By Lisa Hamilton

RESIDENTS of Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) have not forgotten the many ways in which the government has transformed their Region and were eager to speak of them on Wednesday at the second APNU+AFC elections campaign rally.

The rally took place at the Hopetown Community Centre Ground, and throughout the evening saw a constant stream of persons filling the venue. Taking the stage was former Mahaica-Berbice Regional Member of Parliament (MP) Jennifer Wade, who had all the records to show of the developments coming to the region through the government. She highlighted that some $888.16 million was spent on education delivery in the country, through which the villages Perth and Calcutta saw the construction of two new nursery schools. She also noted the extension works done to schools in Hopetown, Cotton Tree, No. 5 village and Belladrum.

Wade then pointed to the $366.34 million spent in the health sector, through which there were two new health centres in Highdam, and the maintenance of the two hospitals and all health centres in the Region. When it came to the $275M spent on agriculture, drainage and irrigation, she noted the rehabilitation of canals and outfalls and the construction of bridges, sluices, community roads, backdam roads and farm-to-market roads.

“The construction of a new sluice at D’Edward! Never before! That will ease the flooding in the agriculture area,” Wade said, dding: “This is not a one-term government, because the PPP did not do anything for you over the 23 years. You know how you suffered over the 23 years, and I’ve come here to remind you this afternoon: Let not our brains be shallow, comrades. We have a task to do, and let us do it.”

The MP did not fail to point out that, through an initiative of the President, the Mahaica-Berbice Region was able to host two Regional Agricultural and Commercial Exhibitions (RACE) over the last two years. She also highlighted the construction of a new abattoir at Onverwagt, and the new house lots that were being issued. “Now the PPP is pretending that they have the answers to everything,” she said, adding: All of a sudden, when, over the years, they did nothing for us. But what is sad about opportunity is that when it is lost, it is never regained.”

Meanwhile, representing the thousands of youthful voices in Region Five was PNCR Mahaica-Berbice Regional Chairman, Vinceroy Jordan who said that while a crossover in the National Assembly saw the Opposition pushing a message of “No- confidence”, youths in the Region have full confidence in the Coalition.

The youngster said that he and many others will continue to stand for a government that is rewarding, and will remain 100 per cent behind President David Granger, who has demonstrated good governance and leadership.

Jordan boasted that through the president’s ‘5Bs’ initiative, Region Five is benefitting from a school-feeding programme at several schools, which gives children access to free breakfast and lunch. He also hailed the re-establishment of the Youth Corps, the implementation of the patient-care apprenticeship programme, and the restoration of Local Government Elections. Speaking to the latter issue, Jordan said: “Over the past three years, we held two successive Local Government Elections, and today we can see young mayors, young deputy-mayors, young councillors, young NDC chairmen and chairwomen, young NDC deputy-chairmen and chairwomen. Today I am a testimony of such… The Youth Corps has been reestablished, and we are grateful for that. What the PPP tried to ‘bruck up’, we are now putting back in place. And so, we’re saying we don’t want another PPP regime. What we want is the APNUAFC government!”

During the rally, thousands of supporters, who were in high spirits, danced to calypso music urging Guyanese to “give David some time” and to tell the Opposition that “23 into 5 can’t go”. They were also entertained by the vibrant Berbice Elite Chutney Dancers, two-time Chutney champion, Bunty Singh, and local Soca artiste, Vanilla.