MONDAY’S VOTE is a matter of protecting the gains of 500 years of struggle by the Guyanese people, which has translated into the freedoms – peace, progress and prosperity – enjoyed by every man, woman and child in the country.“We have to vote to protect those gains…we have to vote against those who took away your freedoms,” said member of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), Anil Nandlall, at yesterday’s Lusignan’s rally – the party’s final appeal to voters.
Over the last two months, the ruling party has advanced its campaign across the country and enthused by the energy of a massive gathering of support, he confidently stressed that the ruling party has renewed its bond with the Guyanese people and re-energised its support base.
Nandlall noted that Guyana’s last great struggle, the fight for democracy was a fight to reclaim government, Parliament, the judiciary, freedom of the press and constitutional rights in the face of a dictatorship that unleashed force, violence and intimidation on those who dared to stand up for their rights.
The hard won gains of a fight that demanded blood, sweat and tears, is what is at stake, according to him,

EVERY VOTE COUNTS
Nandlall asserted that every vote must count. “Not a single registered voter must be at home on Monday…at the last elections thousands of us stayed home on the East Coast of Demerara and did not vote because we felt we were winning the elections….this time every single vote must count.”
He urged that every eligible voter must be encouraged to go to the polls on Monday – parent, neighbour, brother, sister, friend or foe
“Do we have that clear?” he questioned, the response to which was wild cheering.
The PPP/C member added that the ruling party has always been a party of the people and for all the Guyanese people, noting that it was the PPP/C that delivered Guyana its first female president in the late Mrs. Janet Jagan and now its first prime ministerial candidate, Mrs. Elisabeth Harper.
On that note, he appealed that come May 11, “rain, sun, lightening or thunder,” the Guyanese people must turn out to the polling stations to cast their vote for the party that has stood by the people for decades.
“We are not a dry- weather party,” Nandlall said, acknowledging that the forecast for Monday has predicted rains.
The PPP/C member noted too that the ruling party’s list of candidates speaks to talent, intellect, youth and experience.
“We will continue to fight for you…May 11 is serious business,” he stressed.

NO DISTRACTIONS
Nandlall was emphatic in encouraging the thousands at Lusignan not to be “distracted by the political Opposition and its supporters with acts of bullyism and intimidation, as well as “latent racism” pushed from its campaign platforms.
He highlighted that in 2011 many Guyanese became “complacent” and did not turn out at polling stations to cast their votes.
“This time around we will not be distracted…we will remain resolute…on Monday, May 11 we must reassert ourselves,” the PPP/C member said.
This reassertion, according to him, will be supported by PPP/C representatives come Election Day. “We will be close by,” he assured, adding that identification cards are not a necessity to vote and urged that persons who were unable to conduct transfers should return to their voting districts to cast their votes.
“Once you are on the list you are eligible to vote,” Nandlall stressed.
He was emphatic in underscoring the fact that crowds do not win elections, presence at the polls do. “Your presence at the polls will deliver victory for the PPP,” he said.
The PPP/C member urged too that the Guyanese people must not forget the dangers to which the political Opposition had exposed them. “We must remain resolute and stand strong…do not forget the dangers we can, yet again, be exposed to if we do not stand strong,” he said.
Nandlall noted that the political opposition’s disposition defined on which side APNU+AFC stood. “We stand on the side of the people…they chose their side and on Monday you will chose your side,” he said.
According to the confident PPP/C member next Thursday Guyana’s new prime minister will be Mrs. Elisabeth Harper and President Donald Ramotar will be returned as Head of State to lead Guyana to a brighter future – one that is stable and secure.
“On May 11 you will have your day and you will have your say,” Nandlall concluded, amidst thunderous cheers from the thousands of PPP/C supporters.
By Vanessa Narine