is no possibility for a young MP to bring the Congress to its feet and go on to be nominated for President like the youthful Barack Obama, although we have had our experiment with youth, promoted under centralized circumstances, and likely to have it again, emerging from similar circumstances.

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THE KLEPTOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF GUYANA


Since the last elections several revelations have emerged of corrupt, and even potentially criminal, activities by persons currently or previously associated with the PPP and who have friends in the leadership or access thereto. Corruption has become so pervasive that it is no longer possible to keep the evidence away from the Press and the Police. And most important, none of them have come to light as a result of any action initiated by the Government without prior exposure. It is now clear that the adamancy of the Government and the PPP in refusing to acknowledge the level of corruption in the society, and to do something about it, is linked to where the corruption is located. It is not known whether Government spokespersons are still so blind about corruption that they are still asking, where is the evidence? Guyana will soon qualify as  The Kleptocratic Republic of Guyana.

An important clarification needs to be made. There are thousands of public servants, businessmen, contractors and others who perform services of a high quality with dedication and integrity. In any discussion on the issue of corruption they must always be acknowledged.

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REMEMBERING WALTER RODNEY


There was a sense of anticipation in the political air upon the return of Walter Rodney to Guyana in the mid 70s. Elections had just been rigged in 1973 and our comrades killed. We in the PPP were especially happy when Cde. Cheddi Jagan reported shortly after he had met with Rodney that their discussions revealed a large area of agreement on the political situation in Guyana and the world and on the need for co-operation in the struggle to restore democracy. A good personal relationship and mutual respect had been established. This grew as their engagements intensified.

When the WPA was established there began almost immediately broad co-operation on many areas of political work. Joint activities were organized. Some attracted publicity, some did not. Regular discussions took place at the highest levels and for a sustained period. Camaraderie developed. Friendships were created. Hope was engendered. Rodney played a leading role in these developments.

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CALLING THE GOVERNMENT’S BLUFF


It is no surprise that yet another objection by the Government has now suddenly emerged to the establishment of the Public Procurement Commission (PPC). After the AFC’s campaign and the Private Sector Commission’s public and forceful call, the Government has been on a propaganda blitz. It has paraded its record of legislation, publicized the work of the National Procurement and Tender Board (NPTB) and held a seminar for stakeholders. All this is to justify its resolve not to further advance the process of transparency in the face of continuing and credible allegations of corruption in procurement.

In 2000 the Constitution Reform Commission saw the need for a PPC, recommended it and in 2002 the National Assembly unanimously approved the amendment to the Constitution to provide for it. The Constitutional Commission, which is subject to law, would have the same review function which the Government well knows.

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THE CONSTITUTION OF THE PEOPLES’ PROGRESSIVE PARTY


The Constitution of the PPP was adopted in 1977. It was designed to entrench the ideology of Marxism-Leninism and assist in the transformation of the Party to a Leninist party of the new type. The objectives were to officially adopt and promote Marxist-Leninist ideology and organizational methods. The need to create a more disciplined movement was also dictated by the increasingly authoritarian conditions under which the Party was operating. We believed that in the conditions we were then facing where open, democratic, activity was becoming difficult and we might have to function in conditions of illegality, the constitution had to be adapted to enable us to survive with a structure. It was our belief at the time that the party of the new type was ideally suited for these conditions.

Whatever may be said about the constitution which was adopted, the PPP remained intact and largely united in the difficult years. It built the best organized political movement in Guyana, won over Amerindian support after decades of painstaking work, resumed political work in Linden in difficult conditions after the 1960s, made alliances or collaborated with other groups throughout the 1970s and 1980s, maintained dialogue with the trade union movement and civil society and played a major role in sustaining opposition to authoritarian rule in Guyana. Many argue that Burnham needed an intact PPP to ensure continuing American support. Whether that was true or not, PPP supporters died, were tortured, imprisoned, beaten and harassed and the democratic movement was suppressed. No PPP member or leader could take seriously the argument, at that time, that Burnham did not intend to cripple, if not destroy, the PPP.

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