TODAY, thousands of persons are expected to converge at the Golden Glove Community Centre Ground for the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition 2020 Elections’ Rally, during which, President David Granger is expected to give an electrifying speech, highlighting future developments as the country embarks on a ‘Decade of Development’.

President Granger, the APNU+AFC Presidential Candidate, will be accompanied by Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams; Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence; Minister of Public Service, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, and other government, regional and local officials. The rally commences at 17:00hrs and will feature some of the country’s leading entertainers.

During his recent appearance on Guyana Chronicle’s online programme ‘Vantage Point,’ the attorney-general, who is also the APNU+AFC campaign manager for the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) corridor, said during the rally, those present will be given an insight into the future developments of the country, and an assessment of the achievements made since the APNU+AFC Coalition took office in May 2015.

Under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration, Guyana experienced a horrendous crime wave, which spanned from 2002 to 2008, and the persons living along the ECD corridor bore the brunt of the situation.

“The East Coast was a killing field and hundreds of youths, young lads lost their lives,” Minister Williams said as he reflected on those “dark days” often described by President Granger as the period of the “Troubles”.

A part from crime, the attorney-general said the residents along that corridor faced a myriad of land-related issues and issues relative to agriculture and co-op societies. “In terms of land, for example, lots of persons had made applications for land and those applications never saw the light of day and when we came into office, they then sought to get us to revive their applications and we were able to treat with many as far as we could within the rules,” he explained.

He said today, the ECD corridor is on the rise with crime on the decrease, resulting in an increase in commercial activities. Improved infrastructure can be seen along the ECD corridor, he added.

Akeasha Boodie, a communication’s officer who form part of the APNU+AFC ECD campaign committee, told the Guyana Chronicle that the ECD corridor is now a safer place. “In communities like Buxton that were painted badly, in those areas, you can walk at any time of the night without fear. So I would say there is a huge difference now,” she pointed out.
Boodie, who was upbeat about today’s rally, said youths are eager to participate in the development of the communities and towns, and the country as a whole. In the political realm, she said the APNU+AFC has been drawing the support of young people.

To those persons who are indecisive, Boodie warned that the election of the wrong political party to government can cost the coast. “My charge to youths is that you must come out and vote. This decision is very vital to your country, what happens to future generations, so on March 2, I am encouraging you to go out and put your ‘X’ next to the APNU+AFC,” she encouraged.

The voting population on the ECD corridor is approximately 101,000 voters.

During the Decade of Development, President Granger intends to transform Guyana into a Digital State, a ‘Green’ State, a Petroleum State and an Education Nation. Major emphasis, the President has said, will be placed on education.