By Jomo Paul
Jagdeo, speaking at a memorial to honour the life and work of the founder of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, Dr Cheddi Jagan at Babu John on Sunday afternoon said that Ramotar has taken a more democratic approach to handling Guyana’s opposition hence his term was reduced.
“The past three years must have been a nightmare to Ramotar……Sometimes we need to administer something else, some kicks up the asses,” the former President said.
According to Jagdeo, the opposition has shown no real promise to build Guyana into a stronger nation but instead from all indications, they are willing to plunge Guyana back into the dark days of the Burnham era.
“The Opposition consistently shout about the racism of the PPP but they practice racism. They whisper campaigns. In the last elections they went to some of the Afro villages and beat some drums at six in the morning and say let us throw out these coolie people. Get up and go out and vote. Throw out the coolie people. That’s the kind of language they use. Anybody from our Party who uses that sort of language we’ll kick them out,” the former President said.
“We lived in a country where people had snatched our freedom and dignity from us…We have restored pride to this country, we have restored dignity to people’s lives,” said Jagdeo.
To further lament his point, Jagdeo said that Opposition Leader David Granger believes in the philosophies similar to those of Burnham and will return Guyana to the Burnham era if he is elected President come May 11.
“His philosophy is dominated by that period of Burnhanism…..This is all aged old Burnhanism, vintage old Burnhanism…he draws his inspiration from that period,” he contended.
Jagdeo also claimed that since the PPP’s establishment, the Party has stuck to Jagan’s principles; defending the wealth accumulated by public officials saying that members of the Opposition ranks have similar assets.
“It’s not only Jagdeo and a couple of ministers that have fancy houses and big vehicle,” he said adding that “Cheddi Jagan’s vision for Guyana remains strong.”
He said that “blind ambition” and “naivety” has led the Alliance For Change into a coalition with A Partnership For National Unity.
