Berbicians assured of improved security

April 20, 2015 By GuyanaTimes

PPP/C Albion rally

…Govt to fix NIS – Jagdeo

By Andrew Carmichael

In the face of criticism that Government was not doing enough to curb high crime rates here, former President Bharrat Jagdeo told a massive rally on Sunday in Albion that if re-elected the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) would implement a comprehensive security plan that will see improved Police response to crime among other things.

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo delivering remarks at the rally

He also blamed the combined Opposition A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) for some of the challenges within the sector, saying their chopping of the budget and blocking key legislation has helped with the crime rate.

He made the comments as he addressed the mammoth rally at Albion, Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne). According to Jagdeo, the Opposition repeatedly cut money from the national budget, much of which was budgeted to improve the security system in Guyana.
Jagdeo said Government has plans in place for an improved security system despite the Opposition trying to stop progress.

He said there was still a lot more to be done for security in Guyana and mentioned plans which were outlined by President Donald Ramotar for the security sector. These plans will see improved security in Berbice, which continues to grapple with high incidence of piracy and gun robberies.

“The response time from when one picks up the phone to when a Police respond will improve. The phones must work, persons must be responsible, and the response time must be at least half an hour from when the call is made, the Police will have to show up or give an account for it.” Jagdeo said.
“Too many times people have picked up the phone and can’t get an answer or can’t get people to respond. We need to fix that too,” he stressed.

Further highlighting the Opposition’s cuts to successive budgets, Jagdeo said over the past three years, the parliamentary Opposition cut in excess of $80 billion which was earmarked for further development in Guyana.

“Do you know what could have been done with that money to fix some of the problems which we still have?” he asked.

NIS
He also touched on the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), saying that it was about time that institution delivered a better quality of service to citizens. Guyanese have frequently complained about missing records at the NIS and discrepancies regarding their contributions to the Scheme.

Jagdeo said the NIS has been given a mandate from Government to properly account for contributors’ records. “They have to straighten the records of sugar workers, public servants and everyone, so that when they retire, they will not have to wait two to three years to get their benefits,” he assured.
The former President also took a swipe at the Opposition Presidential and Prime Ministerial Candidates, David Granger and Moses Nagamootoo.

Tassa drummers enliven the festive crowd

Reflecting on Nagamootoo’s speech at Whim recently, Jagdeo highlighted that more than 50 per cent of his presentation was based on himself and not on plans for the future development of Guyana.

He also recalled that when the 10th Parliament began and Nagamootoo was nominated to be the Speaker of the National Assembly, the coalition’s now Presidential Candidate David Granger objected saying that he was not qualified for the job. “If he was not qualified to be Speaker of the National Assembly, is he qualified to be the Prime Minister of this country?” Jagdeo asked.

Jagdeo, who arrived on stage just after Dr Clive Jagan had made his presentation to a thunderous roar from the crowd, also spoke of the PPP/C’s plans for continued development after the elections have been contested.

Guyanese will be going to the polls for General and Regional Elections on May 11. Jagdeo said the PPP/C has a clear vision as to how to take Guyana forward. “From what we had promised in 2011, we should have had thousands of new jobs. We can generate 25,000 new jobs for young people so that they don’t have to travel out of the region. So we have a lot of work to do and the only party that has a clear vision to take Guyana forward is the People’s Progressive Party.”

The crowd on Sunday was estimated at 18-20,000, much larger than the ones at the same venue in 2007 and 2011 when the PPP/C held its rally on the Corentyne, and also bigger than the rally held by APNU/AFC at Whim on March 29 last.

Originally Posted by Kapadilla:

Hey hey hey. Dem tiefin bruk up sugar. Wah dem a acknoledge now? Jagdeo run ting. What doin foh change? Shaitan tell abe wah going foh change? Hey hey hey.

I never said I believe the PPP's campaign promises. I was just remarking on their utilization of a fairly effective campaign technique that has proven useful in the past to incumbent parties who have screwed up during their tenure. It's a good idea to acknowledge your failure in some way and promise to get it right if given another chance. It doesn't always work but it works often enough.

I don't think I ever recall an election in recent memory where the PPP presents itself as less than a divine institution that errs not. This is a first. Perhaps these old dogs can learn a new trick or two....especially when their asses are on the line.

Topics

Berbicians assured of improved security

PPP/C Albion rally

…Govt to fix NIS – Jagdeo

By Andrew Carmichael

He also blamed the combined Opposition A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) for some of the challenges within the sector, saying their chopping of the budget and blocking key legislation has helped with the crime rate.

He said there was still a lot more to be done for security in Guyana and mentioned plans which were outlined by President Donald Ramotar for the security sector. These plans will see improved security in Berbice, which continues to grapple with high incidence of piracy and gun robberies.

Further highlighting the Opposition’s cuts to successive budgets, Jagdeo said over the past three years, the parliamentary Opposition cut in excess of $80 billion which was earmarked for further development in Guyana.

“Do you know what could have been done with that money to fix some of the problems which we still have?” he asked.

NIS
He also touched on the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), saying that it was about time that institution delivered a better quality of service to citizens. Guyanese have frequently complained about missing records at the NIS and discrepancies regarding their contributions to the Scheme.

Reflecting on Nagamootoo’s speech at Whim recently, Jagdeo highlighted that more than 50 per cent of his presentation was based on himself and not on plans for the future development of Guyana.

Jagdeo, who arrived on stage just after Dr Clive Jagan had made his presentation to a thunderous roar from the crowd, also spoke of the PPP/C’s plans for continued development after the elections have been contested.

The crowd on Sunday was estimated at 18-20,000, much larger than the ones at the same venue in 2007 and 2011 when the PPP/C held its rally on the Corentyne, and also bigger than the rally held by APNU/AFC at Whim on March 29 last.

"The crowd on Sunday was estimated at 18-20,000, much larger than the ones at the same venue in 2007 and 2011 when the PPP/C held its rally on the Corentyne, and also bigger than the rally held by APNU/AFC at Whim on March 29 last."