AFC APNU Plan for Rupununi

Valerie Lowe on the campaign trail

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) have decided to craft a rescue plan to improve the living conditions of the residents of the Rupununi (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) Region (Region No. 9).

APNU and AFC conducted outreaches to over fifty villages in the north central and south savannahs so far this year. Interaction with hundreds of residents and visits to villages indicate clearly that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration has been hampering the Region’s economic and social development and hindering the happiness and welfare of the people living there.

David Granger -Presidential candidate APNU AFC

The Rupununi – larger than Costa Rica – is Guyana’s largest region. It is, however, the poorest. The results of PPP/C incompetence, after over two decades, have been the unsettled Indigenous land issues, an unsatisfactory education system and underdeveloped infrastructure. APNU+AFC will introduce the following reforms:

Land reform: Many communities are not satisfied with the lands allocated to them. Large tracts of land have been given out as mining and forestry concessions. APNU+AFC will sit down with communities and re-examine their claims with a view to settling them once and for all.

Education reform: Many children have been failing all four subjects at the annual National Grade Six Assessment examinations.Dropout rates for boys and girls in primary and secondary schools are high. APNU+AFC will ensure that schools are fully staffed and properly equipped. The Coalition will also  establish a Rupununi Technical Institute and a Rupununi Agricultural Institute.

Infrastructure reconstruction: APNU+AFC will invest in infrastructure to ensure that roads are made more accessible in any weather and bridges are reconstructed and made more sturdy. The cost of living is high largely because of the administration’s reluctance to invest in building the essential Annai-Achawib and Lethem-Linden highways.

The APNU+AFC Coalition is committed to ensuring that access to the information super highway would be made easier. Without information technology, the Region’s residents would not be able to receive the quality information, communication and education they need in their everyday lives. An APNU+AFC administration would provide distance education to enable students to pursue degree and diploma courses at the University of Guyana.

The APNU+AFC, five-day campaign travelled to Achawib, Aishalton, Awarewanau, Katoonarib, Potarinau, Sand Creek, Sawariwau, Shea and Shulinab and other mainly Wapishana villages in the South and Apoteri, Annai, Aranaputa, Crashwater, Fairview, Kwaimatta, Kwattamang, Massara, Rewa, Rupertee, Surama, Toka, Yakarinta  and other Macushi villages in the north.

74 Days to go for moment of sweeping change in Guyana

#Guyanese will take their future in their hands. They will courageously and boldly choose to lift the country to a new phase of political unity and inclusion of all groups in national decision making.
#nationalunityinguyana
, #apnuafc
#Guyana

A United Slate will win in Guyana--Moses Nagamootoo

AFC-mania afire! Well, it has caught on at last, that AFC is leading the change, not only of a minority government, but in the way detractors see us. AFC has taken centre-stage before but especially after the Valentine Day (Cummingsburg) Accord, and more particularly after the historic handshake and embrace between David Granger and myself as leaders of an Alliance slate. Street people that it's the "Dagga/Nagga" combo.

David Granger and Moses Nagamootoo

Looking shaken and frightened, Clement Rohee saw the Accord for National Unity as AFC signing its death warrant. He threatened: "who ain't dead, will be badly wounded".

Rohee is national security minister and he ought to be taken seriously. Under his watch, peaceful protesters have been shot and killed, and innocent rice farmers tear-gassed, one stripped naked, then hauled away to the lock-ups. 

Moses Nagamootoo

But we didn't expect the AFC-mania to infect Junior Minister Edghill, who ripped the Bible apart when he described the mighty Moses and brave David as "betrayers". He has clearly gone over the edge.

However, it was Ramsammy, a third minister, who got bassidy over AFC's alliance move, and tripped over himself, saying that the Coalition has enhanced their chance for a win on May 11, then quickly retracted and denied what was at first an honest opinion. Like Urkle, he was heard murmuring all day: "did I say that?"

AFC-APNU or APNU-AFC alliance is right now the biggest show on the road. United slates worked in Sri Lanka and, just today, in St. Kitts-Nevis.

