THE incumbent Party continued its public meetings yesterday with nine meetings at communities across the Essequibo coast.And its most recent outreach followed a successful public meeting at Riverstown Village on the Essequibo Coast, Region 2 (Pomeroon/ Supenaam), which saw the attendance of scores of residents.

Senior People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) officials urged the gathering to recognise that they have a clear choice – a choice between the “dark days” of the People’s National Congress (PNC) and sustained peace, progress and prosperity under the ruling Party.
The speakers included Region 2 Vice Chairman, Mr Vishnu Samaroo, former Member of Parliament (MP), Mr Cornel Damon, and the meeting’s organizer, Rabindranauth Mohan.
Mr Samaroo who was the last speaker at the roadside meeting reminded residents of the dark days under the PNC, now “disguised” as APNU.
He said the country was brought to its knees and there were severe shortages of food – no roti, bread, split peas, potatoes, sardines, apples or grapes.
According to him, Guyanese suffered even for soap to wash their clothes.
He said young people going to cast their ballots for the first time should know about the PNC/ APNU past and called on elder persons to educate the young people about those days of suffering.
Mr Samaroo also called on residents to compare the 28-year dictatorship rule of the PNC and the PPP/C’s 22 years and judge for themselves.

DEVELOPMENT AND PROSPERITY
He said the PNC brought suffering but the PPP/C has brought development and prosperity to Guyana. He said under the PNC it was contraband goods and contraband gasoline but today under the PPP/C it is supermarkets with all types of food and modern gas stations all across the country with up-to-date supply of gas.
The Vice Chairman urged that people should look at progress in every region – people are now owners of cars, motorcycles, SUVs, Prado, tractors and combines which show development.
He stated that homes are furnished with all the latest models of TVs, DVDs, fridges, washing machines and all types of electronics devices which show that the country is developing.
Former MP Damon reiterated similar sentiments and underscored the fact that APNU/AFC has short changed the Guyanese people by cutting the national budget in Parliament.
He said the opposition has denied Guyanese jobs and development by blocking several important projects.
REJECT THEM
Damon added that the APNU/AFC was a destructive set of people in the last Parliament and called on residents to reject them.
Meanwhile, Mohan, who was the first speaker, called on residents to vote wisely on May 11 and to vote for progress which is the PPP/C. Mr Mohan also reminded residents about the destruction the PNC did to the country and called for the past of the PNC not to be forgotten.
The PPP maintained its presence in Region 2 with another meeting yesterday at Queenstown.
On Wednesday, the ruling party also hosted meetings at Vivia La Force and Best Village in Region 3 (Essequibo Islands/ West Demerara); Bagotstown and Sophia in Region 4 (Demerara/ Mahaica); Karamat in Region 5 (Mahaica/ Berbice); and Number 19 Village and Fyrish Village in Region 6 (East Berbice/ Corentyne).
These meetings, commonly referred to as ‘bottom-house’ outreaches, have been the tactic employed by the incumbent PPP for decades as a means of maintaining and nurturing support at the grassroots level.

By Rajendra Prabhulall