…unveils broad-based campaign strategy

THE Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) arm of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC), is now in full campaign mode and through a joint press conference held on Wednesday, the team reiterated to the electorate that they are tightly knit and with unified efforts, they remain very optimistic of victory at the polls.

Those present at the press conference were Members of Parliament Jermaine Figueira and Audwin Rutherford; Region 10 AFC Chairman Devin Sears and Acting Mayor of Linden, Wainwright Bethune, as well as other executive members of both APNU and the AFC.
Figueira noted that they are aware that a lot of work has to be done, but together the parties will be putting in the efforts to attain victory. While describing the acts of recalled MP Charrandass Persaud as treacherous, Figueira is however looking at the positives and that it has ignited a new degree of consciousness within the coalition and its supporters. “It has really done something good for the coalition supporters, it has ignited the base, the people are far more energised and it has brought about a new degree of consciousness within our people,” he said.

While Linden has the larger population of the electorate, in the region Figueira noted that every little community and village will be targeted, since the strategy is a regional one. “Our strategy that will be employed will be a regional strategy to target every pocket where people are living, where people are dwelling, we will take our message to those individuals. Our strategy is indeed a broad-based strategy and we will reach out to those persons, we are very much confident and persuaded that we have the machinery, we have the strategy and most importantly, we have the people behind us to ensure that every part of Region 10 is captured,” the MP, who is also the PNCR’s Region 10 Chairman, noted.

NEW PARTIES
When asked whether the coalition is threatened by emerging new parties, he answered in the negative, describing them as only, “fly-by-night parties,” which will not distract the coalition. The MP also noted that the strategy caters for every group of persons in the region, since they all require a different message. While being cognisant that youths make up 65% of the population, he said that the coalition is au fait with their concerns and issues and will definitely place these on the front burner.

VOTE LIKE A BOSS
Similar sentiments were echoed by AFC MP Audwin Rutherford, who expressed optimism that the youths will ‘vote like a boss’ as they did in 2015, since it is evident that the coalition has their best interest at heart. He is eyeing 20,000 votes from Region 10 and as the MP responsible for Sub Region Two (Kwakwani district), he will also be directing efforts there. In fact, Friday, he said, will be the first meeting to galvanise forces in that area. He also reiterated that the coalition is tightly knit and that they are working together for the best interest of the people.

Also expressing confidence that youths will once again support the coalition, AFC Region 10 Chairman Devin Sears, who is also a youth and plays an integral role in recruiting youths for the Youths For Change (YFC) youth group, urged youths to not only sit on the sidelines but to join the conversation on politics and to get equally involved in the process. He is also urging the electorate to be confident in the strength of the coalition and to not be fooled with what is peddled out there as fake news. Sears alluded to many successes of the government since taking office in 2015, the latest being the allocating of the region’s largest budget which will fund several developmental projects in 2019. “This government cares for the people, the AFC and APNU will continue to fight for the interest of the people of Linden,” he said, noting that the residents as well need to be holding a united front in their support of the coalition.

FOOT SOLDIERS
As it relates to who will manage the campaign, Figueira noted that, that decision will have to be made by the central executives of both parties but in the interim, they are serving as foot soldiers, putting in the groundwork needed. Several fund-raising activities will be done, which will assist in funding of the Region 10 campaign.

The nation remains vigilant on when the next date of the elections will be called, following the dissenting vote of former MP Charrandass Persaud. A ruling on the matter pertaining to the validity of the vote will be delivered at the end of the month. Following a meeting with members of the opposition and President Granger and some members of his cabinet, a unanimous agreement was taken for elections to be held, based on the administrative readiness of GECOM.