President David Granger on Sunday night promised to provide employment for youths in Linden and surrounding communities in Region Ten, a similar promise he made during the 2015 elections campaign when the APNU+AFC was voted into office.
Addressing thousands of supporters at the Bayroc Community Centre Ground in Linden, the incumbent President said that the APNU+AFC coalition will invest in education, training and employment in the Upper Demerara-Berbice Region if re-elected to office.
“You people can go into manufacturing and we can help these micro-enterprises.
“We are going to use the petroleum revenues for you and for your needs, we know your needs…” Mr Granger said.
The majority of the mining town of Linden has historically supported the largest party in the coalition –the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) – and is even named in honour of the party’s founder, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham.
The President spoke of the Burnham Education Scholarship Trust which he said first sponsored a Grade Six student of the Regma Primary School in Linden and has now afforded scholarships to over 80 students.
He spoke of the Government’s achievements in the areas of education with the Five B’s initiative which provides incentives and transportation for students, increase in public servants’ wages and salaries and the failed projects undertaken by his predecessor.
“We are making sure the Police Force is restructured to cover this entire country.”
He noted that the six-party coalition is the best for the country as it encompasses equality across race, religion and gender. On the other hand, he said his rival’s –the People’s Progressive Party/Civic –support is dwindling.
“This six-party coalition is unstoppable. I ask you to go out on March 2, I ask you to organise in every hill and valley…come together…to control not only Region Ten but all the regions in Guyana.”
Ramjattan added that the coalition will ensure Linden becomes a major commercial hub for buses travelling from Lethem to Georgetown as he told supporters to give the Government a chance to continue for a second term.
Ramjattan said with a coalition, unity is guaranteed.
“Under some four and a half years, I have seen how this thing is working so positively…Unity must be given a chance alas,” he said.
Linden resident and former APNU Parliamentarian, Jermaine Figueira in his address also toed the line of social cohesion noting that “We in this country with our uniqueness, can never achieve [all we want to] without social cohesion.”
Figueira said “This election is important and we are here as a Government still standing strong…This election is about power, about power to govern this country…This election is about what kind of country you want to live in, what country you want your children to live in.”
The Linden rally was also addressed by the Linden Mayor and saw performances from various groups of dancers, gospel artistes and calypsonians.