General Secretary of the governing Peoples Progressive Party, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo this afternoon declared that his party is happy to welcome Opposition members who have come out in support of the party and have endorsed President Irfaan Ali for a second term.

Opposition Member of Parliament, Geeta Chandan-Edmond, along with the Regional Chairman and Vice Chairman of Region No.4, Daniel Seeram and Samuel Sandy, were the latest Opposition members to endorse the PPP/C.

At his weekly press conference this afternoon Mr. Jagdeo promised that those coming to his party from the opposition will be treated equally.

“We are happy to welcome these people in our family, and I can assure them we treat all of our members and supporters with respect, I have seen a lot of attempt to vilify these and we live in a free country so people can express their views about what they see as defection and what I see as people coming to us because of the progress and the leadership given by the People’s Progressive Party,” Mr. Jagdeo told a news conference this afternoon.

Mr. Jagdeo said he sees the endorsements as a positive, where persons are choosing to endorse a national plan and want to work for all Guyana. He said the endorsements also signals endorsing a multi ethnic platform and competency in government.

“I see it as a support of democratic traditions and values, versus the complaints that we get from the other side. So I have an entirely positive view of this matter and I said to the people when I spoke to them that they would be vilified but the people who are doing the vilification are the ones who are isolated,” Mr. Jagdeo noted.

The Vice President said none of the persons who came out in support of the PPP were promised any positions in government.

However, he said persons who join the PPP must understand that while self-development is important, they must be interested in the development of the country as a whole.

“None of the people, not a single one of them who come to us voluntarily, who support this agenda of development, personal development as country’s development has been offered anything, no position, once we win the elections, nothing of that sort,” Mr. Jagdeo declared.

Jagdeo said it is clear that the PPP is on the rise ahead of the upcoming elections and he understands the decision by many to ditch the APNU and AFC, which he described as sinking ships.

Related posts:

Jagdeo promises “glorious” future ahead with PPP after next elections Jagdeo expresses frustration over GPL’s power problems; Promises continued efforts to reduce blackouts Jagdeo warns supporters against being “misled” by claims of corruption in Government and ignoring of progress Jagdeo promises few changes to city vending if PPP takes over Council