-Ramotar said Opposition promising politics of deception
REGION 9 residents Saturday came out in their numbers at Freedom House in Lethem as they joined President Bharrat Jagdeo and PPP/C Presidential Candidate Donald Ramotar in yet another successful public meeting, as the date for the holding of the 2011 national and regional elections draws nearer. Former Regional Executive Officer (REO), Desmond Kissoon, Regional Chairman, Clarindo Lucas and other prominent residents recapped developments in the areas of infrastructure, education, health care, housing, agriculture, and in the business sector, that have led to residents of the region enjoying a better standard of living.
The event was graced by Governor of the State of Roraima, José de Anchieta Junior, with whom the President met to discuss several projects that will benefit the citizens of both Guyana and Brazil.
The Governor lauded the leadership of President Jagdeo who will be demitting office shortly, and said that Guyana has made tremendous progress in bettering the lives of its people. He also expressed the hope that friendly relations between the two neighbouring countries would continue under the new administration.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett said that PPP/C has stood the test of time, inheriting a completely shattered country in 1992, and putting it back on the road of progress and development.
“You cannot live without hope and this is exactly what we have restored in Guyana,” she said.
Minister Rodrigues-Birkett recalled that the Alliance for Change (AFC) in 2006 had promised to close down the Amerindian Affairs Ministry if they had won the elections.
She explained that during the PNC regime, the entire country was neglected, moreso the indigenous population; but the PPP/C under the visionary leadership of former President, the late Cheddi Jagan, this once marginalised population was given a voice, and the establishment of the Amerindian Affairs Ministry stands testimony to the fact that today they are included in the overall developmental thrust.
She noted too that under the PNC, no Amerindian lands were demarcated; today this has changed significantly as many villages are now titled, while work is ongoing to have the rest demarcated.
President Jagdeo said, “Political power allows us to serve our people, and there is a huge difference between the Presidential Candidate chosen by the PPP/C and the people who are competing with him.”
He explained that Ramotar spent his entire life working with the party, during the difficult days, to return freedom and democracy to Guyana. He added that Ramotar believes in the equality of all Guyanese, and he has made significant contributions to the policies that the government has embarked upon since taking office.
The President said that David Granger from the APNU, on the other hand, was instrumental in stealing ballot boxes for the PNC and rigging elections in Guyana.
With regard to the AFC, he reminded that Khemraj Ramjattan was booted from the PPP as a result of his association with drug dealers.
“Even if we take away the track record of the PPP/C, which is a formidable one of progress, the choice is clear,” the president said.
The Head of State also spoke of the Amerindian Act, which gives Indigenous communities greater rights, the Indigenous People’s Commission (IPC) and the National Toshaos Council (NTC), which are all testimony to the fact that the PPP/C Government is committed to ensuring that the interest of this important group is placed at the forefront.
The president also said that the concerns of Amerindians are given tremendous attention on the agenda of cabinet, and at the various ministries, as the party believes that Guyana owes a debt to the Indigenous population for all the years that they were robbed of their freedom and rights.
The presidential candidate, Donald Ramotar, pointed out that the developments that have taken place in Guyana since the PPP/C took office in 1992 cannot be denied, as citizens from across the regions have benefitted one way or another.
However, he said that the restoration of freedom in Guyana is by far one of the party’s most important achievements.
He emphasised that the Opposition are promising to reduce taxes, pay bigger salaries and provide everything else people need, but they deliver on all the things they are promising when they are also saying that they will cut the revenue of the government.
Ramotar said that it is obvious that they are promising the politics of deception. He added, “We fought for the right to vote so that we can be a government of the people and by the people.”
Presidential Adviser on Governance, Gail Teixeira, said that never before in the history of Guyana have the Amerindian people been involved in matters relating to their own development, as they are today.
She said that this country has evolved into one that is now a model at the international level, as it has been able to show consistent economic development and stability.
The next PPP/C rally is scheduled for  Whim, Corentyne, today at 17:00hrs.