Georgetown: President David Granger told a crowd of supporter at Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara Community Centre Ground Friday evening that citizens need to select a trustworthy administration while underscoring that with four out of ten of persons live in Region Four (Demerara, Mahaica).
Adding that Georgetown is the smallest region but with the largest amount of people, the President said that this meant that a convincing majority of votes would mean certain victory come Elections’ Day.
Attendees were informed that only 75 percent regional voters cast their ballot in 2015, and the Coalition only won 61 percent of the vote versus the People’s Progressive Party Civic’s (PPP/C) 39 percent.
“This time let us not make the mistake. I don’t want 75 percent to turn up. I want 80 to 85 percent of the people in this region. If we get that mobilisation, we win countrywide!”
The President reminded of the impact of the Guyana Youth Corps, a modernised version of the Guyana National Service disbanded by the previous administration and the benefits to youths now being wrought. He also noted the positive impact of programmes such as “SLED” on the lives of women countrywide.
“Tonight, we see a force of students who want to enjoy the benefits of free education from Nursery, Primary, Secondary all the way up to Turkeyen for tertiary education. And they know that only the Coalition government will deliver that free education… Tonight we see a force of women who are prepared to go out and make a living that is why we established organisations and projects to sustain livelihoods,” he declared.
His reminder of the more than 70 percent salary increases; pensions and allowances was met with thunderous applause from those gathered
The President also noted his historic and unprecedented decision to have eleven qualified women in his Cabinet, “Never before have there been eleven women in Cabinet and Granger did it.”
The Head of State underscored that his Coalition Government – comprising six parties – brought an end to winners take all politics’. This administration he said is the only trustworthy force to unite and take all of Guyana forward.
President David Granger addressing thousands of supporters at the Golden Grove Community Ground Rally on the East Coast of Demerara.
“We are unbreakable. We are unbeatable and we are going to win again! This is not a coalition, it is a national movement.”
Turning his attention to the public sector, the President pointed out that since his administration took office, public servants in Guyana have experienced a 70 per cent increase in their wages and salaries. The minimum wage of public servants and teachers increased by over 70 per cent, or from $ 39,400 to $ 70,000. In 2019, the government granted a nine percent increase to public servants on the lower salary tiers. Corporations have also benefitted from the reduction of the corporate tax rate for manufacturing and non-commercial companies from 30 per cent to 27.5 per cent. The value-added tax (VAT) was reduced to 14 per cent and the VAT threshold was increased from $10M to $15M.
Pensioners, President Granger told the multitude of supporters, were not forgotten, pointing out that they too experienced increases with the Old Age Pension jumping from $7,500 to over 20,000.
President Granger’s remarks followed those made by Public Services Minister Tabitha Sarabo Halley, Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence and Attorney General Basil Williams.
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