PPP/C Presidential Candidate predicts another victory

 

People’s Progressive Party Civic’s Presidential Candidate and incumbent President Bharrat Jagdeo said today that he is pleased with the way the elections campaign so far has been going and noted that there has been a welcome change with all political parties so far being very responsible in their statements and their speeches on the platform.

The Head of State was speaking at the PPP/C media centre, Freedom House, where he hosted a press conference to respond to questions by the media on several elections campaign issues and with the 2006 Elections being only a few days away.

“They have avoided the issues that we find objectionable-that is- the country, our Constitution, the ERC. Those are issues of race, religion and violence. These are three issues that we have indicated that are taboos in the elections campaign. The minor incidents that we have had with billboards etcetera I see them as just minor and peripheral but I’m very pleased with the tone of the campaign.”

President Jagdeo also expressed satisfaction that the security forces have been working and are fully mobilized, providing a safe environment for campaigning.

In this light he assured that the Forces will remain mobilized throughout the remaining campaign period and on elections day to upkeep peace. He added that Government does not intend to be light on anyone who has any intention of violating the peace and breaking the laws of the country.

He said that his Party’s campaign across the country received excellent response and will inevitably emerge victorious. However, he noted that the Party is not taking this for granted and is still working hard.

Responding to a question by the media about whether former New York Police Commissioner, Bernard Kerik would be hired by the Government to assist in reforming the Guyana Police Force and the issue of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) not funding Kerik’s employment, the Head of State said the IDB’s position has been misrepresented.

“Yes, he will be hired by my Government… that is very clear…what the IDB said is that the current visit that Mr. Kerik made was not funded by the loan. However, Mr. Kerik’s company which is eligible to apply for any contracts that may be issued, if he wins any of those contracts, he could be hired with funds from the IDB, that is what they said,” the President stated.

On this note, the President pointed out that the issue of the reform of the Force had not only to do with Kerik but that the Scottish Police have been in the country for the past eight months working on the reform project as well as the British Government which has also indicated willingness to assist in the initiative.

“I spoke to Lord Treasman, and he said to me they’re willing to assist. He sent an Envoy down who had discussions with us and immediately after the Elections, they’re going to assist, that is, the British Government itself and I’ve been promised that the help will go beyond training like they’ve helped in the past,” the Head of State assured.

Mr. Jagdeo said that though normally an incumbent does not challenge other Political Parties to debates, he noted that he had challenged some, yet the debates had not materialised.

He then took time to rebut responses made by the Opposition Parties on especially the country’s debt-relief.

Additionally, the PPP/C Candidate touched on issues of polls done by various entities on which Party would win the Elections, security during Elections and his Party’s intention to work together with members of other Parties, even if it wins the majority of votes at the 2006 Elections.

 

August 25, 2006

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