A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC), held its public meeting in Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara (WBD) on Sunday as supporters braved rain to listen to coalition leaders’ electoral pitch.
Taking the platform as the main speaker was Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon. During his address, Harmon stressed the importance of persons going out to vote on Election Day.
“We have to mobilise. We have to come out and vote. A real victory translates when people come out to vote. We have to understand what is at stake. What is at stake is the future of this country. So, we cannot make a mistake now and leave anything to chance,” Harmon said.
Harmon also made a pitch to young people. According to him, young people are the present, not just the future. This is despite the fact that his party has been criticised not only for its geriatric Cabinet, but also for the majority of its candidate list recently submitted to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).
“We have established technical schools across the country for people who can do things with their hands. We have established vocational schools,” Harmon highlighted during his presentation.
Harmon, who is a Pouderoyen native, also claimed that during his government’s time in office, the community has seen development, both in infrastructure and job opportunities. He used the Disciplined Services as an example.
“Pouderoyen has seen tremendous development since we came into office,” Harmon said. “We’ve invested in electricity, street lights, infrastructure. When we used to have rainfall, Main Street would flood. It doesn’t flood anymore.”
“Many of you here used to look for work in the Disciplined Services as last resort. Now we have a different kind of people in the Force. They can develop themselves, with real bachelor’s and master’s degrees,” he said, a reference to the batches of officers who have been attending and graduating from the University of Guyana.
Harmon also dropped important information for APNU supporters, on the need for them to double check their names on the voters’ list. He urged them to make sure they were on the Preliminary List of Electors (PLE) and if they were not, to follow up.
“Let me tell you something … the list is out – the Preliminary Voters List. When you check that list and don’t see your name, take your pink slip and go to the GECOM office (and give them your details). They have to take that information and put it in, so it can go on the final voters list. So do not despair,” he said.
Meanwhile, former APNU/AFC parliamentarian John Adams, in his address to party supporters, addressed comments from People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali that he would send President David Granger into retirement.
Adams also sought to argue that under the APNU/AFC Government, during their four and a half years in office, there has been progress in various sectors. As an example, he pointed to education and even addressed the Government’s controversial decision to yank the G$10,000 Because We Care Grant that was implemented by the former Government.
“The PPP is saying that we stopped the G$10,000 cash grant. This was a one-off initiative,” Adams said, going on to cite the five B’s programme. He also spoke about increases to pensions as a sign of progress.
