Georgetown: Eleven political parties will participate in Elections on Monday. The major parties, People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) and A Partnership for National Unity +Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC), held their closing rallies on Saturday at Lusignan and D’Urban Park respectively, with crowds pouring into support their preferred leaders.
The atmosphere at the two rallies was energetic and festive, with several cultural displays and musical performances put on ahead of the presidential candidates who showed up with their running mates.
Both parties are resolute that they will win power after the March elections.
President David Granger said come Monday, Guyanese must choose between a Decade of Development and a Decade of Death and Decadence, as he laid out the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) transformational plans that would lead to enhanced education and infrastructural development and the simultaneous reduction in crime and violence.
At the time, President Granger was addressing a massive sea of green and yellow supporters at D’Urban Park on Saturday during the APNU+AFC’s Final Rally before the Monday, March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections, for which it will come up against a total of 10 political parties – among them, its main opponent – the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).
President Granger, who is seeking re-election for a second term in office, said he has a vision for Guyana as he touted his proposed ‘Decade of Development.’ During this period that spans from 2020-2029, it is the President’s intention to transform the country into a Digital State, a Petroleum State, a Green State and an Education Nation while addressing, among other things, the country’s housing demands, and simultaneously reducing crime and violence.
Having restored Local Democracy, Law and Order, the APNU+AFC is now offering Guyana a ‘Decade of Development,’ President Granger said while pointing out that the PPP/C had offered a ‘Decade of Death.’ He explained that it was under President Bharrat Jagdeo – the now Opposition Leader – that Guyana experienced the ‘Decade of Death’ that spanned from 2000 to 2010. During that period, 1,431 murders were recorded.
President Granger noted that prior to Jagdeo’s accession in 1999, Guyana, under the PPP/C Administration, experienced the largest environmental disaster in August 1995 with the Omai Spill. Records show that on August 19, 1995, an earthen tailings pond, constructed to contain cyanide, accidentally breached, and resulted in more than 400 million gallons of cyanide-laced material spilled into the Omai River and subsequently the Essequibo River. The damages were catastrophic with environmental, social, economic and political consequences. He said when Jagdeo took office, the situation further deteriorated. Faced with a high crime rate, President Granger said Guyana experienced another disaster that could have been prevented – the great floods of 2005. The flood resulted in the death of 34 persons while affecting more than 70,000 households in Georgetown, Region 4.
Meanwhile, Presidential Candidate of the PPP/C, Irfaan Ali at the party’s rally encouraged persons to vote peacefully so that the process would not be hindered. And, while the voters will be doing their part, the party also acknowledged the presence of international observers such as the Carter Center, the Organisation of American States (OAS) and European Union (EU), who are here to observe the electoral process and ensure that there is efficiency.
While it is important to maintain peace, he said persons must also ensure that they turn up to vote and by extension “seal the deal” for the PPP/C. The presidential candidate made a commitment to ensuring that there is development and improvement for all Guyanese, if the PPP/C wins the elections. “In a united voice, let us rise above the fake news and negativity because we have a task to build a better Guyana for every Guyanese…to every supporter of the APNU+AFC, don’t worry, the struggles of the PPP is not only for ourselves, it is for every Guyanese and you are welcome as we move our country forward,” said Ali.
In an appeal to supporters of the incumbent A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Ali rolled out a menu of promises which the party intends to deliver if they are elected. Among those measures was the much touted, creation of 50,000 jobs, which, according to Ali, will be created for “all Guyanese.” “We will return the jobs you have lost, restore dignity, build trust and build national unity…we will put money in your pockets…this will be done by removing and reversing the burdens of more than 200 new taxes and licences fees that has extracted $91B from the pockets of the people,” said the presidential candidate.
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