The governing People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) has elected a new Central Committee, to run the affairs of the party. President Irfaan Ali emerged with the most votes for a position on the Central Committee, followed by current General Secretary of the PPP, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo.

The PPP’s Congress wrapped up today following the election of the new leadership of the party and amendments to the party’s Constitution.

At a press conference this afternoon, General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo noted that almost 80% of the persons who sat on the last Central Committee of the party have been re-elected.

Presidnt Irfaan Ali received 2,308 votes, followed by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo with 2,257 Votes. Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, who is also the party’s Executive Secretary came in with the third highest number of votes of 2,174.

Other elected members are Vickram Bharrat, Gail Teixeira, Nigel Dharamlall, Collin Croal, Kwame Mc Coy, Anil Nandlall, Pauline Sukhai, Shyam Nokta, Ricky Ramraj, Jenifer Westford, Neil Kumar, Anand Persaud, Frank Anthony, Zamal Hussaun, Faizal Jafarally, Brian Allicock, Dr. Vindyha Persaud, Charles Ramson, Karl Singh, Former President Donald Ramotar, Humace Oodit, Brentnol Ashley, Dharamkumar Seeraj, Sheik Mohamed Ayube, Sase Gunraj, Clement Rohee and Indranie Chanderpaul. 

Former Head of the Private Sector Commission Paul Cheong, was also voted into the party’s decision making structure.

PPP delegates have also elected Sarah Brown and Vickash Ramkisson to the party’s Executive. Both Brown and Ramkisson, were booted out of Parliament as Parliamentary Secretaries following a successful Court challenge by the Opposition, which had argued that they could not sit as parliamentary secretaries, having been candidates on the PPP last for the last elections. 

Five non-voting members—Deodat Indar, Mae Thomas, Jason Abdulla, Andrew Forstyhe and Rion Peters, got the nod to sit on the party’s executive.

Mr. Jagdeo told a News Conference, that the new Central Executive will meet later this week to elect a 15- member executive, and that executive will then elect five secretaries includes the General Secretary and Finance Secretary of the party.

Mr. Jagdeo said the party congress was successful, however he was hoping for a more diverse executive and one with more women. He said the party will have to do some introspection about that before the next congress.

Separately, Mr. Jagdeo said while the party continues to attract new members and leaders, longstanding members and leaders have been expressing a sense of unease.

“People may have some initial concerns about it, but I think it’s not purely along race lines its more along, oh I have been there a little bit longer and this man might come and displace me and you can understand that sort of feeling. But we will ensure that that doesn’t stop the tide of people who wants to join us,” Mr. Jagdeo stated.

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