By Tracey Khan – Drakes
[www.inewsguyana.com] – Responding to concerns by Guyanese in the Diaspora at the weekend, Presidential Candidate of the APNU+AFC Coalition David Granger made it clear that he has no intention of reverting to systems of the late President Forbes Burnham, but will instead take the country forward, with Moses Nagamootoo by his side.
Granger and Nagamootoo are both in Queens, New York raising funds as they continue to intensify their elections campaign ahead of the May 11, 2015 general and regional elections.
“I am not Burnham, I am David Granger, Burnham died 30 years ago in 1985, I am the President of the future, I am leading Guyana into the future, I am not leading Guyana back into the past, I have by my side Moses Nagamottoo and both of us are looking to the future not to the past. The PNC is a part of a coalition; I am not a lone ranger, I am not going to be able to dictate the policy of a six Party coalition, we sit down at the table and we agree on policies in a consensual manner, we’re moving forward we’re not moving backwards,” Granger told a meeting in Queens, New York.
He also added that constitutional reform is another area that is high on their agenda should they win the upcoming elections and outlined a number of areas where reform will take place.
“Can a President prevent the holding of local government elections for 21 years? The answer is no, Obama cannot do it and Ramotar must not do it and we must ensure that the constitution is strengthen not by cherry picking of few issues but by having a holistic approach to the issues which we have discovered,” Granger stressed.
Meanwhile, the Coalition’s Prime Ministerial Candidate, Moses Nagamootoo, told concerned supporters that the AFC has taken all measures needed to protect itself.
“We’re not saying this as a threat but we’re saying that we hold a guarantee that if things don’t go well, David and you and I have to file legal proceedings for a divorce. I am taking my property with me, 12 seats and when he end up in a minority, I go over to the other side and you’re getting the no confidence motion all over again.”
Meanwhile, a few persons protested the meeting which was held on Sunday March 22. They identified themselves as supporters of the People’s Progressive Party Civic, (PPP/C).
According to reports coming out of Queens, the PPP supporters stood outside the meeting for almost two hours with placards as they shouted, “Granger is danger’ and also called Nagamootoo ‘ungrateful’.
One man who identified himself to protesters as the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan’s cousin, told the PPP supporters that Dr. Jagan would never approve of what is taking place in Guyana since the PPP has strayed from the ideologies of the founder of the Party.