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ELISABETH HARPER PLEDGES TO BE…
‘THE VOICE’
GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday April 21, 2015
Electioneering kicks into high gear
…party paraphernalia – in fight for women’s rights demarcating strongholds increase production and the diversification of our other crops, we will also continue to partner with the private sector to create more investment projects and jobs creation”, she related, while applauding the contributions made by the Berbice Chamber of Commerce and the excellent work they have been doing in the ‘ancient county’. She said Government will establish a ‘special development fund’ for Region 6 (East Berbice / Corentyne) that will PPP/C Prime Ministerial Candidate Mrs Elisabeth Harper, with the symbolic ‘Cup’ in hand, pledges her support to encourage jobs and health not only Berbicians but all Guyana creation activities. Harper also underscored the fact WITH chants of ‘Harper, we want that Education has always Harper ’ emanating from the gar- been a priority of the PPP/C Government, gantuan crowds in Albion, Berbice with many laudable and distinguished on Sunday last, People’s Progressive achievements over the years in this Party/Civic (PPP/C) Prime Ministerial sector. Candidate, Mrs Elisabeth Harper, took to the stage and assured the women of WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT Berbice: “I will be your voice and your The humble yet brilliant and distinrights will be fully respected.” guished woman who is vying to be the Speaking to thousands of supporters Prime Minister of Guyana also spoke on that lined the Albion Estate Road, Mrs her ‘pet issue’, empowering women. Harper asked the crowd: “Who will lead “We will review all the laws that will our country for the next 5 years? Are encourage and promote women’s rights you ready to make that choice? Will you and equality. And we must exercise zero choose a leader and a party that have tolerance on domestic violence,” Mrs brought so much progress? Are you ready Harper declared. for the Presidency of Donald Ramotar?” She explained that “domestic vioHer answer and that of the crowd was the lence destroys who we are and everysame - a resounding ‘yes!’ thing we stand for, and we as a communiHarper spoke with confidence of the ty should not encourage it…I encourage numerous achievements that were made our men to participate in this fight also.” a reality under the PPP/C Government. “Single parents will be able to further “In your community you have more their education; training and day care services in education, health and job services will be provided, child support opportunities. You are now able to build will be mandatory by the court…these your own homes with the help of the are some of the opportunities that will be Housing Ministry; and there are massive available to Single parents under a PPP/C improvements taking place in the agri- Government,” Mrs Harper said. cultural sector under this Government,” While acknowledging that more atshe declared. tention needs to be given to the creation Speaking specifically to the young of jobs for our young people, Mrs Harper people who will be voting for the first promised that the PPP/C will ensure that time, Mrs Harper said: “I want you to jobs are created, and a number of new listen very carefully; soon you might be initiatives will be explored to ensure that standing on this stage and putting for- this can be achieved. ward a vision on this stage. I encourage “With these new initiatives, many you to work hard and help to build this more people will be able to enjoy a blessed country of ours…” higher standard of living in this counThe PM candidate also highlighted a try”, she said. “Our manifesto will few areas that the PPP/C will be focus- talk about housing for young people, a ing on in its manifesto that will bring vision that is geared to creating a Guybenefits to the Guyanese people. “Food ana with a great future, with more insecurity is at the top of our agenda, teracting and dialogue…,” she posited.
At Anna Regina over the weekend
THE 2015 elections campaign is in full swing and with just over two weeks before Guyanese head to the polls, political parties have been taking their messages through various means including public meetings and rallies across the country. Over the weekend the incumbent Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), hosted two such massive rallies at Damon Square at Anna Regina in Essequibo and at Albion in Berbice. As had been the case on the Essequibo Coast, party paraphernalia dotted the Berbice coastline with clear distinctions being made at separate parts of the country. On the Essequibo Coast, those traversing westward from Supenaam to the Anna Regina meeting point were greeted with not only party flags from both of the major political factions, there was also on display, two effigies of Brigadier (rtd) Granger, the Opposition Presidential Candidate and his running mate Moses Nagamootoo. The East Coast of Demerara boasted thousands of APNU flags but as supporters made their way along the East Berbice coastline toward Albion, PPP/C colours draped the landscape. HARPER, HARPER Sunday’s rally in Albion got started just as the afternoon sun began to cool giving way to a breezy, relaxed and soothing atmosphere for the close to 20,000 PPP/C supporters that converged outside of the Albion Community Centre Ground, inundating the Chesney and Albion Roads, nearby bridges and canal banks and just about any plot of grass that allowed a supporter room to lend a listening ear. Among the other crowd favourites to take to the podium was the PPP/C’s Prime Ministerial Candidate, Elisabeth Harper, whose support across the country has clearly been building. Amidst the chants of ‘Harper, Harper, Harper’, the Prime Ministerial Candidate took to the podium firstly adumbrating, “Vote PPP/C.” She too impressed on supporters the importance of the decision to be had on May 11, and asked if Berbicians were ready to throw their support behind Ramotar and team, to which she received an overwhelmingly affirmative answer. As had clearly been her task at rallies being held across the country, the PPP/C’s Prime Ministerial Candidate, in her presentation sought to outline concrete initiatives to be undertaken by the administration, once re-elected, such as the “Special Development Fund for Region Six.” The afternoon’s proceeding was aptly managed by the party’s Executive Secretary, Zulfikar Mustapha who functioned in the capacity of Emcee for the day.
Effigies on display on the Essequibo Coast over the weekend
He, during the proceedings, also took swipes at a number of political opponents and the privately owned Stabroek News. Mustapha told Berbicians that despite the thousands that came out in support of the party in Essequibo the previous evening (Saturday), the Stabroek News completely ignored the event. Mustapha also utilised his role as Emcee to lash out at Opposition Leader, Brigadier (rtd) Granger, repeating on occasions the now popular mantra at PPP/C rallies, “Granger is Danger.” Other Speaker’s at Sunday’s Albion Rally included Dr Clive Jagan, the nephew of the Late Dr Cheddi Jagan. Dr Clive Jagan, who is featured on the 2015 List of Candidates for the PPP/C, said that this is testament to the continuity of the Jagan legacy, which he acknowledged as, among other things, the pursuit of justice, freedoms, rights and liberties for all Guyanese. Other speakers at Sunday’s rally at Albion, Berbice included: Dr Vishalya Sharma, Dr Ashni Singh, Minister Clement Rohee and Head of State Donald Ramotar who delivered the feature address to the gathering. (Gary Eleazar)