AS prime ministerial candidate for the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Elisabeth Harper took the stage to address thousands at the ruling party’s rally at Damon Square on the Essequibo Coast, she asked: “Are you ready for another victory and let progress continue?”

Harper explained that she is committed to the vision of the PPP/C party and it is a vision that will clearly take Guyana forward. “For the past nine years our country has recorded growth even though our sister nations were affected by the fall of economies worldwide. And this is because of the strategic planning that will have our country remain influential and continue to advance the interests of our country.
“My party aims to carry out our vision on key areas, particularly through education, job creation agricultural processing, tourism and hospitality among others,” she declared.
She pointed out some of the achievements that the Government has recently made realities and “only recently we had the opening of the Marriott Hotel, the first five-star hotel here in Guyana.” This shows, Harper explained, investors’ confidence in our economy.
Harper highlighted that travel for persons living on the Essequibo Coast has been made much easier than in the past. “It is a tremendous achievement for the PPP/C to have acquired the two ‘roll-on roll- off’ ferries from China, reducing travelling time for many.”
Harper alluded to many facts in the PPP/C’s manifesto for the upcoming May 11 poll, explaining that one of the major issues she will be looking at is the empowerment of women. She explained that the PPP/C builds national pride and has an unwavering commitment to build Guyana, through the development of the different sectors that would have already seen national development such as housing and water, health and education are always priority.
Empowering women is vital, Harper noted, “We will review all the laws that will encourage and promote women’s rights and equality. We must exercise zero tolerance on domestic violence.” She explained that domestic violence destroys who we are and everything we stand for and we as a community should not encourage it and “I encourage our men to participate in this fight also.
“Single parents will be able to also further their education, training and day care services will be provided, child support will be mandatory by the court” [and these] are some of the opportunities that will be available to single parents, Harper noted.
She further explained that the PPP/C Government has over the years upkept “the rights of women, our rights in all aspects of the country, our right to an education more importantly.” Harper further explained that teenage pregnancy is also a big problem and our manifesto will address these issues also; “If you had to leave school early, you have another chance to continue your education and provide for your family, opportunities will be available to support you.”
Harper noted that presently, more attention needs to be given to job creation for our young people and in the PPP/C manifesto, “we will make sure jobs are created and more development and a number of new initiatives for job-creation opportunities will be embarked upon.
“With these new initiatives, many more people will be able to enjoy a higher standard of living in this country,” she said. “Our manifesto will talk about housing for young people, a vision that is geared to creating a Guyana with a great future, with more interacting and dialogue and facilitating our decision making within this sector,” Harper said.
“Come out and cast your vote for the PPP/C on May 11, vote for progress to continue,” Harper urged.

By Rebecca Ganesh