REGION 10 (Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice) is not represented on the Political Opposition’s National Top-Up list of candidates, which was submitted to the Guyana Election Commission last Tuesday.It’s a fact that did not go unnoticed, and does not sit well with the massive gathering of supporters that turned out yesterday for the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) rally at Lien Ken-Pen Square in Linden.

And President Donald Ramotar wasted no time in playing it up. “You mean they can’t find among you anyone that they can put on their regional or top up list who will be a Member of Parliament?”
Noting that the alliance of A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) has no scruples about how they treat people, President Ramotar said:
“These people have no loyalty and no commitment,” much to the delight of his audience who rewarded him with thunderous applause.

PROVEN TRACK RECORD
Drawing a parallel between the political opposition and the PPP/C, the Party’s presidential candidate said his party has a “proven track record” of standing by the people of Linden, as it has stood by all Guyanese.
He pointed out that the former People’s National Congress (PNC) administration left much undone in Region 10, and that it was the PPP/C that brought progress and prosperity to the Region; advances that range from investment in social programmes, particularly in the areas of health, education and housing, to encouraging the creation of jobs by supporting the Bauxite industry and facilitating foreign direct investments.
“This is the record we stand on,” Mr Ramotar said, adding that the ruling party’s development thrust has been advanced, with equity, right across Guyana.
The PPP/C presidential candidate added that while the APNU+AFC alliance touts governance and good stewardship, history, event more recent in nature, expose the truth – they are bereft of ideas and opt to piggyback on those introduced by his administration.
He referred to the fact that the APNU+AFC leadership speaks with a ‘forked-tongue’ on several issues, including sugar, the development of hydropower and the advance of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) initiatives, among others.
Mr Ramotar stated that the challenges of the last three years, particularly given the political opposition’s anti-development disposition, were overcome regardless by his administration.
“If we had our majority or if we had an opposition willing to work with us, we would have been able to do so much more…never before has Guyana seen what it is seeing now,” the President posited.
As such, he underscored that the May 11 General and Regional elections are about the future.
“Elections are not only about records (that you can compare), it is about the future,” Mr Ramotar said.

FUTURE FOR ALL
According to him, the PPP/C vision for Guyana includes the exploration of new frontiers, including in the area of oil and gas.
“Guyana can become a major producer of oil and gas,” he told the gathering.
Mr Ramotar stated that investment in the Guyanese people has also been, and will continue to be, a major focus, since it allows Guyana to be positioned to take advantage of all that it has the potential to do – in the interest of improving the lives of Guyanese.
“We want to create more opportunities for Guyanese; this is where we want to take Guyana,” he assured.
The President made clear that a bright future can only be accomplished by the right team – a PPP/ C team, which has proven itself to the Guyanese people.
On that note, he railed into members of the political opposition, from its leader, Brigadier (rtd) David Granger, to senior members of its executive, including Basil Williams, Carl Greenidge and Winston Felix. Leader of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Rupert Roopnarine, and APNU+AFC prime ministerial, Moses Nagamootoo, also came in for flak.
“They must not come to power…we change all that (the political opposition did that negatively affected Guyanese),” he stressed.
A clear fact evidence is that the momentum of the ruling party’s election campaign is being maintained and fed by the energy of enthused supporters.
In addition to the chants of ‘Granger is danger’ and cheers of support for the PPP/C were sounded by several hundreds of supporters and the tempo of Mr Ramotar’s speech translated to what was his quintessential message –‘continue on the course the PPP/C has charted’.
“We have stood by you at every stage and today, for the sake of Guyana’s future, I ask you to stand with the PPP/C, stand with me,” the PPP/C presidential candidate concluded.

By Vanessa Narine