— criticises President’s speech in Parliament

THE People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has signalled that it is on the move to regain governmental power come 2020, when Guyanese head to the polls for General and Regional Elections.

Party General Secretary Clement Rohee said during a press conference on Monday that members are on the ground mobilising party supporters, and have accordingly been missing key State activities such as GuyExpo.

Apart from their activities, Rohee said, the party was uncomfortable with a few pronouncements made by President David Granger during his State of the Republic Address on Thursday, May 12.

“Heavy emphasis was placed on high-sounding and lofty ideals such as social cohesion and national unity… the President spoke about using this special year to usher in an era of social peace, political collaboration and economic prosperity for generations,” said the PPP General Secretary.

However, he said the PPP is asking for an explanation as to how the “bridges” of which the President spoke will be built, and how trust will be restored in this “hostile, anti-democratic and anti-people environment (that is) characterised by fear and intimidation engineered by his own administration, which he spoke so glowingly and glibly about”.

According to Rohee, the “absence of national unity has led to political and economic fatigue”, and is a reflection of a yawning gap between political rhetoric and the socio-economic realities obtaining in Guyana today.

Rohee also criticised the APNU+AFC’s advertisement, “Guyana Unleashed”, placed in the daily newspapers to mark one year in Government. He contended that things such as increased salaries for public servants, press freedom restored, Local Government Elections held after 22 years, political victimisation abolished, 3 new townships, restored billions from phantom accounts to treasury, over $40 billion for Public Security, lower crime rates, and aggressive crime-solving are issues that have been dealt with marginally.

Since taking office, the APNU+AFC administration has increased public servants’ salaries, held free and fair Local Government Elections, launched operation dragnet and solved several high profile cases.