It will win for all Guyanese on May 11. It will win big!

THE DARKEST DAY FOR DEMOCRACY IN GUYANA-David Granger APNU Leader

LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION
HON. BRIGADIER DAVID A. GRANGER, MP
Monday 10th November 2014

THE DARKEST DAY FOR DEMOCRACY IN GUYANA

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) is enraged at President Donald Ramotar’s promulgation of a proclamation to prorogue parliament on Monday 10th November 2014. This is the darkest day for democracy in Guyana.

This ‘Proclamation’ has effectively paralysed the parliamentary process and smothered the voices of the people’s legitimate representatives in the National Assembly. It is an affront to the Guyanese people who three years ago, in November 2011, voted for A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance for Change (AFC) to have the majority of seats in the National Assembly.

President Ramotar has now single-handedly engineered a constitutional crisis. The main purposes of the ‘Proclamation’ are to allow the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) to avoid parliamentary scrutiny while it attempts to:

• prevent debate on the Opposition ‘no-confidence’ motion;
• prevent the holding of local government elections;
• prevent debate on financial excesses and impropriety;
• protect the reputations of his Ministers from parliamentary sanction;
• permit the PPP’s campaign for general and regional elections to proceed;
• permit the continued expenditure of state funds without parliamentary scrutiny.

President Donald Ramotar -Guyana

The President’s ‘Proclamation’ to prorogue parliament is a challenge to the entire nation. He has no grounds for his crude smothering of parliamentary independence.

APNU will not accept this denial of democracy and will not be intimidated by the PPP/C’s dictatorial behaviour.

Hon. David Granger-Opposition Leader Guyana

APNU is resolved to resist the President’s ‘Proclamation’. APNU calls on all the good people of Guyana everywhere to join in a civil movement for the restoration of parliamentary democracy by peacefully resisting the PPP/C’s resort to dictatorship and to call for the revocation of this ‘Proclamation’. — with Hon David Arthur Granger.

APNU to resist current situation in Guyana- Rally on Friday 14th

"APNU is resolved to resist the President’s ‘Proclamation’. 

Leader of APNU-David Granger

APNU calls on all the good people of Guyana everywhere to join in a civil movement for the restoration of parliamentary democracy by peacefully resisting the PPP/C’s resort to dictatorship and to call for the revocation of this ‘Proclamation’."

SPREAD THE WORD - COME OUT TO A RALLY ON FRIDAY 14TH NOVEMBER AT THE SQUARE OF THE REVOLUTION @ 5:30 PM.

Dr. Karen Cummings replaces Backer in Parliament

VETERAN Member of Parliament (MP), Ms. Deborah Backer who resigned her seat last Friday, has been replaced by Dr. Karen Cummings.

The latter was sworn in as Backer’s replacement in the National Assembly yesterday.Speaker of the House, Mr. Raphael Trotman acknowledged the loss of Backer as an MP and noted that her resignation was “very sorrowful” news.

He added that a letter from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) confirmed that Cummings’ name, to replace Backer’s, was taken from A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU’s) List of Candidates, which was presented on Nomination Day, prior to the December 2011 general elections.

Prior to her swearing in, the new MP met with the Speaker.
Leader of the Opposition, Mr. David Granger welcomed Cummings and observed that she comes with considerable experience in the medical field.

He lauded both her expertise and commitment and added that these will “more than compensate” for the loss of Backer as an MP.

His confidence
Granger expressed his confidence in Cummings’ ability to be able to contribute tangibly to the human development of the Guyanese people.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds also extended welcome to the new MP and said the Government looks forward to her contribution for the benefit of Guyana.

He expressed his regret at the loss of Backer as a member of the House and tendered his sympathy for her illness.

Cummings is now seated in the second row of the Opposition benches, while APNU MP, Mr. Ronald Bulkan has been promoted to the front bench.

The swearing-in of Cummings was done in accordance with Article 167 of the Constitution.

