Guyana: The People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), including leadership, membership, objectives, and activities; requirements and procedures to become a member of the party, including documents issued to members; relations with authorities and other parties, particularly A Partnership for National Unity (APNU); state protection mechanisms (2014-September 2018)
1. Overview
Sources indicate that Guyana is politically divided between two ethnic groups (Al Jazeera 1 Dec. 2011; The New York Times 20 Oct. 2017), namely "the African descendants, who tend to support [A Partnership for National Unity, APNU] [1] and [the] ethnic Indians who have generally backed the [People's Progressive Party/Civic, PPP/C]" (Al Jazeera 1 Dec. 2011). The New York Times indicates that the political party Alliance for Change (AFC), which was formed in 2004 by "[d]efectors from both major parties," "seeks to cut across racial lines and has drawn support from both Afro- and Indo-Guyanese, as well as members of indigenous groups" (The New York Times 17 Jan. 2015).
According to Al Jazeera, the Afro-Guyanese and the Indo-Guyanese "coexist peacefully most of the time" (Al Jazeera 1 Dec. 2011). Sources indicate that the Afro-Guyanese "complain" of marginalization (Reuters 15 May 2015) or of a lack of opportunities, including jobs (Al Jazeera 1 Dec. 2011). Sources indicate that Guyana experiences ethnic tensions (Al Jazeera 1 Dec. 2011; Reuters 15 May 2015; The Carter Center n.d.) and "occasional violence between citizens of Indian and African descent" (Reuters 15 May 2015). Al Jazeera states that "[r]acial tensions have triggered riots and looting in the past, especially during elections" (Al Jazeera 1 Dec. 2011).
Sources indicate that the PPP/C ruled Guyana for 23 years until 2015, when it lost the elections to a coalition between the APNU and the AFC, led by David Granger (BBC 4 Jan. 2018; Reuters 15 May 2015; Journalist 13 Sept. 2018). The BBC notes that Granger, who won the 2015 presidential elections, had created a coalition between the APNU and the AFC in order "to end the country's racially-divided politics" (BBC 21 May 2015). Sources report that the then leader of the PPP/C, Donald Ramotar, stated that the 2015 elections were rigged (Reuters 15 May 2015; Guyana Chronicle 15 May 2015; Caribbean360 15 May 2015). Freedom House reports that "the handover of power [following the 2015 elections] was smooth and peaceful" (Freedom House 2018). Sources indicate that the PPP/C is currently an opposition party (Political Handbook of the World 2017, 620; Demerara Waves 6 Sept. 2018). In a telephone interview with the Research Directorate, a senior reporter of the privately-owned Guyanese daily newspaper Kaieteur News stated that the PPP/C has 32 out of 65 seats in the National Assembly (Senior Reporter 13 Sept. 2018).
2. Leadership and Structure
According to sources, Bharrat Jagdeo is the General Secretary of the PPP/C (iNews Guyana 7 Jan. 2017; Stabroek News 19 July 2018; Transparency Institute Guyana Inc. 18 Sept. 2018). According to sources, Bharrat Jagdeo is a former president of Guyana (The Carter Center 17 May 2017, 141; Kaieteur News 27 June 2018; Jamaica Observer 7 Mar. 2017).
Sources indicate that the PPP/C is composed of the Central Committee, the Executive Committee (Stabroek News 19 July 2018; iNews Guyana 7 Jan. 2017; PPP/C 12 Aug. 2008), and the Secretariat (iNews Guyana 7 Jan. 2017; PPP/C 12 Aug. 2008). According to sources, the Central Committee has 35 seats (iNews Guyana 7 Jan. 2017; Stabroek News 19 July 2018). Several sources indicate that representative members of the PPP/C include:
- Bharrat Jagdeo (iNews Guyana 7 Jan. 2017; Senior Reporter 13 Sept. 2018; Transparency Institute Guyana Inc. 18 Sept. 2018);
- Gail Teixeira (iNews Guyana 7 Jan. 2017; Senior Reporter 13 Sept. 2018; Transparency Institute Guyana Inc. 18 Sept. 2018);
- Anil Nandalall (Transparency Institute Guyana Inc. 18 Sept. 2018);
- Juan Edghill (Transparency Institute Guyana Inc. 18 Sept. 2018);
- Irfaan Ali (iNews Guyana 7 Jan. 2017; Senior Reporter 13 Sept. 2018); and
- Zulfikar Mustapha (iNews Guyana 7 Jan. 2017; Senior Reporter 13 Sept. 2018).
According to sources, the Executive Committee has 15 members (Stabroek News 19 July 2018; iNews Guyana 7 Jan. 2017).
