Don’t lose hope – Jagdeo tells PPP/C supporters in Region 2
October 29, 2015 By
– Essequibians feel cheated by APNU/AFC
Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has called on the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) supporters in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) not to lose hope and assured them that come next election, the party will win with a landslide victory, as systems are being put in place to strengthen the Party.
Jagdeo was at the time speaking to a huge crowd gathered at a bottom house style meeting at Golden Fleece, Essequibo Coast, during his outreach to the region. The Opposition Leader said the Party will continue to serve the people at the grass root level and things will change for the better next election. He said the errors made during the May 11 election will be corrected, as the Party has sought help and advice.
Addressing the gathering, the former Head of State thanked supporters for their continued efforts, nothing that the PPP/C Government over the years significantly transformed Guyana from a highly indebted nation to an independent one. “We are not saying that the PPP/C didn’t made mistakes, regardless of what we managed to change, every sector from City to rural, we have outperformed the entire Caribbean economically,” Jagdeo posited.
He explained that while the Party is not perfect, it’s a progressive force that will continue to advocate for the rights of the people. Jagdeo added that many persons are now faced with the reality of broken promises and backward development of the David Granger-led Administration, further pointing out that investors lack confidence in the country’s economy.
The Opposition Leader posited that the present Government’s focus is not to generate wealth and support the developmental industries, but rather spend money on their Ministers.
“The Ministers salaries they are paying will pay for all the pensioners water bills. It’s a sad situation but we have to stand tall, the struggle is real,” the former President said.
Jagdeo said that from all indications, rice and sugar – two major industries in Guyana – are not being given attention by the Private Sector and explained that if the present Government continues on the path they are travelling, then they will send Guyana into dark days. He urged supporters to keep the faith as many of them feel a sense of hopelessness as they depend on the rice industry for their survival.
Jagdeo called upon supporters to stand strong and not to be sidelined by A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) politicians.
He urged them to continue to support the Opposition Party and to communicate with regional officials whenever there are instances of flaws. Jagdeo said that Party members who were elected to serve the people at the grass root level are working effortlessly daily to ensure that the Party secures victory at the next election and continue to represent the plight of the people. The leader explained the errors of the recently concluded General and Regional Election and shed some light on the court matter that was filed by the Party asking for a recount, due to several errors made by the Guyana Election Commission. The Opposition Leader explained that necessary systems will be put in place to deal with the voting system to ensure that all votes cast at the next election are secure.
Jagdeo further declared that the PPP/C was cheated at the last election but will never be defeated, as the present Government cannot account for most of the things promised to its supporters. The former Head of State also said that the Administration has failed rice farmers and has done nothing to support them, since being elected to Government.
Subsidy At the Golden Fleece meeting, rice farmers called on the Opposition Leader to lobby for subsidies for them in Parliament so they could go back to the fields. Farmers explained that the industry is unprofitable and that is what most families depend on for their survival. Many farmers also owe the bank and cannot afford to pay.
Some persons present at the meeting stated that they supported the APNU+AFC Government in the previous election and they are very disappointed now, especially since the promises made by leaders from the present Government, particularly in the rice industry have not materialised. During the campaign period, the APNU/AFC had promised farmers on several occasions up to $6000 per bag of paddy once elected. Now that the APNU/AFC Government had be elected and given the opportunity to prove themselves, rice farmers feel deceived, since they are only receiving $2000 and less per bag this crop.
Overwhelming support At all of the bottom house meetings conducted, the former President has managed to receive overwhelming support from the people of Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam). Jagdeo is presently in the region conducting meetings along the Essequibo Coast and was accompanied by a strong delegation consisting of former Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali, former Attorney General Anil Nandlall, former Minister within the Agriculture Ministry Alli Baksh, Member of Parliament Dharamkumar Seeraj, Sham Nokta and Zulfikar Mustapha.