Debra Backer resigns from Parliament

• Thursday, 06 February 2014 20:50
• 
  

The chair that Debra Backer once occupied

• Denis Scott Chabrol 

A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU) front bencher and Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs, Debra Backer has resigned as a parliamentarian due to ill health, well-placed sources said.

With Backer resigning, constitutionally it now means that the Speaker of the National Assembly would have to declare the seat vacant. She is current overseas undergoing cancer treatment and would not be back in Guyana for crucial budget debates and possible disapproval of sections.

Constitutionally, he would have to inform the Guyana Elections Commission and call on APNU’s Representative of the List to identify a replacement.

Depending on whether APNU has decided on Medical Doctor, Karen Cummings or any other candidate on its list, that person could be sworn in at next Monday’s sitting of the National Assembly.

Little-known in political circles, Cummings is the wife of University of Guyana Lecturer in Medicine, Dr. Emmanuel Cummings. He joined the governing Peoples Progressive Party Civic’s list of candidates in the 2011 General and Regional Elections.

APNU say that Aubrey Norton, despite his expertise and experience in Politics and International Relations, would not be selected to fill the void left by Backer, an Attorney-at-Law.

Norton has blamed a “small clique’ for ostracising him because he has been outspoken and not a “yes man”. Norton said he has always worked in the best interest of the Peoples National Congress Reform (PNCR)- the major APNU partner- although he has openly supported Carl Greenidge for the party’s leadership rather than incumbent David Granger.

APNU expresses great sorrow at Mandela’s passing

THE main Opposition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has expressed “great sorrow” at the passing of Rolihlahla Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa and an icon in the struggle for peace and justice around the world.

APNU, in a condolence message, said Mandela was a leader whose transformative life became a symbol of resistance and triumph over racial segregation and all forms of institutionalized apartheid.

“Nelson Mandela never wavered in his devotion to democracy, equality and learning. Despite terrible provocation, he chose forgiveness instead of hate. His life has been and will continue to be an inspiration to all, who are oppressed and deprived, to all who are opposed to oppression and deprivation "

APNU's Release on Verification of SOPs

A.P.N.U PRESS STATEMENT   Georgetown, Guyana Tuesday 20th March 2012   For immediate release FINAL REPORT ON VERIFICATION OF STATEMENT OF POLLS BY A.P.N.U Before the Declaration of the final results of the 2011 General and Regional elections, A.P.N.U wrote GECOM and Mr. Goocool Boodhoo, Chief Elections Officer, on 30th November 2011, requesting an All party Verification of the Statements of Poll. This request became necessary after A.P.N.U had received credible reports and had conducted its own investigation into irregularities which occurred before and after the vote count at various places of polls in Guyana.  For example: 1.      We were aware that GECOM was prepared to declare final results leaving out 10,000 votes for A.P.N.U in Region 4. It was the quick action of A.P.N.U that averted this disaster. 2.     PPP/C Representatives were moving around to polling places creating panic in some polling places. In many cases in Region #4 Police ranks had to be called in. 3.     You are aware of the involvement of Government ministers in several cases of interference with the work of polling clerks on the night of E-Day. 4.     You are aware that the DPP has recommended charges against a senior functionary of the PPP/C – the nation is watching to see what becomes of this matter. The laws of Guyana, namely the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act 1990 (S.6) states that, with respect to the counting of votes for the ascertainment of results of elections, the Declaration of Results by the Returning Officers in the Electoral Districts must take place. Therefore, the Final Result should be the sum of the 10 Declarations by the Returning Officers for each Electoral District. A.P.N.U letter to Dr. Steve Surujballi and Mr. Goocool Boodhoo went largely unheeded and ignored. It was not even acknowledged by the all powerful GECOM.  Mr. Boodhoo went ahead to announce the Final Results of the elections on 1st December 2011. A statement by Elections Commissioner, Mr. Vincent Alexander, appeared in the press to the effect that he had to stop Mr. Boodhoo from declaring an incorrect result. In the face of GECOM’S intransigence, protest marches ensued and after a shooting incident on the 6th December 2011 at Brickdam, Georgetown, GECOM was persuaded to give A.P.N.U a compact disk which, in the words of Dr. Surjballi, was scanned from original Statements of Poll in the possession of GECOM. Once these diskettes were handed over to A.P.N.U, many persons were of the opinion, including Newspaper Editorials, that now that the diskettes were delivered we were to shut up and accept the results as declared by Mr.Boodhoo. But while others were prepared to accept we, as a responsible Partnership, knew that all was not well. Therefore, we were not prepared to disregard the urging of our supporters to ensure GECOM obeyed the law. In the first instance, the diskette GECOM provided us was so difficult to read and make any sense of that A.P.N.U was forced, at great expense, to print hard copies of the SOP’s on the diskettes. While we were struggling with these poorly formatted diskettes GECOM gave revised reformatted diskettes to Election Commissioners. After the first effort at verification we recognized that there appeared, on the face of several SOP’s, serious irregularities and, on 28th December 2011, we requested access to the original Statements of Poll in the possession of GECOM.  This request by A.P.N.U was eventually approved by GECOM and the examination of the Statements of Poll held by GECOM commenced on 23rd January 2011 and concluded on 20th February 2011. A Partnership for National Unity (A.P.N.U) Office of the Leader of the Opposition 61 Cross and Hadfield Streets Werk-en-Rust Georgetown Guyana

