The A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), which along with its former coalition partner, the Alliance for Change (AFC), was accused of attempting to rig the 2020 General and Regional Elections, is now promising to “behave bad” if this year’s election is rigged by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C). This sentiment was revealed by APNU’s presidential candidate, Aubrey Norton, this evening during the party’s rally at Vreed-en-Hoop, West Bank Demerara (WBD).
Promising to remove the governing PPP/C from office following the September 1 poll, Norton gave a stern warning that any attempt at rigging would be met with consequences.
“I am about to make some statements which I want the government to hear. You are not going to be allowed to rig these elections,” Norton said. He disclosed that APNU agents will scrutinize the election process and ensure that nothing illegal happens.
Norton added, “May I say this to you, we are prepared to behave bad if illegalities occur.”
Norton urged citizens not to allow others to take actions that could cause ethnic problems. However, he added, “But in the same breath, I warn this government, any attempt to rig will have serious consequences.”
Norton proceeded to recite the lyrics of a song by the late Dave Martins. Adding his spin, Norton said, “We are a peaceful people, we are not looking for trouble, but if trouble come we way we ain’t gon back down.”
APNU’s presidential candidate also underscored that five years of PPP’s domination is enough. “We have had five years of your barefacedness. We have had five years of your contempt for ordinary people. We say enough is enough,” Norton stated.
The APNU+AFC coalition had assumed office in 2015, but in 2018, the David Granger-led administration was brought down by a no-confidence motion in the National Assembly. Former AFC parliamentarian Charrandass Persaud voted with PPP parliamentarians, giving them a majority. However, in response, the Coalition government moved to the courts and lost several legal battles.
Eventually, the General and Regional Elections were held on March 2, 2020. That election was plagued by attempts to rig the results by members of APNU+AFC as well as officers of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). A recount was later conducted, after which, the current administration was declared the winner, and Irfaan Ali and his party members were sworn into office in August 2020.
