Spanish
Georgetown.- Three of the six political parties competing in Guyana's general elections are confident of winning at the polls tomorrow, Monday, including that of Guyanese President Irfaan Ali, who is seeking to be re-elected for a second term.
The main groups contesting the elections are the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), of Ali; the Alliance for National Unity (APNU), led by Aubrey Norton, and the Invest in the Nation (WIN) party, led by US-sanctioned businessman Azruddin Mohamed.
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The director of the Guyana Elections Commission, Vishnu Persaud, stated this Sunday that the Commission is "fully prepared" to hold the general and regional elections on Monday. Persaud indicated that the ballots and ballot boxes have been distributed throughout the country by land, river and air, in the ten administrative regions. There are 2,070 polling stations across the country, staffed by more than 11,000 officials on election day. The official electoral roll has about 776,000 voters. The current president and PPP/C candidate, asked the youth, at the last rally held on Saturday, to "not be fooled" by the other parties. "They have no value for you as citizens and they don't care about your future," Ali said, addressing thousands of supporters in Lusignan, on the east coast of Demerara. Meanwhile, in Georgetown, a crowd of supporters of one of the newest and most popular parties in the elections, the WIN, gathered on the beach of the Guyana Marriott hotel, to show their support for the magnate Azurddin Mohamed. "We will win these elections," declared Mohamed, who, directing his comments to the other two main political parties, warned: "You know your days are over." Also in the capital, Norton was received on stage yesterday amid fireworks and a jubilant crowd and promised a government that "will work" for the people. "We will never turn our backs on them, you can be sure that we will do everything possible to improve their lives," he declared. In the general and regional elections of Guyana, a president, members of the National Assembly, and Regional Democratic Councils will be elected, responsible for the management of the ten administrative regions of the country. Amar Sukar, a 70-year-old farmer and PPP/C supporter, told EFE that he wants "this government to return", alluding to a new victory for Ali. "I am fine, I plant rice, I receive free fertilizers, the drains are cleaned," he explained about his reasons for voting again for the PPP/C, the oldest party in Guyana. Meanwhile, opposition supporters share different opinions. Gavin, 59, who is in a wheelchair after losing both legs, has hopes in WIN because the businessman knows the difficulties" of Guyanese and will work "for everyone". Mohamed was sanctioned by the United States Department of the Treasury in June 2024 for not including more than 10,000 kilograms of gold in import and export declarations, evading the payment of more than 50 million dollars in customs duties. For her part, Shonette, a 38-year-old civil servant, votes for APNU because she believes the party has stronger policies for Guyanese, such as its 'Rent to Own' program, which would basically involve the Government building public housing. "I have been waiting a long time for land and a house. I know that with this policy I will finally get a home," he told EFE.All political parties have promised social support programs based on Guyana's oil wealth, which achieved a record of growing 63% in 2022 and which, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), will grow an average of 14% annually over the next five years.
