Granger calls for 80 to 85% turnout at elections

Golden Grove Community Centre rally

David Granger
David Granger

President David Granger last evening called for an 80% to 85% turnout at the March 2 general elections when he addressed a massive crowd of supporters at the Golden Grove Community Centre. 

Surging onto the stage following his introduction, Granger told the sea of green and gold that Region 4 is a “battleground region”. 

“If we win this Region convincingly we win the whole election…the battle is right here on the East Coast,” he declared.

The President said that while Region 4 is the smallest region in size it has the largest population with four out of every 10 Guyanese residing within its boundaries. 

Noting that just about 75% of registered voters in the region cast a ballot in 2015, Granger lamented that 25% were “absent without leave.”

“If I were in the army I would’ve court-martialled them,” he joked. 

Turning to the crowd which swelled to the capacity of the ground, the President declared, “this a force that can win this battle.”

A little over 15 minutes later as he closed his address the incumbent returned to the issue. 

“I plead with you let us mobilize massively. Let’s get an 80% turnout…we have to win the battle of numbers,” he stressed.  

Analysts have said that as the incumbent and with the perceived loss of support for its alliance partner, AFC, the coalition needs a high turnout if it is to win.

In the space between these entreaties Granger sought to defend his record as President. 

“They bruk am up and I fix am up,” he told the crowd while referring to the recently established youth corps. 

The President explained that this initiative was undertaken to give young people job opportunities and a purpose in life and serves as a replacement for the disbanded Guyana Youth Corps.

 He declared that the party he represents is more than a coalition rather it is a force. 

“A force for public servants whose wages have been increased by 70%, a force for pensioners who in 2012 were receiving $7,000 and are now receiving more than $20,000”, he said. 

Speaking of the Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo who he referred to as “Pharaoh” ,Granger declared that “he likes to attack because he has a lot to defend.”

“Have you ever seen me climb SOCU’s steps?” He asked, adverting to Jagdeo’s questioning by the Special Organised Crime Unit over land at Pradoville 2.

Granger then addressed allegations levelled against him by the opposition.

In relation to his home at Pearl on the East Bank Demerara which the opposition has accused him of using state funds to renovate, Granger noted that it was built 30 years ago by his brother who died three years ago.

“Sandra and I repaired it,” he said, adding that the opposition should not question how he was able to do this after four years in public office. 

“I worked for 54 years before becoming President. I saved my money and could’ve built a house,” he said. 

Addressing questions raised about his age, Granger asked “what does he have against old people?”

He stressed that the President who appointed Jagdeo a minister and the one who made him Prime Minister were all older than his current age. 

“He only got where he got because of old people,” he declared to the roaring approval of the crowd.