According to the Kaieteur News senior reporter,
[t]he PPP/C is a modern political machinery. It is very well-organized and very well-funded, with funds coming from the diaspora as well. The PPP/C is good with propaganda and its interactions with the population. For example, the PPP/C has a strong presence on social media. It also has a strong presence in traditional media, including the television and radio. They have a strong influence over the television channels 65, 69 and 28. The newspaper Guyana Times is owned by the PPP/C. (Senior Reporter 13 Sept. 2018)
Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
3. Membership
Information on the requirements and procedures to become a member of the PPP/C and information on documents issued to members could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
4. Treatment by Authorities and Members of Other Political Parties
Information on the treatment of PPP/C members by authorities and members of other parties was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
In correspondence with the Research Directorate, the President of Transparency Institute Guyana Inc., a local affiliate of the organization Transparency International, stated, when asked about the treatment of PPP/C members by authorities, that
a basic perception in society due to the composition of political parties, utterances by some politicians, the areas in which parties concentrate their efforts and the voting patterns of the population, is that [the Indo-Guyanese] are affiliated with or are supporters of the PPP/C and the Afro-Guyanese are affiliated with or are supporters of the APNU component of the APNU-AFC. This might result in prejudice at the individual level depending on which specific individual represents "the authorities." Mistreatment or perceived mistreatment of persons by the authorities is therefore likely to be spontaneous rather than systematic and based on the interaction between the ethnicities of the individuals involved. This does not mean that it does not happen, rather, it means that we are not able to conclude that PPP/C members and supporters are treated in any particular way by the authorities. (Transparency Institute Guyana Inc. 18 Sept. 2018)
According to the Kaieteur News senior reporter,
[t]he current government … has been implementing many laws and regulations to clamp down on corrupt business deals and concessions. The current government has launched a number of forensic audits to investigate alleged corrupt previous business deals within the national procurement system. They found that the findings were alarming and therefore handed over the forensic audits to the police to investigate these deals and crimes, for example, related to gold smuggling, money laundering, etc. The Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) is a special police department that has, since 2015 and 2016, been investigating these deals, including money-laundering crimes. The deals being investigated happen to involve a lot of PPP/C members of the former government. One such investigation is the acquisition of land by affiliates of former president Jagdeo, known as the Pradoville Probe. Given that many businesses scrutinized in these investigations are owned by the Indo-Guyanese, there is a thought that the investigations are targeting the Indo-Guyanese only. However, high-profile persons from all backgrounds and from across the political spectrum who were involved in making executive business deals are being scrutinized. Ultimately, there has not been much success in convicting those accused of corruption, as there is little capacity by the state institutions to carry out investigations and to collect evidence. (Senior Reporter 13 Sept. 2018)
According to the President of Transparency Institute Guyana Inc.,
[a]ttempts to address corruption by the former government have led to several members of the PPP/C being questioned by the [SOCU] and to some individuals, who held professional appointments in various ministries, being sent on administrative leave to facilitate investigations. Some investigations have not concluded and many of the individuals involved remain on leave.
The PPP/C and its members are under pressure to explain wealth generated during their period in office and the disposal of state resources during that time. (Transparency Institute Guyana Inc. 18 Sept. 2018)
Media sources report that members of the PPP/C, including former president Jagdeo, were arrested in March 2017 by the police as part of their investigation into the acquisition of land by several former ministers and members of the previous government (Jamaica Observer 7 Mar. 2017; Caribbean National Weekly 8 Mar. 2017). Sources indicate that the police later released some PPP/C members, including Jagdeo (Jamaica Observer 7 Mar. 2017; Demerara Waves 7 Mar. 2017).
According to the Kaieteur News senior reporter, "there are very few incidents of political protests that result in police violence" in Guyana (Senior Reporter 13 Sept. 2018). According to Freedom House, in September 2017, "predominately PPP/C supporters engaged in sustained protests against the privatization of a sugar factory," and there was no "interference from authorities or others" (Freedom House 2018).
5. State Protection Mechanisms
According to the Kaieteur News senior reporter,
[i]n general, people [in Guyana] do not trust the police, as they feel that the police takes bribes. Although the level of respect and the sentiments towards the police are getting better, there is still a feeling that the police is corrupt. In recent years, there have been many police officers who have been charged for misconduct and the police force is increasingly being cleaned up.
