APNU “worried” about strongholds as PPP/C poised to sweep LGE – Jagdeo

General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, Bharrat Jagdeo has contended that a stir has been created by their massive support for Local Government Elections, with the People’s National Congress (PNC) now worried about its strongholds.
In the final days leading up to Monday’s highly-anticipated Local Government Elections, the PPP/C General Secretary gave his address at a public meeting at Kitty, Georgetown, on Thursday evening.
There, he contended that their major competitor is aware that the party will score big at the local polls, causing some amount of worry. Already, the PPP/C is set to secure 291 of the 610 constituencies, being the lone contester.
“They have given up on Guyana because they know on Monday, we will sweep many of the remaining areas across the country. Now, they are worried about traditional strongholds. They are worried about Bartica, Linden, Georgetown and New Amsterdam because people now in these areas realise that nearly after 60 years in control of these places, that APNU has nothing to offer them. Absolutely nothing!” Jagdeo voiced.
According to Jagdeo, while the APNU is stuck in the mode of criticising, the PPP/C is on the ground sharing its vision on how it will enhance the capital city and other areas.
Calling it ‘battleground’ local areas ahead of the polls, the PPP/C is seeking to make a dent with its policies and initiatives to transform communities.
“These are now the battleground local government areas. And we’re waging a fierce challenge with these candidates and you, the activists of the party and the supporters, because we have a message for every resident in these communities. People are listening to us across the country, that we have come to you to say what we are going to do, how we are going to change every part of our country.”

No increase in taxes
Meanwhile, Jagdeo also clarified that there will be no increase in taxes for households, including Georgetown.
“There will be no increase in rates and taxes in these local government areas,” the General Secretary assured Georgetown residents.
Georgetown has been under control of the PNC for over five decades. He added that residents are witnessing for themselves that there has been no significant improvement over these years.
Due to failures at the cash-strapped City Council, Government took the onus to fix roads, and other critical infrastructure over the years – pointing to the PNC’s shortfalls.
“Every road has been fixed by the Central Government, not the City Council. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been expended in roads. We removed the dumpsites from the city so that garbage collection can improve. We put in streetlights in many parts of the city,” he said, highlighting Government’s efforts.
Moreover, Government had to waive billions of dollars owned to the Guyana Power and Light for electricity consumption for the streetlights.
With projects set aside to build out a modern city, Jagdeo highlighted that property valuations will increase, thus enhancing the lives of residents.
The current ruling PPP/C had already indicated its intention to contest all 610 constituencies in the 80 LAAs across the country.
The Opposition PNC-led A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) is only contesting 260 of the 610 constituencies, while groups and individuals are contesting, outside of those 260 areas, in another 58 constituencies. This means that APNU and other groups or individuals are contesting in a total of 318 constituencies. (G12)