GEORGETOWN, Guyana – Guyana’s two main political parties ended their campaign for Monday’s general elections on Saturday night with impressive rallies and expressing confidence of being victorious.
Supporters of the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic at the final rally on Saturday night (CMC Photo)Both the ruling People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) and the coalition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) as well as the newly formed We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) held their final rallies in a bid to woe the estimated 757,690 people, who are eligible to cast ballot for the 65 National Assembly seats and 10 regional councils.
The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Saturday said it had agreed to accept the late notification or submission of several categories of persons that are key to the political parties monitoring Monday’s general and regional elections.
“As a consequence, written appeals were submitted by the parties to the Commission for consideration. In this regard, a special sitting of a statutory meeting was convened, and the requests were approved in the interest of fairness and transparency, and to ensure the integrity of the process,” it said.
WIN had threatened to reject the results of the September 1 general and regional elections and go to court, if its polling agents could not oversee voting
“We have fulfilled every single promise. We worked hard side by side with you,” President Irfaan Ali told PPP/C supporters at their rally at Lusignan along the East Coast corridor, while pointing to investments in housing, healthcare, education, and infrastructure, which he said are directly improving the lives of all Guyanese.
“The smell of victory is in the air; victory for the PPP/C is within reach. Let us not take victory for granted. We have one final hurdle to cross which is turning out in numbers on election day and putting your X in the box next to the cup at the top and the bottom. That is the only way that victory will be secured.
Supporters of the coalition, A Partnership for National Unity (CMC Photo)
“You have worked tirelessly and hard. You deserve the victory that you voted for. Your hard work is for all of Guyana. We want all of Guyana to succeed. We must finish this race in the strongest way possible to secure that victory by an overwhelming majority,” he added.
PPP /C general secretary Bharrat Jagdeo said he was exceptionally confident that the ruling party would retain power.
“Trust me! If I say I’m confident- I’m a man who generally don’t say things easily-but if I say I am confident, then I am confident,” he said, urging party supporters to mobilise others to go out and vote.
Not to be outdone, Aubrey Norton of the APNU coalition said he remains confident that the coalition would be victorious at the polls.
Norton said that up to six weeks ago, President Ali had been speaking about a “landslide” victory but now it seems that the “land slide from under the foot
“We must continue to make the land slide from under their feet,” he said, adding “my friends, this is more than just a rally, this is a movement to take back our country, to rescue our country.
“Our aim is to restore decency in Guyana, to restore law and order, and to lift the people of Guyana out of poverty. We want to build a society that truly serves its people and ensures that every Guyanese benefit from our nation’s oil wealth,” Norton said.
Supporters of the WIN Party confident of victory on Monday (CMC Photo)APNU’s prime ministerial candidate, Juretha Fernandes, urged supporters not to “split your votes.
“We are not splitting no vote, because no split vote could get the PPP out of office,” she said, adding “come Monday, the people of the hinterland will no longer suffer from high living costs. We will put an administration in place that moderates prices and ensures a better quality of life for all.”.
WIN presidential candidate, Azruddin Mohamed, told his supporters that the newly formed party is the only multi-ethnic party.
He said the PPP liked to pretend that they like Afro-Guyanese “but we know this is not so” and that the “the green party (APNU)-they ain’t making sense right now”.
He said WIN needs 130,000 votes from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).
“I know we will get it because we have a lot of first time voters and everybody fed up with the red (PPPC) and green (APNU) party,” he said.
Mohamed on Saturday night named former public service minister and member of parliament, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, as the party’s prime ministerial candidate.
“The truth is clear, WIN represents the future, a future where every child matters, every citizen prospers and every dream finds its road. This is human development in action people, this is a promise of WIN and no matter the victimization and the intimidation we are ready for this fight, because we know we will win,” she told the rally at the Marriott Beach front in Georgetown. .
Meanwhile, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) says it notes “with strong consternation the insinuations of intended violence based on unfounded speculation of interference attempts” in the elections on Monday.
Aubrey Norton (left) and Irfaan Ali, the presidential candidates of the two major political parties
In a statement, the private sector group called on the public to maintain peace and stability during this democratic process and respect the rule of law.
“Acts aimed at destabilising society and creating chaos serve no purpose in a country that is rapidly developing and only aim to disrupt the advancement of Guyana.
“The GCCI urges all contesting parties to maintain peace and urge their supporters to respect the process and outcome of the election, and reject any attempt to incite unrest. The Chamber stands firm on its position that it supports a free, fair, and transparent election that is accompanied by timely results,” it added.
Earlier this month, Police Commissioner, Clifton Hicken, urged people not to get involved in any form of violence.
“This is an important moment for our country and it is time for all of us to show the world that Guyana is a peaceful, respectful and a united nation,” he said, adding that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) “is fully prepared for the elections”.
He said the police will have a presence throughout the country on polling day “not to interfere but to protect your constitutional rights to participate peacefully and safely.
Six candidates are contesting the position of President during the elections. They are the incumbent, President Ali, Norton, attorney Nigel Hughes of the Alliance for Change (AFC), Mohamed, Amanza Walton-Desir of the Forward Guyana Movement and the leader of the Assembly for Liberty & Prosperity (ALP) movement, Dr. Simona Broomes.
Seven political parties are contesting the elections, but political observers say that the race will be a contest mainly between the PPP/C and the APNU.
The polls are being monitored by regional and international groups including the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the US-based Carter Center, the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Commonwealth.
