PPP/C urges supporters not to be intimidated

 

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic’s strength at the August 28 polls was reflected this evening in the massive turn out of supporters at its rally held at the Kitty Market Square, Georgetown.

Incumbent President and Presidential Candidate, Bharrat Jagdeo who was well received by the thousands of supporters hailing from the East Coast and East Bank of Demerara and Central Georgetown urged supporters not be fearful or be intimidated by other political parties and their leaders.

Referring to a successful rally held in Linden on August 4, he mentioned that party supporters there met resistance from supporters from other parties while preparing for that rally which attracted a huge crowd of enthusiastic supporters from an area traditionally known as a PNC stronghold.

He reminded the crowd that the right to vote that is enjoyed today and taken for granted was fought for by the founder of the PPP, Dr. Cheddi Jagan who won that right for every Guyanese to vote since the 1953 Elections.

Mr. Jagdeo said this reflects the significant contribution that the early PPP government of the 1950’s and 1960’s made toward the freedom of the Guyanese people.

This right, he said, was taken away by the PNC three-decade rule from that time to the time when the PPP/C admitted office in 1992.

The huge international debt of US$2.1B which was inherited by the PPP/C government in 1992 characterizes this reality, the Presidential candidate said.

The debt he said was seven and a half times the value of the economy and resulted in Guyana spending 94 percent of every dollar earned to service this debt.

The debt has been reduced to US$1B today and only 12 percent of revenue is used to service this debt.

“Jagdeo said that today we have put in significant measures to battle corruption and the country is infinitely better than when we took it over in 1992.”

Before 1992 he said the Auditor General was prevented from auditing public entities and divestment proceeds and there were five entities handling privatization.

No report by an Auditor General was prepared for the country for 10 years also. This he said meant that “for those 10 years we will never know how much was spent and received in the country for that period.”

Today there is only one entity approved by Parliament that controls privatization and annual Auditor General’s report has been presented every year under the PPP/C.

In addition, he said the Integrity Commission was established by the PPP and there are parliamentary committees that government officials have to account to today.

He told the crowd that the PPP is the only national party and it has struggled for the development of the country since it was founded by Cheddi Jagan more than 50 years ago.

Only through hard work the party has contributed to the development of the country he said adding that a citizen of Guyana understands the nature of development.

He cautioned against fly-by-night parties which have no concrete plan, that will try to deceive voters.

Among the major developments that will take place in Guyana within months, the President said will include the commencement of open heart surgery and another cellular company Digicel, will come on board.

Prime Ministerial Candidate Samuel Hinds told the large gathering that the PPP/C has achieved much during its last three terms in office.

He said the government has established a partnership with the business sector and has supported business over the years.

The first industrial estate located in Ruimveldt was established by the early PPP government and when the PPP/C returned in 1992 it established the Coldingen and Eccles industrial estate. This led to the diversification of the economy and has resulted in the creation of many jobs, according to him.

He mentioned that within four years the country will be benefiting from electricity generated from hydro power through the Amaila falls. This is as a result of a $300M agreement signed by the government recently.

Through the Skeldon Modernization project another 10 Megawatts of power will also be supplied to the national grid soon, he said.

Dr. Roger Luncheon said the PPP/C has worked in every community in the country over the past 14 years and the party has treated all Guyanese equally in support of the country’s development.

The rally was chaired by longstanding PPP member Gail Teixeira. She reminded voters to mark their x two places on the ballot box, for Regional and General Elections.

Other members that spoke included new faces on the PPP/C slate. Among them were: Brian Yong ICT entrepreneur, Natasha Waldron, journalist, Steve Ninvalle, Sports Writer, Priya Manickchand, Lawyer and Jennifer Webster, Public Administrator.

The PPP general secretary, Donald Ramotar also spoke.

The PPP/C has already held massive rallies in Berbice and Linden.

TOP