FASHIONED in a contradictory manner last evening was the speech of A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) member, Mandy Sukdeo, who, moments after declaring “a promise is a comfort to a fool”, unreeled a list of promises by the coalition, should they win at the upcoming General and Regional elections. Sukdeo was at the time addressing a very small gathering at Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara, where the APNU+AFC’s public meeting was being held.

Despite a poor turn-out of residents and intermittent showers, the meeting progressed with several speakers making their appearance, urging the gathering, most of whom had travelled to the assembly point, to vote against the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) at the upcoming polls.
One such person was Sukdeo who identified herself twice as an “Indian woman” and whose speech magnified the intentions of the APNU+AFC coalition, should they win the elections.
“We want changes” Sukdeo, who is also a young dentist told the scattered audience, while adding that while policies are being made everyday, the PPP have been making “empty promises.”
She continued however, reminding those in attendance that, “A good philosopher once said that a promise is a comfort to a fool; so we are no fools.”
But as her speech progressed, the young professional then unveiled a list of promises her party had proposed.
According to her, “The APNU+AFC will put in place policies to ensure our mothers are being protected under law. So that when their babies are born, they can have a future. We’re gonna support our working mothers; our single mothers.”
As it relates to rape victims, Sukdeo promised that the APNU+AFC will ensure that victims who are “being raped everyday” have counsellors. “We’re gonna have counsellors that will help them cope with the trauma” she pledged, adding that a Special Victim Unit attached to the Guyana Police Force will be established to ensure that victims are treated as victims.
Furthermore, an appeal was made to public servants on the basis of these same promises that should the APNU+AFC win the elections, they will have a “10 per cent across the board increase.”