Dear Editor,

RALLIES play major a role in political campaigns. And once the political party has the capability, they organise in a manner that entertains while simultaneously sending out carefully crafted messages to likely voters, which seek to positively influence them.

Within the context of the APNU+AFC coalition, it is obvious that these campaigns are gaining momentum and drawing the desired attention. President David Granger has been insisting that every message must be about the unbridled truth, regarding honesty and integrity as the pillars on which the party would triumph.

He has asserted that there is more than enough ‘truth’ in the form of evidence-based achievements to go around, even long after the elections are over. At the same time, the Coalition party continues to let the masses know about the future plans for the people of the country.

National Squatter Settlement Commission
Arousing the passion of the residents of Region Three at the Leonora rally, President Granger put forward a three-point plan of action. There was a packed programme, commencing with three vibrant prayers, representing the Christian, Hindu and Muslim communities in Guyana. In addition, there were songs and dances followed by the addresses.

Following two other stirring remarks done by Mr. Ganesh Mahipaul and Ms. Thandi McAllister, both of Region Three, President Granger took to the podium.

In his first of a three-point plan, while bemoaning the area called ‘Plastic City’, saying that nobody should be made to live like that, President Granger promised, “By the time the APNU+AFC government finishes its next tour of duty, after the 2020 elections, there will be no more ‘Plastic City’.”
He added, “On the 15th of March, I will set up a National Squatter Settlement Commission under the Ministry of Communities. We are going to make squatter settlements history; people must not live like that in Guyana. If I was the Minister of Housing and Water, I would have been ashamed of myself to live in a region and have people living in those conditions. We are going to use our money; our revenues, resources to eliminate squatting all over Guyana.”

He noted that “Over the last 23 years,” a hundred and fifty squatter settlements grew up like ‘jumbie umbrella’ all over this country and assured that the APNU+AFC will put an end to it.” President Granger iterated that the Commission he will set up on March 15 will ensure that every Guyanese have a roof over his head. Furthermore, President Granger stated that the oil money is not for a few but for everyone and so the coalition will abolish squatting. “No slums; no shanties; no squatting,” he said.

THE SUGAR INDUSTRY
In relation to the sugar industry, President Granger told the residents that the decision of his government was a difficulty one. “We thought hard and long, but we said that we must protect and preserve the sugar industry in Region Three. We protected the sugar industry in East Berbice; we protected the sugar industry in West Berbice and we protected the sugar industry in West Demerara.”

He explained that his administration did what had to be done, but with much care for sugar workers, being cognizant of the fact that sugar cannot be sold on the world market at the cost it is being produced at Wales, “but we did not throw Wales under the bus; we amalgamated Wales and Uitvlugt and many of the people from Wales have gotten jobs in Uitvlugt,” he assured.

The President also said that in an effort to effectively utilise the lands the government has plans to establish a State Land Resettlement Commission to assist people who have been left unemployed. He said that they will be given access to land, in an effort to uplift their economic standing. “We will not leave the sugar workers on their own,” said he. He reminded that it was the PPP who shut down the Diamond Estate, and GAWU was forced to take GUYSUCO to court. The PPP had put 500 people out of work and between 1992 and 2015 the PPP sent home 5000 sugar worker from GUYSUCO. President Granger also mentioned Skeldon, which is now “unfixable”, he stated.

THE FIVE BS INITIATIVE

President Ganger asked those present to think back about what the speaker before him, Mr. Ganesh Mahipaul, said about education. He asked that they, “Think back about those Five Bs; think back about the buses and the boats and the bicycles. There are now 40 buses on the roads; there are now 20000 bicycles, and a dozen boats on the rivers.” He applauded two young children: Rihanna Browne from Leonora Secondary School, and Arianna Pratt of Patentia Secondary School, both of whom stood up before the crowd at the rally to say thanks.

“We are going to pay every family that sends his or her child to school, every mother or father a Special Public Education Assistance Grant,” President Granger stated. He iterated that the government fulfil every promised mentioned in his presentation because the APNU+AFC coalition government care for all the people of this nation.
Regards,
Margaret Burke