PRIME Ministerial Candidate of the A Partnership for the National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC), Khemraj Ramjattan, said based on the overwhelming support the coalition has been receiving, it is likely to secure a landslide victory in the General and Regional Elections.

Ramjattan, the country’s Public Security Minister, and his wife, Sita Ramjattan, voted at the Rama Krishna Primary School, on Monday, when more than 600,000 Guyanese headed to the polls to determine their next government.

In the 2015 General and Regional Elections, the coalition secured 33 seats in the 65-Member National Assembly while the Opposition – the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) – received 32 seats. However, according to Ramjattan, the APNU+AFC will more than likely rake in an additional five seats in the National Assembly. “I think we are going to win by 4 to 5 seats. That’s my projection based on what as experience, as a politician for some 40 years and also from surveys we have done and the hype that we have seen by the rallies.” Ramjattan told journalists. According to him, he is “pretty confident” that the APNU+AFC has dominated the elections. If Ramjattan’s prediction is on point, the coalition would be in line to receive 38 seats in the House.

He said PPP/C, having lost touch with thousands of its supporters, is now feeling the consequence. Ramjattan said the PPP/C has been going downhill. In 1997, the PPP/C secured 220,000 votes; in 2001, 210,000 votes; in 2006, 182, 000 votes and in 2011, approximately 164,000 votes. According to Ramjattan, this trend is likely to continue.
“I have been to Port Mourant. I have been to some very stronghold areas of the PPP, and the people have indicated that yes, we are going to support the APNU+AFC, they like the achievements and they like the quality of the leadership as against that which we have in Irfaan Ali. So I am pretty hyped up,” the APNU+AFC prime ministerial candidate said.

Ramjattan’s projection is based on the support shown in the lead up to the elections, particularly during the coalition’s re-election rallies, and not the declaration of results from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). GECOM indicated that the preliminary results could be released later today; however, according to the APNU+AFC presidential candidate, the APNU+AFC and PPP/C would have a clear understanding of the voting pattern by this morning.

Even as GECOM prepares to release the results as they become available, Ramjattan called on Guyanese to be calm. “Please be calm, let there not be any provocations from opposing voters, voters with an opposing view, just be calm,” he urged.

Questioned over the alleged case of voters’ suppression, Ramjattan, in rejecting the allegations, said the decision to suspend travel between Suriname and Guyana via ‘backtrack route’ was as a result of the increasing spread of the coronavirus. The move, he noted, was a cautionary one and would likely to remain in place for more than a week. He said APNU+AFC is not in the business of voters’ suppression.

During the day, Minster Ramjattan was seen observing the elections particularly in Region Six. He also noted that the Guyana Police Force is committed to maintaining law and order during this sensitive period.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo cast his vote at the National Aquatic Centre in Liliendaal. Nagamootoo, who resides in North Sophia, voted at around 8:00hrs on Monday. Noting that the majority of the electors had voted early, the Prime Minister said the process was hassle-free.

“It seemed as if everything was going well and hope it remains that way until the rest of the day,” Ramjattan had pleaded. He said it was important for Guyanese to exercise their franchise in the elections. Minister Ramjattan and Prime Minister Nagamootoo were among government officials who voted in Monday’s elections.