Gov't to challenge Opposition committee vote in court

From Demerara Waves

Written by Kwesi Isles    Wednesday, 07 March 2012 15:31

The government is heading to court to challenge the constitutionality of an opposition move in parliament which has left it with less committee representation than it believes it deserves.

At his weekly post-Cabinet news briefing on Wednesday Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon said they will be addressing the matter at the parliamentary and judicial levels.

“Motions have been drafted and I suspect have already been presented at the level of parliament questioning those decisions and requesting the House to declare them null and void. The governing party is approaching the constitutional court to have those same remedies provided,” he said.

Contacted afterward AFC Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan said that it was well within the ambit of the parliament to decide on the composition of the committees.

“Judges ought not to be deciding on matters in the legislative since the constitution leaves the matter up to the members of parliament,” he stated.

According to Ramjattan, if it is a case that they are in breach of the constitution then he is glad that the government is heading to court and not “terrorising” the opposition like they are doing with the Guyana Cricket Board.  

AFC Executive member, Moses Nagamootoo expected the government to have its "merry way" in court unless it could prove that parliament's vote has violated the constitution or other law. "We will welcome any challenge that he (Luncheon) may wish to raise in and outside of the courts on this issue."

Nagamootoo accused the PPPC of using the court to play delaying tactics in holding up the work of the committees. "The fact is that do so is, I believe, a filibuster is to prevent the committes from being formed, to prevent the committees from working, and to sabotage what could have been a new and exciting journey working parliamentary democracy in Guyana," he said.

The issue at hand is the AFC and APNU on February 10 voting to change the membership of the committees from 10 representatives to nine with the PPP/C and APNU having four each and the AFC one. The ruling party which has the most seats in the House but one less than the combined opposition was in favour of 10 representatives per committee with it having five, the APNU four and the AFC one.

But the opposition MPs said the government’s proposal would lead to gridlock and they used their one seat majority to defeat the PPP/C motion and ruled that the Committee of Selection would have nine members.

On Wednesday Dr. Luncheon said the opposition’s imposition violates the “principle of proportionality of parties” and their seating in parliament and in committees of parliament.

According to Luncheon, the collaboration between the parliamentary opposition parties was leading o grossly unprincipled actions. He added that it was a betrayal of parliamentary norms and an abuse of constitutional provisions.”

At the last sitting the PPP/C government had argued that it should have the largest representation on the committees since it won the most votes at the November 28 polls.

“Whether there is a combined opposition or not is of no relevance now, the issue is the strength of each party and there is not a minority on the government side. It is incongruous to think of a party that gets 49.230 percent of the votes having the same number of seats in a committee, four, as the party that got 40 percent of the votes (APNU) and therefore one has to deal with balance and fairness,” government MP Gail Teixeira had argued.

