Both the People’s Progres-sive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and the main Opposition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) yesterday declared confidence over the June 12 Local Govern-ment Elections (LGEs) when they presented their lists of candidates across the country.
With Nomination Day proceedings declared to have been smooth, the two main parties were clearly visible with large number of supporters turning up in red and green in various parts of the country.
They both expressed confidence in their lists for municipalities and neighbourhood democratic councils.
President Irfaan Ali spoke to supporters at Freedom House on Robb Street.
“This list is a demonstration of the PPP, and that is; a unified Guyana, a unified list, a list that speaks of unity and purpose, unity of hope and as we advance on this campaign in these LGE, we are moving together as a people to uplift our communities, uplift the lives of citizens all across our country. We are committed to a unified purpose and that unified purpose is to bring prosperity to every single home here in Guyana”, Ali said.
“To all the new faces who have joined us, we welcome you with open arms and with love and you are part of a movement that is committed to national development; you are part of a movement that is committed to the upliftment of every single Guyanese and today you have joined up so that we can even send a stronger message that this is a national party”, the President added.
The President insisted that the candidates of the PPP/C must not be intimidated as they take on the interest of their communities across Guyana.
PPP General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo also lauded those on the party’s lists who have crossed over.
“Today, you have a number of people that were campaigning with APNU, who have crossed over to us and we welcome them because the party believes in embracing people of every race, whichever party you support in the past doesn’t matter. If you believe in development in our country then your place is in the PPP/C……don’t not worry about the naysayers, let us fight them aggressively though, not physically … Don’t talk about people gender or their race or religion but barring those three things …fight them aggressively”, Jagdeo urged.
He inveighed against race politics.
“We can’t go back to the 60’s and that past. We can’t go back and divide our people and think it would work anymore. This is a time for bringing people together and there is one party in this country that is doing that and that is the PPP/C”, he declared.
APNU also contended that they have the winning list.
APNU Head and Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton yesterday met with the candidates and supporters and also expressed satisfaction in the list for Georgetown. He said that they had what it takes to beat the PPP/C since they have done their ground work.
“What one needs to recognize is that they (the PPP/C) have money at their disposal and they are going to use it but as experienced people in politics we must stay focused. We know from our support base that on the ground that they will support us and we will beat the PPP/C in all our strongholds and many other areas.” The Opposition Leader vowed.
Norton accused the PPP/C of buying support of African-Guyanese.
“To all out supporters across the country you should not be worried. What the PPP/C is doing today is using their monies at their disposal to appear to have black support.” Norton maintained
Troy Garraway, APNU’s District Chairman said that they have a winning list since their candidates are passionate about development.
“Most of our candidate are passionate about the development of Georgetown and Guyana as a whole and so you will not see some of the old faces that are normally around the party because what we went for this time are persons who are very community-based, who are constituency oriented and who have that passion to develop their constituency and community when they go to the council”, he said.
“Boots on the ground continues to be the thing that wins elections. I think in 2018, we were a bit complacent in curtain constituencies. We thought we had it and we failed to do the necessary ground work, we learned from that and now boots on the ground in all constituencies, every door, every corner we are knocking at this time around. That is what wins election.”
With all the lists of candidates submitted countrywide, the next step is for the Guyana Elections Commission to have discrepancies corrected, if needed and to approve the names of those summited.
