We expect the 18-35 group to move Guyana into a new era

According to GECOM, 46 per cent of voters are between 18 and 35,. Guyana expects this group to be the decisive factor  on November 28 as they choose  the next government of Guyana.

Remember young voters you have no real experience of any other Government but the PPP/Civic. Trust your own experience. Others will give you their versions of past government. The past is gone. Those experiences were based on different perspectives and another way of looking at Guyana's circumstances..It is vital that you make decisions on what you experience now. 

You are choosing a leader for your country. In this election all three of the major candidates are new to the office of President. Two of the candidates went through a process of winning their candidature by convincing their party membership of their worthiness. APNU's David Granger went though the most testing process. He campaigned to win his party's nomination and emerged victor after several party debates. The PPP/Civic did not change their method of choosing a Presidential candidate opting to let a small group at the top of the party to select the candidate. This despite the fact that two of their five possible candidates wanted a change to a more open form of selection similar to the one the PNC chose.

So you the voter have to decide whether you want a leader who has come to you via a democratic process within his own party or one that has been forced on you by a small group. 

Each party has presented its plans for a future Guyana to you. Significantly both opposition groups have mentioned the reduction of VAT. The PPP/Civic group introduced a very high level of VAT. They did not even think of reducing the VAT as an election gimmick. It is obvious that APNU has put its focus on the youth with specific plans for education and job creation. Read its plans and see its clear focus on shaping a new Guyanese society based on its youth.

If you examine APNU's plans with the ruling party's plans you will see a major difference of perspective. The ruling party is obviously tired and thinking in the past. One does not get the impression that it is confidently aware of the challenges facing Guyana in a rapidly changing world. In the past 19 years we have seen it work in a re-active mode instead of a pro-active one. It has a fix it as it happens mentality.

Unfortunately its Presidential candidate is a person who still seems to be trapped in a world dominated by the ideology he learned while in the Soviet Union . Even Russia has moved beyond those days of the past. It is interesting to hear the PPP/Civic leaders speak. They focus on the past. They do not seem aware of the changes in front of them. After 19 years they now are excited by laptops. At this late stage they are talking about new investments. What happened in the last five years?

There is a trend that you must watch. A year and a half ago David Granger was not seen as a future Guyana leader. The hidden desire for a new type of leader in the hearts of most Guyanese allowed him to make the decision to run to be the  PNC  candidate for President. To the surprise of many inside and outside of the party he managed to win acceptance as the party's candidate. He then was able to persuade the party to join with ten other parties and groups to form APNU. This was a tremendous achievement. He even persuaded former bitter foe the WPA to be part of this group. Within the short space of two months he was able to work with these groups and take into account all their different perceptions into a forceful and compelling vision of operating in a new way with the Guyanese people.

Granger then chose a veteran nationalist and leading intellectual in Guyana --Rupert Roopnarine as his running mate. When people see them together they must recognize that Guyana is moving beyond the old politics. Here are two people working together that a year ago we would not have  thought could happen. APNU has quickly established its own headquarters making it easy for its partners to interact in a neutral location.

Contrary to what some said ("Granger is not a politician"--Hamilton) David Granger then energized the PNC base. The huge turn out of supporters on nomination day forced the PPP to go back to the past by creating feelings of racial division. On the net APNU is way ahead of other parties with a dynamic, informative website  Its Facebook  page is responsive and quickly communicates in words and images a party on the move.

As a voter you have to note how well organized APNU has been. You have seen a leader who acts  promptly and firmly. He gets things done. If David Granger can bring together 10 parties in such a sort time he must be the leader we are all yearning for. Remember Dr. Jagan failed to bring together such a wide ranging grouping in 1992 despite having a better climate for a joint opposition.

On Monday stand tall. Act decisively. Step boldly into the future we all want--a united grouping of our people sharing our energies, values and plans under a President who is in tune with our ideals--David Granger.