Georgetown : Head of State, President Donald Ramotar called for the support of citizens for majority victory, as the People's Progressive Party/ Civic (PPPC) formally launched its elections campaign with a rally at the Kitty Market Square this evening.
Before an estimated crowd of 6,000 people, the president sought their support noting that PPP has stood with Guyanese for 65 years. He called on those who are would be errant voters to uplift their identification cards, from the Guyana Elections Commission Centers.
President Ramotar issued a promise to his opposition challenger saying, “ (David) Granger, game over”. He reminded of his effort to reach out to the political opposition with his historic appeal to the National Assembly which was to no avail. He noted that the political opposition embarked on a programme to stymie major projects such as Amaila Falls Hydro Power, the Specialty Hospital and the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Expansion Project despite extensive consultations. “They want to create problems so they can damage the development of our society”. The cutting of the Capital Budget for Amerindian communities and other key programmes, along with the non support for the Anti- Money Laundering bill were highlighted by the president.
Noting that the nation’s debt was 700% of the GDP during the People's National Congress (PNC) era, and its present rate of 6%, President Ramotar said despite all of the opposition's efforts, the economy still grew by 4.5%, when a PPP/C Parliamentary majority would have resulted in a 10% growth.
Huge investments are still coming on stream, he added, and along with the planned Lethem to Linden paved road, Deep Water Harbour, a new bridge over the Demerara River and several others will see the continuation of the nation’s development.
He added, “We have a record we can stand on, we are proud of and can defend,” vowing that when “we get back the majority, they will see how fast we will grow”.
The president promised to ensure the survival of the sugar and rice industries, and spoke of future plans for a “World class ICT Park” to ensure Guyanese are prepared for the world’s rapidly advancing technology and future investors seeking a highly trained and educated workforce.
The president slammed the opposition saying that they cannot be trusted opining that given their actions, development was not their focus, only power
Prime Ministerial candidate Elisabeth Harper spoke of her vision for Guyana, based on social progress and a better standard of living for all Guyanese. This, Harper said, was as a result of the president and his government laying a strong foundation for this to happen. With considerable gains in the social sectors, such as health, housing and infrastructural development, she said, “continuity is important so that we can build on these achievements.”
Meanwhile Former President Bharrat Jagdeo stated that,“They can never compete with us,”amidst rapturous applause. “They can never compete with us, with our love and positive energy, and the strength of our commitment and they can never compete with us on our dreams”.
He recalled visiting Buxton for the re-opening of Tipperary Hall and Adviser on Empowerment Odinga Lumumba accusing an opposition official sitting in the audience of “child labour”. This, the former president said referred to the fact that Lumumba claimed that he was forced to vote 14 times during a rigged election under the PNC administration. Many can testify to this fact, he said. “It testifies to the nature and character of Granger…. A man who in 2015, said, elections were never rigged in Guyana”.
Jagdeo said it meant that Granger has three characteristics. “We can’t have a president in this country who lies, who is delusional and is unrepentant about the past. When your rights are taken away in the future, he would deny them too and it wouldn’t even bother him because he denies a fact of history that everyone knows about…"
Describing the past three years as a period in which the opposition harassed and sabotaged government’s efforts at development, former President Jagdeo said, “We shall be quiet no longer”.
Accusing the opposition of using the voters' lists to create violence during the last three elections, he urged supporters to be vigilant.
He recalled the ultimatum given by Alliance For Change (AFC) Chairman Nigel Hughes and executive Moses Nagamootoo to President Ramotar to dismiss the Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee and the violence that subsequently followed at Agricola. “They’re counting on us having short memories. Elections violence of the past were all triggered by the opposition so we don’t have to go back to 28 years to see the nature of the PNC. The nature of the animal has not changed. It is highly militaristic, it is criminal in purpose and it will use violence to achieve its means”.
He further dismissed calls by the former National Assembly Speaker Raphael Trotman, for him to stay out of the election’s campaign. “Let me tell Trotman something, I will be part of this race, supporting the People's Progressive Party and I will put every bit of energy and strength that I have in my body to make sure that Ramotar remains the president of this country and Elisabeth becomes the prime minister”.
He reiterated that he did not want a position in government.
Touching on the killing of political activist Courtney Crum-Ewing, the former president said he did not deserve to die, and said that the question remains as to who would benefit from this.
He called on the police force to urgently pursue the issue. “I’m telling you, if they do that, you’d probably be shocked to find out who killed this guy”.
Likening the PPP to a scorpion, General Secretary Clement Rohee said that the final “nail in the coffin” will be put in the political opposition on May 11, Elections Day. He recalled that "Every single day, unfair, unjustified, malicious, mischievous, every single day, 365 days per year, they batter us. They tried to make us believe that we have done nothing for this country, but you know better, you the people of this country know that we have built Guyana!” The 166,000 persons who voted for the PPP/C were being disrespected by the political opposition, who he added were trying to prevent the current administration from governing the country. He rebuffed the calls being made by the political opposition who are calling for a change. “They ask us to give them a chance, but comrades the time for chances are over. We don’t have any more time for an experiment…. that is why we have lost so much time in terms of our development”.
The general secretary said too that they must ensure that their names are on the voters’ list.“Our country’s future is at stake, the future of our children is at stake, we have come too far to turn back comrades…"
Other speakers included Lindener Dr. Gregory Harris who spoke of the opportunities given by government to youths, such as himself, which enabled him to become a medical professional.
Former trade unionist Gillian Burton-Marks took to the stage reminding the audience of the fights she witnessed for items such as kerosene and cooking oil at the Knowledge Sharing Institute's (KSI), retail outlets set up by the former PNC government as the local economy spiralled into recession. She likened the APNU to the “A party not United” and the AFC “Alliance for Confusion”, to loud cheers from those gathered. Dismissing calls from some, who described her and the former APNU Member of Parliament, PPP/C newcomer Africo Selman as “soup drinkers”, Burton – Marks said she didn’t mind since it showed that she was starving under the political opposition.
Brief remarks were also given by Lawyer Charles Ramson Jr. who called on the PNC to “Stop changing your name!” describing opposition Prime Ministerial candidate, Moses Nagamootoo as using his “silver tongue which concealed his slithering sins and motives” to make the AFC break its promise, never to join the APNU.
Former APNU Member of Parliament, PPP/C newcomer Africo Selman spoke of how she was abused by former party colleagues for sending an email questioning the APNU’s lack of support for the critically needed Anti-Money Laundering Bill. She also described the cutting of the budget as a betrayal by the APNU’s leadership and warned the attendees, “Do not be deceived by the APNU and AFC”.
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