President David Granger on Tuesday evening pledged to banish piracy from Region Six while pleading again with supporters to ensure that APNU+AFC wins the entire East Berbice-Corentyne.
Promising to make Region Six safe, Granger said at Skeldon, “The APNU+AFC government will abolish piracy in Region Six”. He stated that after taking office in 2015 there were many piracy attacks which led his administration to start a “rigorous programme of air patrol, a rigorous programme of maritime patrols and we practically abolished piracy”.
He further noted that a Commission of Inquiry into the piracy attack off of Suriname in April 2018 was established and that last week a report with recommendations was presented to him which will be implemented by the APNU+AFC administration if it won the elections. At least 12 Guyanese died in that attack.
“We are going to improve the maritime police to make sure the rivers are patrolled and the coast is patrolled”, he said.
He added that during his planned decade of development the APNU+AFC will restore an aviation wing to the Guyana Police Force “so they can fly over the coastland and see any contraband”. Noting, that he wished not to hurt anyone, Granger stressed that smuggling must also be removed from the region.
“This region is going to be safe for housewives, it’s going to be safe against bandits, it’s going to be safe against murders”, he stated, as he contended that there were 1,431 murders under the tenure of former President Bharrat Jagdeo.
Over the life of the Granger administration, Berbicians have complained at various times about the crime wave. There have also been concerns about corruption in the police force.
Granger, who is currently performing the functions of a caretaker President, said that his party has a regional action plan for security.
“We know there are still problems in this region that is why we brought mounted police who are living and working in this region… Every day we think about the safety in Region Six and the mounted police are patrolling the back dams”.
According to the President, the APNU+AFC government established the Rural Agriculture Infrastructure Development plan for which a minister of Rural Affairs was appointed so as to ensure that issues affecting rice farmers and others are dealt with. He said it “ … will ensure that your drainage and irrigation problems especially in Black Bush Polder are fixed”.
He further pledged, “We will make sure that your rice farmers get adequate water on time. We will make sure that your village economies are strengthened”, adding that Corriverton is a commercial powerhouse.
Region Six has been hit hard by the laying off of thousands of sugar workers under the APNU+AFC administration.
Meanwhile, the president also sought to remind the gathering that Region Six has tremendous agriculture potential as he pointed out that the region produces sugar, rice, vegetables and meat. He said while the region should not be poor it is because the PPP/C-led Regional Democratic Council has a poor mentality similar to the PPP/C.
He then promised to restore power for Region Six if his party is elected to govern for a second term, as he stated that the region must elect a leader and not a protester.
“Believe me once APNU+AFC takes control of the regional administration you will see progress in this region”, he said.
He noted that it is important to make Region Six attractive for investors and also in an effort to have Guyanese return home.
Granger also boasted to the crowd that the APNU+AFC has the winning team of “Granger – Ramjattan” who will beat “Ali-Phillips” on March 2nd.
