Nagamootoo wants PNC rigging forgotten

 – Granger wants 99 % Region 10 votes

The A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) coalition officially launched its 2015 elections campaign last Saturday evening in the mining town of Linden, holding firm to its slogan ‘The time is now’ and urging residents of Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Berbice) to vote 99 per cent for them.

The APNU won the region by a landslide in the 2011 elections, but residents have been hurt by the treatment of their Parliamentary Representative Vanessa Kissoon who was shoved to the back seat after fallout with Oscar Clarke, General Secretary of the PNCR.

Residents have also been peeved at the alleged widespread rigging at the party’s Congress last year, which returned David Granger at the helm. Thousands of supporters congregated at the Linden/Georgetown mini-bus park, decked out in the parties’ coalition colours green and yellow. The evening was marked by cultural presentations and speeches by representatives of the APNU and AFC, amidst waving and screaming supporters.

Among the delegation which headed to Linden for the official launch were Presidential Candidate David Granger and Prime Ministerial Candidate Moses Nagamootoo, other representatives, including Khemraj Ramjattan, Jaipaul Sharma, Joe Harmon, Basil Williams, Rupert Roopnaraine, Keith Scott and Cathy Hughes, among others.

The evening’s proceedings were also marked by speeches from Granger, Nagamootoo, Region 10 Chairman Sharma Solomon and other representatives.

The coalition, under the leadership of Granger and Nagamootoo boasted that they will secure a majority of the votes at the May 11 elections.

Meanwhile, despite his party’s recent infighting, Granger said the coalition with the AFC promises to move the country forward in unity.

He noted: “We are better together than apart…we are going to win, victory is ours…this is not a Linden rally, your Regional Chairman is hosting a national rally.”

Granger noted “this time we will get 99 per cent”, referring to the percentage of votes the coalition party expects to secure from Linden and Region 10, which is one of APNU’s strongholds. The Presidential Candidate reaffirmed his confidence in the coalition, noting that it is important for the parties to stay together at this time.

During his address, Granger said the coalition believes in education and infrastructure, making a promise to Lindeners that as long as the coalition secures victory, students will be able to access university education via distance education programmes.

Nagamootoo for his part said that it is time for change and that the country must be become united.

He accused the Government of wasting money on trying to revitalise the sugar industry, adding that the industry must be re-examined. In the process, he noted, jobs must be saved.