[www.inewsguyana.com] – The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is celebrating the 22 anniversary of what it says is the return of democracy to Guyana after twenty-eight years of dictatorial rule.

In a release the Party says “October 5, 1992 can justifiably be regarded as a defining moment in the political life of Guyana. For one thing, it marked a break from nearly three decades of authoritarian rule by a regime that was foisted on the backs of the Guyanese people by western imperialist powers which eventually morphed into one of the worst forms of quasi-military and dictatorial rule in the English- speaking Caribbean.”

PPP says it is a well-established fact that all elections, national and regional, were blatantly and massively rigged by the People’s National Congress (PNC) regime in order to perpetuate its life in government.

“It would be useful to make mention of the fact that the democratic reforms which took place during the elections of October 5, 1992 did not come about as a result of the altruistic intentions of the then PNC regime but due to intense pressures both from the democratic forces within the country led by the PPP and from the international donor community led by the Carter Centre,” the Party added.

The ruling Party said too that it is a sad narrative of failed governance that spawned the entire period of PNC misrule which led not only to the impoverishment of the Guyanese people but at a more fundamental level to the degeneration of the nation-state to a point where the country was reduced to the poorest country in the western hemisphere, slightly ahead of Haiti in terms of per capita income.

“Guyana became a laughing stock among CARICOM nations and at one time was deemed ‘uncreditworthy” by the International Monetary Fund (IMF)…
It was against the above background that the struggle for free and fair elections has to be situated.”

PPP recalled that the country had reached a point where the regime had become a national liability and a brake on the country’s development.

However, the PPP/C, despite predictions by Hoyte that the new government could not survive one year in office,  is celebrating this month twenty-two years in office having won successive elections in certified free and fair elections, the Party reasoned.

“During this period, the Presidency changed hands following the death of Dr. Jagan to his wife Janet Jagan, and following her passing, to Mr. Samuel Hinds, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo and Mr. Donald Ramotar who is the current President.
One common denominator of all the Presidents that served at the helm of the PPP/C administration was their ability to take the country along the development continuum as the country soars to higher and higher levels of achievement and recognition and as a proud member of the international community.

Despite obstructions tactics employed by the combined political opposition aided and abetted by a hostile opposition the country continues to make substantial progress in every facet of national life.The PPP is proud of the role it has played and continues to play in the restoration and consolidation of democratic rule in Guyana.”