GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – Guyana’s two leading political organisations have hinted at the possibility of violence marring the September 1 general and regional elections amid concerns of possible voting irregularities.
Vice President and General Secretary of the ruling People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), Bharrat Jagdeo, told supporters on Sunday that the police and the army were prepared to crush any unrest following the results of the polls.
Jagdeo was specific in naming the opposition coalition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU). We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) headed by billionaire businessman, Azruddin Mohamed, saying “I want to promise them that in case they try to create trouble when this massive victory of the PPP/C defeats them, they’re going to get into big trouble”.
Jagdeo told the rally at Stewartville, West Coast Demerara, that the security forces “are ready to take on anyone who tries to disrupt the peaceful polls in these upcoming elections”.
He is predicting a “huge, decisive, overwhelming victory” for the ruling party, adding that the APNU and WIN were facing inevitable defeat.
Jagdeo said that both the APNU leader, Aubrey Norton, and Mohamed had spoken about violence if the results are not in their favour.
But as he addressed a rally on Sunday, Norton, the coalition’s presidential candidate, said he would not tolerate the PPP/C clinging on to power if it loses next week’s general and regional elections.
“I want to say this to all our supporters, once we beat the People’s Progressive Party, they must go or they will face the consequences,” he told the APNU’s meeting held in the East Coast Demerara village of Plaisance.
He said he was not afraid of the statement made by Jagdeo regarding the security forces being on high alert, adding “we’re going to beat yo”.
Norton described Jagdeo as a “complete idiot”. He cautioned the PPP/C against falling into a false sense of insecurity because his party opted not to stage street protests and instead build its multi-ethnic support and participate in parliamentary sittings.
“If Jagdeo believes that because we didn’t take them on, we lack the capacity to, then he’s fooling himself and we know that he trembles as soon as there is pressure though he is behave like bad bald head boy,” Norton said, daring Jagdeo to bring out the security forces and that the APNU is “interested in peace.
“We have campaigned peacefully. We want to be peaceful, but we would not accept subjugation,” he said.
Earlier this month, Norton had warned the PP/PC that “we are prepared to misbehave if illegalities occur” to retain power.
At stake in the general elections are the presidency, 65 parliamentary seats, and seats on the 10 regional councils.
Six candidates are contesting the position of President during the elections. They are the incumbent, President Irfaan Ali of the PPP/C, Norton of the APNU, attorney Nigel Hughes of the Alliance for Change (AFC), Mohamed of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) political party, Amanza Walton-Desir of the Forward Guyana Movement and the leader of the Assembly for Liberty & Prosperity (ALP) movement, Dr. Simona Broomes.
Seven political parties are contesting the elections, but political observers say that the race will be a contest mainly between the PPP/C and the APNU.
The polls are being monitored by regional and international groups, including the US-based Carter Center, the Organization of American States (OAS and the Commonwealth.
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