APNU’s ‘lukewarm’ campaign launch a sign of what to come – Nandlall as PPP fundraisers attract larger crowds – INews Guyana
People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Executive Member Anil Nandlall, on Tuesday evening, highlighted the dwindling support for the main opposition political party – A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) – which launched its 2025 elections campaign on Sunday at the Square of the Revolution in Georgetown.
This dwindling support, he said, is evident in the poor turnout.
“Having been in this business now for quite some time and having seen many APNU/PNC/AFC campaigns being launched, it is my view that the launch of this campaign was lukewarm to say in the least,” he said during his weekly programme ‘Issues in the News.’
Nandlall, who is also the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, added that “the crowd was appreciably smaller when compared to previous similar launches, and the most ardent supporter of the PNC will agree with me – it was a disappointment to say the least.”
On the other hand, he said the PPP’s recent fundraisers have attracted larger crowds.
For instance, the fundraising dinner hosted at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) attracted some 15,000 people even with a fee of $5,000.
The PPP’s Region Three fundraising dinner as well as the Barbeque and Fun Day at Everest attracted thousands.
According to Nandlall, “I believe that is an indicia of what is to come and no one can be surprised because the PNC is at it’s weakest.”
The PPP executive believes that the reduction in supporters for the PNC/APNU is tied to the “exodus” of members from the party in recent months, and the APNU+AFC’s administration’s failure to deliver on its campaign promises during its 2015- 2020 tenure in office.
“It has never fulfilled its promises and it doesn’t care that it has never done so. It has no track record of fulfilling promises, and it doesn’t care to build one now, so they promise anything that is attractive,” the Attorney General highlighted.
Ahead of the 2015 General and Regional Elections, the APNU+AFC campaigned on a 100-day plan in which it promised to reduce the Berbice Bridge toll, significantly increase salaries for government workers and pension, establish a National Cane Workers and Cane Farmers Conference, establish a National Rice Farmers and Rice Millers Conference, waiving of duties on fuel, tools and small scale mining equipment bought by identifiable holders of small mining concessions and more.
Instead, the political leaders, once assuming office, increased taxes, implemented new taxes on water, electricity, data and other commodities, closed several sugar estates, increased drainage, irrigation and land charges, and more.
On Sunday, the APNU again issued a list of promises including a 35% salary increase for government workers, an increased income tax threshold to $400,000, a monthly $50,000 stipend to each student pursuing post-secondary studies, an increase in the old-age pension to $100,000 and a cash grant to every child of $120,000 annually.
However, Nandlall scoffed at those promises, noting that they lack any thought for sustainability, affordability or fiscal policies needed for them to be realised.
“With these few promises…within one year or six months, we are either bankrupt or close to bankruptcy with just delivering these promises…a conman will tell you anything that will allow him to get what he wants and you will see that throughout the campaign,” he said.
Meanwhile, the PPP will be launching its campaign on Sunday at Kitty Market Square, Georgetown.
Nandlall said his party will show “the mighty red force” as thousands are expected to be in attendance.
President Dr Irfaan Ali, PPP General Secretary Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, and Prime Minister Mark Phillips are slated to address the crowd.
