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Georgetown, Guyana — Bharrat Jagdeo, General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and Vice President, yesterday went on a tirade against Red Thread and the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA), accusing them of operating as political agents disguised as civic organizations. During the People’s Progressive Party’s (PPP) weekly press conference, Jagdeo charged the groups with promoting partisan agendas and undermining the PPP under the pretense of voter education and advocacy.
“These groups are not neutral,” Jagdeo declared. “Their actions have consistently aligned with the opposition, and their hostility toward the PPP is unmistakable.” He cited the “Vote Like A Boss” campaign as a case in point, alleging that the initiative, ostensibly about voter education, was targeted at mobilizing opposition strongholds while ignoring rural and hinterland communities.
Jagdeo didn’t stop there. He turned his attention to private entities conducting unauthorized surveys, singling out the Project Development Consultancy for allegedly misleading citizens into believing its enumerators were government representatives. “People should not feel obligated to share personal information with organizations misrepresenting their intentions,” he warned, calling for greater transparency from such entities.
The Vice President emphasized that voter education should rest solely in the hands of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). He pointed to GECOM’s forthcoming voter education manual as the authoritative guide to citizens’ rights and responsibilities. Jagdeo further cautioned against external influences seeking to interfere in Guyana’s elections, especially given the country’s rising prominence due to its oil and gas wealth.
The Vice President reserved specific criticism for Red Thread and the GHRA. Jagdeo didn’t mince words, branding Red Thread as the “women’s arm of the WPA” and accusing both organizations of consistently opposing the PPP. He expressed concerns about international entities inadvertently funding these groups, which he claimed operate under the veneer of neutrality while harboring partisan motives. “These organizations have never backed a single PPP initiative,” he said, underscoring his belief that their primary aim is to discredit his party.
With elections on the horizon, Jagdeo warned of renewed efforts to manipulate public opinion and undermine the electoral process. He reiterated the PPP’s firm support for GECOM, calling it the ultimate arbiter of free and fair elections.
“We’ve seen this playbook before,” Jagdeo remarked, referencing what he called historical attempts to influence elections. He urged vigilance from citizens and political stakeholders alike, ending with a pointed assertion: “The PPP will defend the integrity of our elections and ensure that no partisan agenda disrupts the democratic process.”
