Zed,
From the inception,the PPP built their power base from the Sugar workers and Rice Farmers,no other Political Party could fully influence those supporters,added to that the Dharmic Sabha was another influential medium.The East Indians who were not supporters were castigated.
In the 80's i was with Dr.Gunraj Kumar who held meetings in Berbice for a weekend.[not as party member,was responsible to get their PA system working,which was rented from the company i worked for]
At all the meetings barely about an average of 150,people show up,some areas was less,what that tells you.One of Burnham spy was trailing Gunraj crew,he slept in the Hotel we rested in for the night.