With the official launch of its manifesto at the Stabroek Market Square yesterday afternoon, the APNU+AFC leadership says the setting was symbolic of its commitment to the grassroots population of Guyana.
“We wanted to bond with the people; to show solidarity to the ordinary people. That is why we focused on coming here,” Leader of the coalition David Granger explained.
The venue was in stark contrast to the Marriott Hotel launch of the PPP/C’s manifesto last Saturday.
Coming just before members of the disciplined services vote tomorrow, Granger announced to the gathering of supporters and curious onlookers that a commission will be established to review the salaries of members of the police force to make them commensurate with the cost of living. His announcement brought cheers from the crowd, members of which also teased police officers in the vicinity. One woman told a senior officer, “Ow, y’all gon get in good, eh?”
Despite the jubilant atmosphere, the many police officers who were on duty at the event were unresponsive as they went about their work.
Granger said the coalition’s plans include launching a war on poverty, crime, dictatorship, disunity, cronyism and corruption, among other ills.
“When you have a president of a country and you have a fibre optic cable to run, who you give it to?’ he asked the crowd. The crowd erupted into shouts of, “He son” and Alexei,” in reference to President Donald Ramotar’s son, Alexei Ramotar, whose stewardship of the bungled cable project has come in for scrutiny. There was more screaming and dancing when Granger said that favouritism shown to families and friends will end and qualified persons will fill requisite positions, should the coalition be elected. “Corruption is eating the heart out of government… people fed up. Everybody I meet want to have a level playing field,” the APNU+AFC leader further said.
During his brief remarks, he encouraged persons to access the manifesto online and read about the myriad plans the coalition has for the country’s development. It can be
viewed or downloaded at http://apnuafc.net/manifesto/.
Prime Ministerial Candidate Moses Nagamootoo, who also spoke at the launch, stressed the importance of accountable governance, which he said is an integral part of the coalition’s five year plan. “We have in store open and accountable governance and that is what underlines this manifesto,” he stressed.
He underscored the importance of ending discrimination and exploitation of people and said that the social scourges he lamented were present under the rule of the current People’s Progressive Party/Civic administration.
Holding a copy of the manifesto in his hands, Nagamootoo promised the crowd that in it they would see it is a “people’s manifesto” and that the plans would take the country forward and give the populace “happy and prosperous days at home.”
Granger and Nagamootoo shared the limited number of manifestos they brought to the event to representatives from the disciplined forces, the indigenous peoples, rice farmers and vendors, among others.