The combined opposition parties had also maintained their position on the nine-member composition of the other committees when the Committee of Selection met recently and Dr. Luncheon said the Cabinet is “unwilling to accept the dispensation and was inclined to confront the wrongdoings.”

Opposition calls on Government to act decisively to suppress piracy

Opposition Leader Brigadier David Granger has called on President Donald Ramotar to act quickly and decisively to suppress piracy off the coastland of Guyana.

The most recent piracy incident occurred when 15 fishing boats with 19 crew were attacked on 3^rd-4^th February in an area called Kamwatta Beach off the coast of the Pomeroon-Supenaam Region. Pirates escapedwith millions of dollars worth of engines, seines, gasoline, fish and fish glue and destroyed fishing boats. Granger expressed disappointment with the lack of long-term preparedness of various government ministries to protect the country’s fishermen.

Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee, so far, seems not to have issued a statement in response to the latest incident or, in fact, about the plague of piracy that continues to affect this country’s coastal and riverine waters.  Minister of Agriculture Dr Leslie Ramsammy, answering questions about the safety of fisherfolk, is reported to have said that his ministry has “no jurisdiction on security matters.” Minister of Public Works Robeson Benn under whose Ministry the Maritime Administration Department falls has no means of protecting fisherfolk and could activate the Maritime Search and Rescue Centre to coordinate rescue operations only after the incident had occurred.

The PPPC administration clearly needs to do more. It needs to acquire adequate maritime, surveillance and aviation assets which are necessary to deal with this crime. Neither the Guyana Police Force nor the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard has been given the resources to make our coastal waters safer and to protect the lives and livelihood of the fishermen who must traverse them every day.

Granger pointed out that piracy has been a major public safety problem for decades. There have been scores of reports of attacks all along the coast from the Pomeroon to the Corentyne Rivers. Numerous fishermen have been killed or are listed simply as ‘disappeared’ at sea.

The Leader of the Opposition described the People’s Progressive Party Civic administration’s approach to the problem of piracy over the past twelve years as a dismal failure. He blamed the PPPC’s  weak approach to law enforcement along the entire coastland − from the Corentyne to 

Opposition calls for long-term strategy to counter vicious flooding cycle

The Opposition has called on the People’s Progressive Party Civic administration to implement a national strategy to break the cycle of flooding that has been repeatedly plaguing all the regions of the country in recent years.

A Partnership for National Unity A Partnership for National Unity pointed out that the December-January-February rainy season, when the heaviest rains seem to occur, has become a time of annual anguish for most of the population. Despite the high cost of damage to homes, loss of crops and spread of water-borne and vector-borne disease over the years, the administration has never implemented a national, long-term, comprehensive counter-flooding strategy. It seems inclined to pursue the short-term tactic of providing relief and compensation to flood victims rather than the long-term task of improving the infrastructure to prevent flooding.

Farmers and other residents all across the country – from along the Aruka River in Region 1; to the Pomeroon River in Region 2; Canals Polder in Region 3; Mahaica River in Region 4; Mahaicony River in Region 5 and Yakusari in the Black Bush Polder in Region 6 – are suffering from the current floods which started in early January.

Hinterland residents still remember how the floods – at Waramadong in Region 7, at Mahdia in Region 8; in the Rupununi in Region 9 and at Kwakwani in Region 10 – also wrought havoc with their lives in 2010 and 2011. No part of the country seems has ever been safe from the scourge of floods.

The system of coastal conservancies and canals has been compromised by the decline of the sugar plantation system and the rise of new housing schemes and townships.  This has been aggravated by poor solid waste management; neglect of the drainage and irrigation infrastructure, including kokers, the deliberate destruction of drainage canals to facilitate construction of houses by ‘dry-weather’ contractors and rising sea levels owing to global warming.

