PPP accuses media of being in opposition mode

Aug 06, 2008 News

There seems to be attempts in some sections of the media ‘to go out of their way’ to either support or be part of the opposition party, looking at the government’s achievements only in a negative light, said People’s Progressive Party General Secretary, Donald Ramotar, yesterday.
Mr Ramotar was at the time responding to a question by a journalist, about recent designation of the media being ‘hostile’ at the just concluded 29th Congress.
Speaking to the media yesterday during a press conference, Ramotar said that the party is dealing with the realities and they have noticed that there is a section of the media that seems to have a focus on only the ‘negatives.’
“Take for example the latest reports in the Stabroek News on Dr. Roger Luncheon’s presentation at the congress. I think the presentation was brilliant…the entire presentation was taken out of context with what he said about the media…I don’t think what was reported really captured completely what he said…For that reason there does seem to be some attempts in some of the media to go out of their way to either support the opposition or to become a part of the opposition in some ways,” Ramotar said.
Addressing the financial aspect of the congress, Ramotar said that the hosting of the event cost just about $2.5M with many of the personnel volunteering their time and labour to have everything in place for the activity.
While there was a shake up in the Central Executive with the voting choices of the delegates, Ramotar said that indeed there was an ‘unanticipated’ voting pattern.
“Ralph Ramkarran, in the past, came up much higher and that was a bit of a surprise. Another pleasant surprise was Frank Anthony’s performance…this is the first time he is contesting in the elections.”
Ramotar pointed out that a controls commission is in place to keep the party focused on many of the decisions that have been taken.
“In the near future we will tabulate those decisions and on a periodic basis the Central Committee will look and see how we have been achieving them…It is good to have somebody focus on it so when we are caught up in our day to day activities we do not lose focus of the decisions we have taken,” Ramotar added.
According to the General Secretary, the new Central Committee will be meeting soon.
He told the media that delegates at the congress raised concerns about the party’s need to improve its efficiency.
Concerns were also raised about the need to improve party structures, particularly in areas where stronger party support is developing.
At the level of the government, Ramotar said, there were concerns raised about the delivery of goods and services at a faster rate in interior locations.
Chairman of the Congress Committee, Clement Rohee, who was also present at the press conference hosted at Freedom House, yesterday afternoon, told the media that the congress was ‘extremely’ successful.
“There was a political resolution for some of the issues, which the party will be acting upon over the next three years…These captured some of the socio-economic, political and organisational issues that the membership is concerned about,” Rohee said.
He pointed out that the representation during this recently concluded congress was much larger than the representation they had at the 27th and 28th congresses hosted in Berbice and Essequibo respectively.
Observers came from Trinidad and Tobago, China and St. Lucia for the party’s 29th congress.
In the elections for members of the Central Committee, President Jagdeo received in excess of 100 votes more than the second person, former President Janet Jagan. Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr Frank Anthony, was also among the elected members to secure a large bloc of the votes. (Tusika Martin)