PPP needs 55,000 votes from Berbice, warns against vote splitting – Jagdeo

Last Updated on Sunday, 20 July 2025, 22:16 by Writer

General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC), Bharrat Jagdeo on Sunday said his political organisation needs at least 55,000 votes from Berbicians in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) to help secure its re-election at the September 1, 2025 general and regional elections.

“At the last elections, we got 40,000 votes from this region. I’m looking for at least 55,000 votes in this election,” he told a well-attended rally at Albion, Corentyne, a traditional PPP heartland.

PPP presidential candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali added that the PPP had its eyes set on taking New Amsterdam, a traditional opposition support, in the upcoming polls. He said big attendances at rallies must translate into votes on polling day by turning out and ensuring a “strong, stable, united Guyana for the next five years.”

In his remarks, that target was reiterated by PPP Executive Secretary Zulfikar Mustapha.

Mr Jagdeo seized the opportunity to warn thousands of party faithful to their faces that they must not vote for We Invest In Nationhood (WIN) led by United States (US) sanctioned businessman Azruddin Mohamed because Guyana would be facing a grave international risk. “You think they will want to deal with a man who is sanctioned? He is trying to save his own ass by misleading the people,” said Jagdeo who is also Guyana’s 2nd Vice President.

Dr Ali also sounded a similar word of caution against falling for WIN which has the capacity to spend large amounts of money. He also advised PPPC supporters not to succumb to vote-buying.

In apparent reference to the Alliance For Change (AFC) winning over PPP votes in the 2011 and 2015 elections, he said “the last time the people of Region 6 experimented”, they suffered from a loss of 10,000 jobs and lack of prosperity. “They know they can’t win so let us reduce them to a minority. You saw the dangers of that in 2011. Today the message is no minority; a massive majority for the People’s Progressive Party Civic,” he added.

While boasting that based on the “crowd here, we have the people”, he said presidential candidate for the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR)-led A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Aubrey Norton “has nothing policy-wise for the people of this country.”

“I am going to hold you to this commitment…You matter. You have to defend this party. You have to defend its legacy,” he said. “I want you to live, eat, sleep PPP for the next 40 days,” he added. 

Dr Ali and Mr Jagdeo doled out several promises to the people of Region Six. They include a deep-water port with connections to Northern Brazil and the Caribbean, tourism and hospitality centre, a second natural gas-fired power plant, artificial intelligence-centric data centers, a US$200 million fund to support small and medium-sized enterprises, logistics and transport hub, better paying jobs, rice crop insurance and reduced interest rates.

The incumbent also promised more “accessible, cheap fertiliser” from a plant that would be built in Guyana, drainage and irrigation support, crop extension to reduce farmers’ cost of production, open up 6,000 acres of pasture land, reduced vehicle taxes, improved trash collection, parks, community centers, and animal health.