DRIVERS are advised to glance at their review mirrors every few seconds before returning their focus on the road ahead.This was the analogy employed by People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament Mr Manzoor Nadir, who captivated the attention of residents in Charlestown, Broad and Russell Streets, last evening at a public meeting.

According to him, Guyana at present is not “paradise on earth” but if one were to look in the rearview mirror, one would see the progress made.
“We can see how far we have come and we can see the development ahead…we will travel even faster if the Opposition did not put impediments in our way,” Nadir said.

He stressed that, come May 11, it is the Guyanese electorate who can and will eliminate the impediments to progress, peace and prosperity in Guyana.
“Opportunities do not sometime come twice and on May 11 there is an opportunity to re-elect the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, which had done a fabulous job of building lives of the Guyanese people,” he said.
The former Government minister added that Guyana today is the result of expanding “a thousand fold” what the PPP/C Administration of 1992 started with.
“On May 11, the decision is yours and the Guyanese people will have to evaluate what was done under the term of President Donald Ramotar and under the last five People’s Progressive Party/ Civic Administrations,” he charged.
A QUESTION OF FACTS
Nadir underscored the fact that the accomplishments of successive PPP/C administrations in areas of education, health, housing, youth development and empowerment of women are records that the Guyanese people can be proud of.
“These are all records that we are very proud of…record achievements that we can be proud of….I don’t fight over facts, I establish facts and fight with facts,” he posited.
He noted that a majority of the Guyanese people were not born with “gold spoons in their mouth” and they have had to fight for development – development that the incumbent Party has supported every step of the way.
“The PPP/C has done a good job in managing Guyana for the benefit of all Guyanese,” he said.
The former Government minister acknowledged that challenges exists, but charged that progress begins with education – an area that has been marked by phenomenal success stories in the last two decades – and continue by growing the economy and encouraging investments.
Relative to the latter, Nadir noted that Tourism, Information Communication and Technology (ICT), and Renewable Energy are the new frontiers for investors, local and foreign, which will also see the creation of thousands of jobs.
“Progress will not come by wishful thinking, it will take action; action that has been demonstrated by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic,” he said.
Nadir assured that the ruling Party recognises its responsibility to every citizen in Guyana and will ensure that development is taken to wherever the Guyanese people are.
“Guyana has the capacity to move to greater heights…while we looking at the review mirror, we must also remain firmly fixed and focused on the targets ahead…and President Donald Ramotar has earned the right to your support on May 11,” he told those gathered at the meeting.
Nadir added, “Let us continue to create opportunities for ordinary people to achieve extraordinary things…get up early and cast your vote next to the ‘Cup’…I am confident that a new dawn awaits us on May 12 (the day after the polls).”
BAD FOR GUYANA
According to him, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) represents what is “bad” for Guyana.

“This is not about us coming to talk about how we must fear the danger in Granger (APNU+AFC presidential candidate David Granger)…we are here to talk about development in Guyana. We have proven that we can develop for Guyana and for all Guyanese…it is only those who don’t want to see will ignore that the PPP/C has delivered and has been faithful to its manifesto and governed for the greater good of Guyana,” Nadir told the meeting.
He noted that President Ramotar, from the moment he got into office, has been “sitting on stinging nettles in trying to focus on his manifesto….there were budget cuts, this and that.”
All considered, Nadir was emphatic in stressing that it is in the interest of all Guyanese to ensure that they focus on what is a clear choice.
“Let us remain firmly fixed and focus on May 11….vote PPP/C, for the cup, a symbol that has not changed…those who feel that they are on the verge of victory, send them a message, delayed development will not be the order of the day….in the three years that the Opposition had the one seat majority, did they use it to benefit the people? No!”

Nadir also highlighted that the ruling Party comes to the table with a record, plans for the future and the people to execute those plans – all in the interest of a better Guyana for the Guyanese people.
Similar sentiments were represented by PPP/C Member of Parliament, Reverend Kwame Gilbert, who charged that the future of the Guyanese people cannot be a bargaining chip.
“It is irresponsible to bargain with the future of the Guyanese people…you will hear lots of promises, but take those in the context of facts…the evidence of what is being promised to you is visible…..even as we are wont to be dissatisfied about where we are, do not be blinded to the reality from where we have come,” he asserted.
By the end of the evening, the consensus from the speakers was that the Election on May 11 comes down to making the best of a major opportunity that should be seen in the spotlight of facts, not mere promises.
In addition to last evening’s meeting at Charlestown, the ruling Party held meetings in villages in Regions 2 (Pomeroon/Supenaam), 3 (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara), 5 (Mahaica/Bebrice), 6 (East Berbice/Corentyne) and 10 (Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice).
These meetings have been the tactic employed by the incumbent PPP for decades as a means of maintaining and nurturing support at the grassroots level.

(By Vanessa Narine)