PPP/C officials yesterday warned supporters not to trust the AFC and APNU saying that the two parties are conspiring to deny the ruling party another term and if the PPP/C fails to get over 50% of the votes, “cat eat the dinner of all of us.”
In an over three hours long rally at Stewartville in their traditional West Demerara stronghold, speakers sought to whip up the enthusiasm of the several thousands of supporters present and in what was the general theme throughout the rally, stressed that every vote was crucial. As has become the case in the rallies of the PPP over the past weeks, the first speakers and President Bharrat Jagdeo were in full attack mode with Jagdeo openly saying that he is in a “cuss mode” while the PPP Presidential Candidate, Donald Ramotar was more staid and persons departed when he spoke.
With the elections date rapidly approaching and the joint services set to vote next Monday, Jagdeo appealed to them, particularly the soldiers, to vote wisely. Introduced as a hero and “pride of the Caribbean”, Jagdeo charged that APNU’s presidential candidate, David Granger “helped to subvert professionalism in the army.” He also said that the former army commander depleted the capital stock of the army. “Examine him on his record,” he stated. He also dismissed former commissioner of police, Winston Felix as someone who does not deserve any respect. “Your brothers and sisters were killed in the streets while Felix was playing politics,” he said. “I ask you as a Guyanese man not to support them when you vote on Monday next.”
Throughout the rally, speakers sought to impress on their supporters that the AFC and APNU were conspiring together to deny the PPP victory. Chairperson of the event, Irfaan Ali charged that APNU has cut a deal with AFC leader Raphael Trotman to install Trotman as Prime Minister. “Any vote for the AFC is a vote for APNU,” he said. “Any vote that stays home is a vote for APNU.”
Komal Chand, leader of the sugar union, GAWU, also stressed that the AFC and APNU cannot be trusted. “They want to outmanoeuvre the PPP in Parliament,” he declared. He drew a parallel between the alliance of the UF and the PNC in the past. “Don’t think about AFC, AFC will toe the line as Peter D’Aguiar toed the line with Burnham,” he stated. He said that every single vote is important and this is a crucial election. The government has done a lot for ordinary people since 1992, he said. “If APNU win, they will privatise the sugar industry…sugar workers must take warning,” he said. He urged supporters to turn out in their numbers and ensure a landslide victory. “Half of the votes plus one…can’t win,” he declared.
Meantime, according to Jagdeo, the deal is that AFC presidential candidate, Khemraj Ramjattan and former PPP executive, Moses Nagamootoo and others will campaign only in PPP areas. He warned that if the PPP gets below 50% of the votes “cat eat the dinner of all of us here.” He urged the people to turn out in their numbers to vote for the PPP.
Jagdeo while urging attendees not to give the opposition parties a single vote also recalled the alliance between the UF and PNC saying that that had lost the PPP power for 30 years. He reserved a significant portion of his speech to attack the Kaieteur News and Stabroek News. “Watch out for the Kaieteur News, watch out for the Stabroek News,” he said. “Whole day they harassing Donald Ramotar but he’s as clean as a whistle and he strong.” The president said he is in a “cuss mode” and when the newspapers are objective then he will stop.
Jagdeo also attacked the candidates of the other parties saying that Ramjattan could not “see straight.” He also singled out the AFC’s Nigel Hughes, and said that they preached a “racist line.”
Ramotar, meanwhile, urged supporters to “stand by the PPP/C, stand by me.” He said that the party has improved accountability but this is not recognized by the opposition. Forums have been developed to allow the opposition’s voices to be heard but they are not going to allow them to filibuster and stymie development, he said. Ramotar repeated plans for the future mentioning hydro-power, the fibre-optic cable and computers, among others. By the time he spoke, sections of the flag-waving crowd had begun to depart.
He said they hope to develop the capacity to smelt bauxite here while an agreement to develop a gold mine bigger than Omai was signed recently and there is activity in mining manganese as well.
Referring to Granger’s statement during a University of Guyana presidential candidates forum last week, Ramotar said that the PNC destroyed education but the PPP has transformed education and by 2016 Guyanese will be the most educated people in the Caribbean.
Meanwhile, turning out in support of Ramotar was former PPP/C finance minister, Asgar Ally. “Anybody who manage Freedom House can manage this country,” he said adding that he hoped Guyanese can support Ramotar. Ally was asked by President Cheddi Jagan to step down as minister of finance and was succeeded by Jagdeo. He later former his own party and bitterly attacked the PPP/C.
