IN a thunderous address to thousands of energised supporters gathered at Side Line Dam, Stewartville, Region Three, General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, on Sunday, declared with blazing confidence that the ruling party is marching toward a “huge, decisive, overwhelming victory” and warned in no uncertain terms, that any attempt to derail democracy will be dealt with accordingly by the country’s security services.

“We’re heading to a huge, decisive, overwhelming victory for the PPP/C. And that victory will only be possible because of your support,” Dr. Jagdeo asserted.

Dr. Jagdeo’s comments were a scorching condemnation of those who, facing certain defeat, are already sowing the seeds of unrest.

He reminded the mammoth crowd that A Partnership for National Unity’s presidential candidate Aubrey Norton had said: “If I don’t win, and if the elections are rigged, there will be trouble in Guyana.”. He also reminded them of the utterances of the We Invest in Nationhood’s presidential candidate, U.S.-sanctioned Azruddin Mohamed, who said, “I did a poll…my poll showed that I’m winning the presidency. I’ve already won in Regions One Seven, Eight and Nine and the PPP is planning to rig… and there’ll be trouble in Guyana.”

Dr. Jagdeo lambasted Mohamed’s claims as pure fiction, describing them as “dangerous delusions” and accusing him of parroting the “old, reckless language of the PNC”

“Now, he has adopted the language of the PNC, the old language of the PNC,” Dr. Jagdeo said before reminding his audience of the PNCR’s dark legacy of electoral chaos and instability.

In a firm warning to all would-be agitators, he made it clear that the state’s security apparatus stands ready and capable.

“The security forces are ready to take on anyone who tries to disrupt the peaceful poll in these upcoming elections,” the PPP General Secretary said.

Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken, while speaking to members of the press Friday on the day his ranks participated in early voting, stated that prior to elections, the Guyana Police Force worked with other arms of the Joint Services in relation to training.

Additionally, he said that their units are preparing with continuous training, which is still ongoing.

“We’re adequately prepared. Remember Nomination Day we were quiet… we expected that this day (last Friday) would be quiet and similarly for the General and Regional Elections, we expect it to be quiet,” he said.
He went on to reiterate that the police are going to be prepared and will be monitoring polling activities in all regions come September 1.