The opposition coalition APNU is preparing to launch its official campaign which will focus on grassroots concerns, the grouping’s General-Secre-tary Joseph Harmon says.
President Donald Ramotar on Tuesday identified May 11 as the date for general elections and Harmon said that APNU is working full steam ahead. The coalition would be transitioning its local government elections campaign to a broader landscape, he said while emphasising that since April of last year, APNU has interacted with communities across the country and people’s day-to-day challenges were identified.
The APNU official said that residents expressed frustration that physical infrastructure continues to be problematic as does the lack of jobs especially amongst the youth. “Roads, drains, the lights, stuff like that…the quality of life and the attention that the government pays to public infrastructure” were some of the issues frequently addressed during various community visits, he said.
According to Harmon, the large-scale projects that often form the foundation of the government showcase of development have no “immediate or short term gain for the average person to positively affect their daily lives.” He said that the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project, the Speciality Hospital and the fibre optic cable are “failed” projects that lack transparency and accountability. “They talk about these projects being transformative but there is no immediate gain…these projects are huge failures and are way beyond completion dates and costs,” he declared.
APNU will be looking to identify strategies that are going to benefit the average Guyanese and take into account what the real issues are, Harmon asserted. He said that leading up to the May 11 general elections, the coalition will be far more active on social media and in the press to reach the broadest base possible. The party will be intensifying its interactions and outreach work, he said.
The APNU official stated that the recent lowering of fuel prices at the state-owned GuyOil service stations is a ploy by the government. He said that the drastic drop in prices was done a day before the President announced a date for the general elections. Real reductions in prices should be reflected across the board if the intention was really to benefit the consumers, he asserted.
Harmon said that as the campaigning commences, APNU is looking to speak to communities and take an approach that is expansive to its local government elections campaign which he cited as successful so far.
Stabroek News was informed that APNU’s executive member and former Police Commissioner Winston Felix was appointed as APNU’s campaign manager.
