The community of Stewartville, West Coast Demerara came alive today with PPP/C supporters who turned out in their numbers at yet another successful rally as the Party continues to blaze the campaign trail. President Bharrat Jagdeo said that the party has grown stronger over the years because it is sure of what it represents, noting that it has never pandered to narrow pedantic views of racism and has remained nationalistic on all fronts.
“We have held true to the motto of bringing people together…extend our open arms to all so that people of all races and religion can come together,” the President said. The Head of State explained that all of his Administration’s programmes and policies are aimed at empowering the vulnerable, a fact that is substantiated by the huge amounts of resources that are injected into the social sector to ensure that services such as improved healthcare, education, and housing among others, are evenly distributed across the country, even the remotest of villages.
The President said that the record of progress coupled with the Party’s firm stance on inclusivity have led to widespread support from the Guyanese public; converting persons who were previously non-supporters. He also reminded the audience of the days when the Army was forced to pledge loyalty to the PNC instead of the Constitution of Guyana, an issue that Granger actually defended during a recent debate at the University of Guyana. He urged the Armed Forces to cast their votes wisely.
The President made reference to the efforts of the AFC and APNU to ensure that the PPP/C is kept below 50 percent, which will in effect, prevent its Presidential Candidate Donald Ramotar from ruling as he should. He also urged the crowd to be wary of what is printed in certain sections of the media, particularly the Kaieteur News and Stabroek News as they seem bent on tarnishing the Government and its achievements. The President made it clear that strict actions will be taken against persons who try to incite racism as a means of creating a division among Guyanese.
Ramotar said that the election is a celebration of democracy, which the PPP/C has spent years fighting for and reminded that Guyanese have a civic duty to ensure that they cast their ballots on November 28. He outlined the Party’s plans to catapult growth and development in Guyana in the next five years, making specific reference to the massive Information Communication Technology (ICT) drive, which is being implemented through the laying of the fibre optic cables and the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) programme.
He noted too, that for years Guyana’s development has been stymied as a result of unavailability of cheap energy and spoke of the bright prospects of the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project which will attract investments, develop productive capacity and ultimately create jobs. Ramotar stated that the PPP/C is open to examining different views, which, as long as they are made from the point of view of development, will never be dismissed by the Party.
“The programme that we have will create modern infrastructure to take our country to a higher level, so that we will be described as a modern and prosperous society,” Ramotar said. Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee also lamented the constant attacks by certain sections of the media. He noted too, that the attacks from the Opposition are simply because they are aware of how strong the PPP/C is. General Secretary, Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), Komal Chand said that the critics can say whatever they wish but the progress that Guyana has seen since 1992 is undeniable.(GINA)
