APNU accuses gov’t of using state-funded projects to campaign for votes

By Stabroek News On In Guyana News |
Buying votes? Minister of Local Government Norman Whittaker was busy on Thursday, when he commissioned 12 of 17 projects completed in Region Five as part of what the Government Information Agency (GINA) said was the administration’s “developmental strategy for all the administrative regions.” However, the main opposition APNU yesterday accused the administration of using state-funded projects to buy votes. In photos Whittaker can be seen commissioning two of the projects. (GINA photos)
Buying votes? Minister of Local Government Norman Whittaker was busy on Thursday, when he commissioned 12 of 17 projects completed in Region Five as part of what the Government Information Agency (GINA) said was the administration’s “developmental strategy for all the administrative regions.” However, the main opposition APNU yesterday accused the administration of using state-funded projects to buy votes. In photos Whittaker can be seen commissioning two of the projects. (GINA photos)

Main opposition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) yesterday accused government of using state-funded projects to campaign for votes in anticipation of upcoming elections—a charge that was later dismissed by Junior Minister of Finance Juan Edghill.

“The People’s Progres-sive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration has started its elections campaign with a massive spending spree of state funds. The squandermania is aimed unapologetically at winning votes from constituents and communities which the PPP/C has neglected for years,” Leader of APNU David Granger yesterday told a press conference.

Edghill told Stabroek News that Granger should show hard evidence that funds are being squandered and opined that the APNU leader’s “rants” are because he is scared of the PPP/C’s heightened presence in Linden.

“Let Mr Granger provide the evidence… I don’t see where there is squandermania. I see a man frightened of my presence in Region 10 but I want him to know no political party owns any region,” Edghill said.

Granger said the PPP/C’s only now executing projects in areas neglected for years was not because the government