PPP/C promises another five years of hard work as campaign goes to East Coast

 

The People’s Progressive Party is not “one of fancy things and Elections promises” but rather a Party that is committing to another term of hard work and improving the lives of Guyanese. This is according to Presidential Candidate Bharrat Jagdeo who sought the support of citizens at the August 28 polls when he met them at public rallies at Mon Repos and Success, East Coast Demerara on August 3.

“I have come here to ask for your help to move our country forward. It has nothing to do with me, but it has to do with the future of our children and what they would inherit. I cannot promise you big fancy things, but I will promise you hard work over the next five years,” he told the jubilant supporters that gathered in large numbers at both meetings.

This commitment was met with loud cheers and fervent pledges of support on polling day when the PPP/C will contest the General and Regional Elections with 10 other Parties.

“With all this care and compassion you demonstrate here, we will win another victory easily,” Mr. Jagdeo said.

According to the Presidential Candidate, it is not only the victory at the National elections is at stake but that of the Regional Elections, since the PPP/C is working hard to win control of the Regional Democratic Council in Region Four. He noted that the Main Opposition People’s National Congress Reform, now PNCR-One Guyana has historically controlled governance of the region’s affairs and in that trend, villages where majority of PPP/C supporters live have been neglected. The infrastructure has become dilapidated and minimal social services are provided except when Central Government intervenes.

‘Although we have been spending billions of dollars on Region Four, I am sure that most of you have never seen the Regional Chairman here and (Alan) Munroe has been Chairman for more than 20 years,” he said.

Propagating his Party’s message of oneness and unification, the Candidate who is current President of Guyana, called on the people to spread the message in their communities. He reaffirmed the Party’s confidence that it will not only secure enough votes to win the Presidency, but to capture the majority in the National Assembly. The PPP/C’s campaign is largely based on its defence of the working class of people of all race and culture and Mr. Jagdeo urged his supporters to understand that they are not voting for a government that would support any one group, but one that would support every Guyanese regardless of his/her political affiliation or ethnic group.

He urged that Guyanese judge the PPP/C by its record in Office, which proudly boasts significant progress in the education and health care delivery, as well as in the areas of housing and water, the productive sectors and the economy. “I know some of you still have problems and we understand these, but please look at how we handle them in the context of what we were left with as a country,” he told the crowd. Mr. Jagdeo explained that Guyana inherited a foreign debt of more than US$2B and has repaid about US$1.1B. Additionally, through debt relief and debt repayments, government has managed to reduce the debt serving to less than 20 percent as against the 94 percent it inherited from the PNC administration.

Addressing the burning problem of security on the East Coast Demerara, President Jagdeo noted that the people have been exploited by gunmen from particular areas, including Buxton and government is working to get rid them.

In this context, government, after two years of negotiations, has secured a US$20M loan to restructure the Guyana Police Force and another loan to reform the judiciary so that the courts could be better equipped to execute its duties.  

He cautioned supporters against the Opposition campaigns to try and link government to criminality and drug lords and noted that the Opposition would resort to such ploys since it cannot fault the PPP/C on its policies and programmes. “They are worried because we would win people’s confidence,” he said.

On the issue of violence during the Elections period, the President said the army would remain on the streets to ensure peaceful Elections.  

Mr. Jagdeo confirmed that there is still a long road to travel to attain a desired level of progress in Guyana and pledged his government’s support to that journey. However, he noted that the task is fruitless unless the people are involved and that is why they should fully participate in the electoral process and have their voices heard.  

Also addressing the people was PPP/C Candidate Navin Chandarpal, who urged their supporters to ensure that the Opposition does not return to Office to resume its dictatorship of the country, which brought Guyana to a standstill for 28 years.  

He remarked that under the PPP/C there has been progress in every industry including bauxite, rice, sugar, fisheries, fuel and most of all, living standards. He revealed that in 1991 Guyana was classified as one of the poorest countries in the hemisphere with more than 86 percent of its people living in poverty. “In 13 short years, the figure has come down to just over 30 percent. So people, it was a recovery we started in 1992 when we took Office. We need your support so we can increase your benefits in the next term in Office, following August 28,” he said.  

August 4, 2006

TOP