APNU pointed out that the PPPC administration, after more than 19 years in office, cannot blame anyone but itself for the repetitive, annual disastrous flooding. Climate change and rising sea levels will not disappear overnight and the administration has to be aware that – at least since the catastrophic ‘Great Flood’ of 2005 – weather patterns will never be the same again.  It must be clear that the current ad hoc measures to provide relief and compensation to victims cannot solve the problem of annual floods. The PPPC administration must formulate a strategic plan to protect our people from this yearly distress.

                                                         

OPPOSITION LEADER DAVID GRANGER CONGRATULATES REGIONAL CHAIRMAN SHARMA SOLOMON

Leader of the Opposition Brigadier David Granger was the first to congratulate the new Chairman of Upper Demerara-Berbice Region Sharma Solomon on his election which took place on Wednesday 25^thJanuary.

Sharma, probably the youngest regional chairman, was elected unopposed from among eighteen new members of the Regional Democratic Council. Thirteen councilors were drawn from A Partnership for National Unity and the remaining five from the People’s Progressive Party Civic and Alliance For Change.  Byron Lewis of Kwakwani was elected Deputy Chairman after a split vote.

Brigadier Granger, in his remarks, thanked outgoing Chairman Mortimer Mingo for his years of service.  He urged the new RDC to put regional before personal interests and the public duty before private pursuits.  He called on all councillors – APNU, AFC and PPPC – to collaborate in order to give the Region’s 42,000 residents a “good life” that was promised during the 2011 general and regional elections campaign.

APNU CONDEMNS THE SACKING OF UNIVERSITY LECTURER

A Partnership for National Unity has condemned the termination of the contract of outspoken political scientist and newspaper columnist Frederick Kissoon with the University of Guyana. APNU regards the action as a violation of academic freedom and press freedom.

The People’s Progressive Party Civic administration used its voting power on the UG Council to terminate the lecturer’s contract in the middle of an academic year, a few months before it would have come up for review. APNU regards this recent act as a violation of Kissoon’s right to freedom of expression as a columnist, academic freedom as a lecturer and civil rights as a citizen. 

APNU said that this move has come at a time when the University of Guyana is already in crisis and has been finding it difficult to attract lecturers in several academic departments. The Partnership said that Mr. Kissoon has a natural right to be informed of the reasons for the termination of his contract and called for the lecturer’s re-instatement.

APNU has closely monitored the PPPC’s hostile attitude towards columnists and journalists who criticized President Bharrat Jagdeo over the past 12 years.  The Partnership expressed regret that, so early in his tenure as President, Mr Donald Ramotar would take such a retrograde step by allowing such an incident to occur. 

