Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday reminded of the People’s Progressive Party’s (PPP) long history of resistance, declaring that the party has spent a significant portion of its 75 years fighting for the freedom of Guyanese people.
Dr. Jagdeo’s remarks come as the PPP prepares to celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2025, a milestone he believes is marked by decades of advocacy for national unity, equality, and democratic rights.
“We are extremely pleased to celebrate 75 years since the establishment of our party,” Jagdeo said, reflecting on the PPP’s foundational goals.
For younger generations who may not be fully aware of the party’s historical struggle, Jagdeo broke down the timeline of the PPP’s involvement in Guyana’s fight for freedom.
“Of the 75 years, 16 years were spent fighting for independence, where many were jailed and brutalized by colonial leaders. Then, another 28 years were spent fighting for free and fair elections under an undemocratic regime,” Jagdeo said.
“So, for 44 of those 75 years, we were fighting just for freedom.”
The Vice President also took time to reflect on the progress the country has made since the PPP came to power through free and fair elections in 1992.
“Before 1992, we were one of the poorest and most heavily indebted countries in the world,” Jagdeo remarked.
“But in the years under PPP rule, Guyana transformed from a colonial state to a rising Caribbean nation, once dubbed the ‘Singapore of the Caribbean’ in the 1960s.”
Jagdeo did not shy away from addressing the controversial history of the opposition party, the People’s National Congress (PNC), and its split from the PPP in 1965.
He reminded of the role played by the late Forbes Burnham in creating the PNC, which then governed the country in a dictatorial manner for nearly three decades.
“That history is crucial because when we talk about the PPP’s role, we are also talking about the impact of misgovernance and bad leadership. The creation of the PNC led to a period of national decline and hardship, one that we are still recovering from,” Jagdeo said.
“The PNC’s authoritarian rule saw the suffering of the Guyanese people, but the PPP has always been there to defend freedom and democracy,” he added.
In a direct response to criticism from the opposition, particularly a flyer circulating in the public, which notes that the PPP had been in power for 27 of the last 32 years, Jagdeo said the PPP has been continuing its progressive agenda for the people of Guyana.
In his opening statement at the press conference, Jagdeo made it clear that the government was not going to allow detractors to rewrite history.
“When we defend ourselves, they say we’re thin-skinned. But I promise you this year there will be no let-up. There will be no softness in how we engage with our opponents,” he said, vowing a more forceful response to criticism.
“People think I’m too soft on our opponents, and I promise to change that because it’s necessary in an environment where our detractors believe they have a monopoly on criticizing and distorting our track record. But when we defend ourselves, we are being too thin-skinned. There’s no let-up this year.”
Jagdeo further reiterated the PPP’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that Guyanese people live in freedom, with respect for the Constitution, and benefit from a progressive agenda that continues to expand opportunities for growth and prosperity.
“We are committed to expanding the comfort of our people and improving the wealth of this nation. This is what our cause has always been — ensuring freedom and respect for all people,” Jagdeo concluded, promising that the PPP would not be deterred by those attempting to discredit its record. “We will remind everyone of the unrepentant role they played in 1992 and again in 2020.”
