“It is time we remove this PPP wrecking crew from government,” APNU+AFC presidential candidate David Granger told a mammoth crowd last evening, while emphasising the need to get to the polls early and be vigilant throughout the day.
There was an endless sea of people wearing green and yellow gathered at the Square of the Revolution and its outskirts for the coalition’s final rally before the country heads to the polls tomorrow for much anticipated elections. Observers estimated that the crowd numbered at least 20, 000 people. It was extremely difficult to navigate the assembly, which filled the space between Hadfield Street and the Office of the President compound on Vlissengen Road.
Granger, who was the last speaker at the rally which wrapped after 10 PM, was welcomed by an energised crowd.
“Be vigilant… and don’t go to sleep until you hear David Granger is president of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana,” he said to loud cheers and waving flags, posters, and banners. The hours of standing did not seem to bother many, who started gathering early for the scheduled 5PM start of the rally. Babies, young children and elderly person using walking sticks were part of the crowd. Some used the APNU flags to make dresses, tops, shirts and pants, which they proudly wore. Many women also accessorised using the coalition’s colours.
Describing the event as more than a rally and nothing short of a movement, Granger said tomorrow’s polls would be elections for jobs, the homeless, the helpless and all Guyanese.
He urged supporters to make no mistake on Monday and not to oversleep as it will be “the longest day of your lives.” Like some of the speakers before him, he advised that today be spent relaxing and reflecting on the history that will be made.
During his address he spoke of former president Bharrat Jagdeo’s “cuss down behaviour,” while noting that he would do nothing more than take the incumbent government “down with him.”
“This is going to become an education country again…. It is time. It is time to take the country back and we have to start on May 11,” he stressed.
“You have a bright future. You have suffered too much for 23 years. Just hold on for 23 hours more,” he said to deafening screams. The sounds coming out of the speakers were so loud that the ground vibrated.
Granger stressed that once the coalition gets into office, a “good life” will be assured. “Let’s go out and win this elections for ourselves and children,” he said.
‘Brink of a dictatorship’
Meanwhile, coalition prime ministerial candidate Moses Nagamootoo, while noting that this will be a “peaceful” and “glorious” revolution, said that the elections are bringing the possibility of unity, which has been eluding the country in all of its modern history. He told supporters that they are the energy and the driving force for the change that the country so desperately needs.
Nagamootoo reminded the public that president Donald Ramotar has done nothing but destroyed the country, the Parliament and threatened democracy in his short tenure.
Ramotar’s actions, he stressed, have placed the country on the brink of a dictatorship. He called on all to head to the polls to ensure that the coalition has a large majority and keeps the PPP/C in a minority.
According to Nagamootoo, Region One, the Rupununi, Whim and West Demerara are some of the areas that are now APNU+AFC territory as their residents have fully endorsed the coalition as they see clearly that it is time for change.
Speaking with confidence, he said the PPP/C may have more resources at its disposal but in the end the coalition will have more votes. “We are sure of this change coming. We are sure of this revolution,” he said, while urging those who remained at home to vote for it come Monday. Nagamootoo, who returned from campaigning activities in Region One earlier in the day, said if the Ramotar government is re-elected for a second term, there will be no democracy.
“I want to ask you tonight, do you want Chikungunya Ramotar twice?” he asked the crowd, which shouted out a deafening no. He stressed that the only way to prevent this is to go out and vote.
He spoke of the coalition’s first 100 days plan and promised that the sugar industry would be rescued.
Nagamootoo spoke of sugar lands in the Diamond and Providence area which were given to friends and members of the PPP/C. “Wherever land is available, we must give it to the sugar workers so they can decide if they want to plant cane because their forefathers sacrificed, gave their life, gave their blood, gave their sweat to manure the soil,” he stressed. With respect to African ancestral lands, he said these must go to the descendants. He also spoke of Amerindian land titles, which he promised will be rectified when his party takes office.
His wife, Sita Nagamootoo, while wishing all mothers a Happy Mother’s Day, stressed that they must not be troubled as they will receive all their gifts on May 12, when the coalition wins the elections. She noted that the coalition was “specially ordained.”
‘Best hope for Guyana’
Ulele Burnham, daughter of the late president Forbes Burnham also announced her support for the coalition at the rally. Burnham, who recently returned from the UK, stressed that the power to turn this country around is in the hands of the people. “I am here to endorse this coalition as the movement for change,” she said, while noting that she is here once again to bury her father as every elections his grave “does get dig up, again and again.”
Burnham made it clear that she was not at the rally to glorify her father or anyone else. “I am here to share with you my commitment to stand with the APNU+AFC coalition… as the best hope for Guyana,” she said.
Dr. Joey Jagan, the son of late president Cheddi Jagan, also spoke at the rally in favour of the coalition. He has said he is backing the coalition as the PPP, which was founded by his father, has strayed away from his father’s vision.
Also speaking were Kamala Persaud, Nia Gonsalves and Sandra Granger. The crowd was treated to a number of cultural items which included tassa drumming, African drumming and songs, including one from local songstress Lisa Punch.