APNU pickets over police action against march

The opposition coalition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Wednesday afternoon picketed near the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), saying it has not received Statements of Poll publicly promised by the elections management body. And across at Brickdam outside the Ministry of Home Affairs, the women’s organisation, Red Thread, picketed there to register its condemnation of the police firing rubber bullets and teargas to break up what authorities had deemed an illegal march by at an estimated 500 APNU protesters on Tuesday. Several students of St. Sidwell’s Primary School at Hadfield Street and Vlissengen Road were affected by the gas and a number of female protesters were among those injured by the bullets. Red Thread's Karen De Souza told Demerara waves Online News (www.demwaves.com) that the protest was their response to the police action which they found "totally out of order." "Our position is we do have a democratic right as citizens of Guyana to organise peaceful demonstrations, which as far as we know yesterday was a peaceful demonstration." She added that Red Thread believes that people have to insist on getting their right to demonstrate peacefully. When asked if the group had sought permission for its exercise she responded that they had not. De Souza added that they did not have any plan to escalate their action since it was a small organisation but added that they would hope that other Guyanese would recognise the danger to their rights. Joining Red Thread outside the Home Affairs Ministry were several APNU activists who demanded that Minister Clement Rohee resign because of his "abysmal" failure in combatting crime. Several of the placards targeted him. "Rohee you are an abysmal failure!", "Rohee has no discipline so police indiscipline continues," "We demand an inquiry into Dec 6th shootings," and "Home Affairs Ministry gets a big big F" some of them read.  The number of protesters eventually grew to over 100. Attorney-at-law and APNU youthh activist James Bond who was among those injured in Tuesday's police action against protesters told demwaves.com that they were protesting the inefficiencies of the ministry. "Mr. Rohee's last tenure has been marked by failure in a number of areas; can't protect the businessmen, can't protect the fishermen, can't protect our miners in the interior and we're seeing a growing incompetence in the police force, we're seeing growing unprofessionalism in te police force and we need that stamped out." According to Bond, the first step to remedying those problems is Rohee's resignation. "Yesterday's action by the police in terms of shooting at innocent walkers shows the degradation, the depth to which this ministry has sunk, it is an abysmal failure and I do believe Mr. Rohee's resignation is the first remedy to the problem," he said.  Meanwhile, APNU executive member, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine told Demerara Waves Online News that his party has been reading in the media about the availability of the Poll Statements but none has been handed over. “We have heard nothing from GECOM. We are not in possession of any official document, we have received no letter, we have received no Statement of Poll,” Roopnaraine told Demerara Waves Online News (www.demwaves.com ) Asked whether his party would go down and collect the documents to conduct the reconciliation with the official results, he said “I certainly will not. It is for GECOM to hand it over to us.” The estimated 60 persons seen at the time when Demerara Waves was on the scene were chanting slogans and holding placards beyond police barriers at Main and High Streets, Kingston. No heavily armed police were seen. The demonstrators were orderly and peaceful. The placards read, among other slogans, “We will not stop until our demands are met,” “My vote must count,” “The price for peace is justice,” “Guyanese need a government that is transparent,” “Steve Surujbally must go now,” “PPPC rigged the elections,” and “Young people want change, tired of one-party rule.” Speaking with demwaves.com from the picket-line, APNU candidate, Annette Ferguson charged that GECOM flouted protocol by failing to respond to her party but instead allegedly provided the statements of poll to representatives of the international community. “Rather them dealing professionally with us by writing us, they have more or less provided international agencies with this information.” “We are calling on you to provide the leadership of the APNU the statements of poll and not the international bodies,” added Ferguson.

 

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. 

APNU on the move

CAMPAIGN UPDATE

On Thursday 17^th November, A.P.N.U held a Grand Rally on the Essequibo Coast in Region #2. Thousands gathered in their numbers to listen as the Presidential Candidate, Brigadier (ret) David Granger, Prime Ministerial Candidate, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine and Team delivered the plans and policies of A.P.N.U for their Region.

On Friday 18^th November, thousands assembled at Main and New Streets, New Amsterdam, Berbice for the region #6 A.P.N.U Rally. The crowd was enthusiastic as they welcomed the President and Prime Minister in waiting respectively. New Amsterdam Mayor, Mr. Claude Henry welcomed the large crowd while young Ms. Ncosi Thom kept the programme lively. African and Tassa drumming, Indian dance and other cultural pieces formed part of the programme.

It was also a historic moment when A.P.N.U launched its Manifesto on this occasion. The recipients were Mayor of New Amsterdam, Regional Chairman and youth representative, Ms. Ncosi Thom.

On Saturday 19^th November, A.P.N.U took its Rally to Mahdia in Region #8. Presidential Candidate, Brigadier (ret) David Granger had a tumultuous welcome on his arrival and people continue to pledge their support for A.P.N.U. On the same day, a grand public meeting was held at the Plaisance Line Top.

On Sunday 20^th November, Leader of the PNCR, Mr. Robert Corbin, A.P.N.U Prime Ministerial Candidate, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine and young James Bond spent the day campaigning at Mabaruma in Region #1.

Our next Rallies will be held at Hopetown, Mentore Street in Region #5 on Wednesday 23^rd November; Vreed-en-Hoop Tarmac in Region #3 on Thursday 24^th November; Palm Tree Cinema Square, Wismar in Region #10 on Friday 25^thNovember; and Square of the Revolution on Saturday 26^th November.

Our campaign momentum continues to increa