PPP will overcome challenges from any party

Dear Editor,
And they are off! No, it’s not the Kentucky Derby or the Rodeo, or any other sporting event, but the bitter-sweet race by candidates for the Local Government Election to be held on June 12th of this year, as approved by Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall.
After a hiatus from 2021, GECOM, chaired by Justice (ret’d) Claudette Singh, was all set and ready, on Nomination Day, to accommodate the processing of candidates from the various parties for nomination. The massive display of red certainly out-coloured the green, and the resounding beating of the PPP/C drums sent a shivering feeling to the weaker camp.
There are 80 Local Authority Areas, comprising of 70 NDCs and 10 municipalities. It is at this level of geopolitical management that Guyanese can choose their representatives to oversee their local affairs by voting them in as councillors. This is an integral part of the country’s governance framework, and any party, individual and volunteer group may contest the election. Only the PPP/C Party has entrenched its accord to contest all 80 Areas.
GECOM’s new Chief Election Officer, Vishnu Persaud, reported that Nomination Day was, “very smooth and satisfactory.” Guyanese would recall the attempted rigging of the last General Election in 2020 by the PNC, when the previous CEO, Lowenfield, presented a number of fictitious figures and failed to be in abeyance with the required election rules and regulations. He, along with Mingo and others, is in court currently, charged with attempted election fraud.
Many of the so-called “civil society” groups have to date failed to acknowledge the attempted rigging of the election, chastised the PNC for their skullduggery, and refused to take cognizance of the significant role the international, regional and local observers played in preventing another PNC election-rigging exercise. The work of the ABCE and CARICOM will always be applauded by Guyanese for their stand in defending democracy over dictatorship. For 5 agonizing and testing months, the PNC prevented the PPP/C from occupying their rightful place as the winning party to govern Guyana.
The PPP/C Party was sworn in legally and legitimately only after the US Government placed sanctions on many of the PNC leaders, and asked the “sanctimonious President Granger” to step aside. In a typical “wrong and strong” manner, the PNC Party continues to challenge the legitimacy of the sitting Government in power.
Slowly but surely, all their acclaimed cases are being denied by the courts, and the public is seeing through their game and becoming fed-up with their childish tantrums. Their only alternative is to play the race card as the last means of resort to mislead the innocent and ignite an interest to maintain membership for support.
Guyanese are waking up to reality, and are no longer being led by their noses. They see how porous this claim is, and are shunning leaders, both at home and abroad, who are parroting this claim. Apartheid is a figment of the imagination, and the unequal treatment claim is an illusion.
The PPP/C party, on the other hand, is a well-oiled machine, not having to fear anything from the fallacies of the PNC spreading propaganda, or from their distortion of facts, nor from their usual tongue twisting or their weak and flimsy attacks on Government policies and programmes.
The PPP/C party knows fully well that Guyanese have matured over the past two plus years they have been in power, and Guyanese will not be fooled by the cunning and conniving PNC party. Guyanese are aware that there is freedom of speech guaranteed by this Government, and that they have no reason to restrict anyone from voicing an opinion. Equal opportunity for education is being fulfilled with the number of GOAL scholarships amply available. Guyanese from all walks of life are receiving house lots without discrimination. The Government has initiated affordable loans at lower interest rate, and has removed the long waiting period and red tape not only for home construction, but also for agriculture purpose. The various grants disbursed by the Government is proof of its sincerity for the welfare of the entire population. The upgrade in medical services has positive reactions, and is continuously augmented with modern technology and facilities.
The PPP/C have a proven track record, and this is their selling point. They do not have to remind Guyanese of the terrible days under PNC duress. This Government is perpetually winning friends and influencing people at the global level. Stakeholders from the international market are seeking the shores of Guyana to partner with the Government and the private sector in their developmental projects. The tremendous infrastructure which is transposing a new landscape in Guyana is a direction with foresight from a visionary party. Led by the ever-toiling President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, his entire cabinet continues to work assiduously and diligently in order to maintain the wheel of progress spinning and to increase production at all levels and fields.
The humungous display by the PPP/C party on Nomination Day captivates the spirit and energy of a winning party, reflects the exuberance of the supporters, narrates a successful story, and articulates an overwhelming victory at the June ‘23 local government election. It is incumbent on any party who wants to govern Guyanese to participate at this election. Non-representation would limit interest at the general election, and, as such, parties would have lost the golden opportunity to really serve the public and understand the grassroots issues. This is where the PPP/C party will reign and dominate over any party.

Yours respectfully,
Jai Lall