Traditionally, leading back to the 1960s, the police force has been predominately Afro-Guyanese. While the police officers continue to be predominately Afro-Guyanese, it is difficult to generalize or determine their political stance. The police force includes officers who support different political parties. (Senior Reporter 13 Sept. 2018)
Concerning state institutions that could offer human rights protection, the same source stated that
there is the Guyana Human Rights Association. This is, however, a one-man show. It is not effective and fruitless for protecting and promoting human rights. As far as monitoring wrongful acts and human rights abuses is concerned, society itself is vigilant. The media, including newspapers, has also been vigilant of government actions, both of the previous PPP/C-led government and the current government. The media, in general, is critical of all political parties. The Ombudsperson is now learning how to go about business – it is a resource that is underused, as people do not believe it will get them anywhere. Guyana has many high-level bodies, including the Police Complaints Authority, the Public Utilities Commission and the Public Procurement Commission. (Senior Reporter 13 Sept. 2018)
According to the President of the Transparency Institute Guyana Inc.,
[t]he quality of protection by the state for victims of crime and violence is generally poor and similarly accessed by all. That notwithstanding, corruption can intervene on behalf of those who have more resources or better connections. (Transparency Institute Guyana Inc. 18 Sept. 2018)
Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
Note
[1] According the Political Handbook of the World, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) "is an alliance of the Guyana Action Party (GAP), the Justice for All Party (JFAP), the National Front Alliance (NFA), the People's National Congress Reform (PNCR), and the Working People's Alliance (WPA)" (Political Handbook of the World 2017, 619).
References
Al Jazeera. 1 December 2011. "Ruling Party Wins Presidency in Guyana." [Accessed 12 Sept. 2018]
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 4 January 2018. "Guyana Profile - Timeline." [Accessed 12 Sept. 2018]
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 21 May 2015. "Guyana Profile - Leaders." [Accessed 12 Sept. 2018]
Caribbean360. 15 May 2015. "Outgoing Guyana President Alleges Voting Rigged as Opposition Coalition Wins Election." [Accessed 12 Sept. 2018]
Caribbean National Weekly. 8 March 2017. "Bharrat Jagdeo, Other Opposition Members Arrested in Guyana." [Accessed 12 Sept. 2018]
The Carter Center. 17 May 2017. 2015 General and Regional Elections in Guyana. [Accessed 12 Sept. 2018]
The Carter Center. N.d. "Guyana." [Accessed 12 Sept. 2018]
Demerara Waves. 6 September 2018. Denis Chabrol. "Jagdeo Floats Idea of United Nations Conducting Guyana's General Elections." [Accessed 13 Sept. 2018]
Demerara Waves. 7 March 2017. Denis Chabrol. "Updated: Jagdeo, Luncheon, Robert Persaud Arrested, Released; Others Still Detained." [Accessed 13 Sept. 2018]
Freedom House. 2018. "Guyana." Freedom in the World 2018. [Accessed 13 Sept. 2018]
Guyana Chronicle. 15 May 2015. "PPP/C Claims Elections 'Rigged' - Calls for Total Recount of Ballots." [Accessed 12 Sept. 2018]
iNews Guyana. 7 January 2017. "Jagdeo Elected New General Secretary of PPP." [Accessed 13 Sept. 2018]
Jamaica Observer. 7 March 2017. "Former President, Government Officials Arrested in Guyana." [Accessed 12 Sept. 2018]
Kaieteur News. 27 June 2018. Abena Rockcliffe-Campbell. "Jagdeo Cannot be Prime Minister Either - Prominent Attorney Explains." [Accessed 12 Sept. 2018]
The New York Times. 20 October 2017. Liz Robbins and Neil Marks. "Power, Corruption and Murder Roil Little Guyana." [Accessed 12 Sept. 2018]
The New York Times. 17 January 2015. Girish Gupta. "A Multiethnic Movement Emerges in Guyana to Counter Politics-as-Usual." [Accessed 12 Sept. 2018]
People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C). 12 August 2008. "Press Statement. PPP General Secretary, Executive Committee Elected." [Accessed 13 Sept. 2018]
Political Handbook of the World 2016-2017. 2017. "Guyana." Edited by Thomas Lansford. Washington, DC: CQ Press. [Accessed 13 Sept. 2018]
Reuters. 15 May 2015. "Guyana Opposition Wins Election in First Change of Government for 23 Years." [Accessed 12 Sept. 2018]
Senior Reporter, Kaieteur News. 13 September 2018. Telephone interview with the Research Directorate.
Stabroek News. 19 July 2018. "PPP to Name Presidential Candidate Before Local Govt Polls." [Accessed 13 Sept. 2018]
Transparency Institute Guyana Inc. 18 September 2018. Correspondence from the President to the Research Directorate.
Additional Sources Consulted
Oral sources: academics specializing in political issues in Guyana; The Carter Center; Guyana Chronicle; Guyana Legal Aid Clinic; Guyana Times; People's Progressive Party/Civic; Progressive Youth Organization; Save Abee Foundation; Stabroek News; UN – Development Programme Guyana, Mission in Guyana.
Internet sites, including: Amnesty International; Canadian Broadcasting Corporation; ecoi.net; The Guardian; Guyana Times; Guyana – Department of Public Information, Guyana Police Force, Ministry of the Presidency, Ministry of Public Security, Mission in Ottawa; Human Rights Watch; Transparency International; UN – Development Programme Guyana, Mission in Guyana, Refworld; US – Department of State.