Former First Lady sticks with PPP-Civic

Last Updated on Sunday, 26 April 2015, 3:24 by GxMedia

Former First Lady Varshnie Singh continues to maintain her support for the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC), although she and former President Bharrat Jagdeo have long parted ways.

Singh has been seen crisscrossing Guyana with her father to PPPC rallies. And on Saturday, if ever anyone thought she was merely following the campaign, she turned up at the launch of the party’s manifesto.

After the speeches, Singh hugged and kissed President Donald Ramotar  and also took photos with him and several activists of the PPP’s  Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO).

Singh declined to grant interviews.

However, General Secretary of the WPO, Sheila Veerasammy  said Singh never left the PPP and she regarded her presence at the launching of the manifesto as an endorsement of the party for a sixth straight term at the May 11, 2015 general and regional elections. “Her being here, I would say is an endorsement of what is happening,” Veerasammy told Demerara Waves Online News.

“Varshnie has never stopped being around us and has always been with us. Every husband and wife always have their issues which they deal with but Varshnie, I know for a fact, has never given up on the People’s Progressive Party and her being here made me personally feel good,” added Veerasammmy.

Singh had previously accused her ex husband of abandoning her and leaving her out in a mosquito infested area of State House, the official presidential residence. Jagdeo earlier this week denied ever physically abusing Singh.

Her visibility on the PPPC’s  campaign trail comes at a time when the incumbent party is under severe pressure for the way a number of ministers have allegedly treated or viewed women in recent months.

The first was Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall who was heard in recorded telephone conversation with a Kaieteur News newspaper expressing interest in a young female reporter on behalf of a relative.

In recent days, Health Minister Dr. Bheri Ramsaran’s verbal abuse of a female rights activist has seen the party, WPO, the President and the party’s Prime Ministerial candidate, Elisabeth Harper condemning him.

Western diplomats have also criticized the Health Minister’s utterances.