THE GRASSROOT

 

Ladies and Gentlemen, Fellow Citizens,

In 1953, the people of this nation stood at a historic crossroads. One name echoed across the land — the People’s Progressive Party. But make no mistake: even then, the political stage was crowded. From Portuguese interest groups to elite Indian voices and Colored civic leaders, many sought to shape the future of a young and hopeful country.

It was a time when powerful figures rose.

L.F.S. Burnham — a master of words — captured the Afro-Guyanese vote with thunderous oratory.

C.B. Jagan — the tireless champion of workers — rallied the Indo-Guyanese with calls for justice and fair wages in the sugar belt.

But then came the split — 1955.

A political divide... that became an ethnic one.

And with that divide, the seeds of polarization took root. Still, new parties emerged, voices tried to rise, but for decades, two parties — PPP and PNC — have shaped the lives and futures of the Guyanese people.

Today, it is 2025.

Another election. Another cycle.

But this time, something is different.

This is not just a fight for power. This is a fight for the very soul of our democracy.

Today, we face more than candidates — we face the creeping shadow of authoritarianism. We are witnessing attempts to rewrite the rules, silence dissent, and erode the power of your vote — the one thing no government should ever take from its people.

This is not just an election — it is a reckoning.

And in this reckoning, you — the voter — are the most powerful force in the land.

Yes, there are whispers of fraud. Yes, there are fears of rigging.

But remember this: no fraud can defeat a united and determined people. No manipulation can silence a nation that chooses to speak with one voice.

So cast your vote not in fear — but in defiance.

Vote as if the future of Guyana depends on it — because it does.

Vote to protect your rights. Your voice. Your power to choose.

Because when democracy is under threat, silence is surrender — but action is resistance.

And your ballot... is your weapon.

Let us rise, not as divided factions, but as one people, under one flag, defending one future.

Let us rise — for Guyana.

Thank you.