– former PNCR MP joins campaignThe incumbent People’s Progressive Party (PPP) yesterday launched its re-election bid at Albion with less than the mammoth crowd that was expected in the Berbice sugar belt that has been its traditional stronghold.There were hardly any new and specific plans, but the cross-over of opposition Parliamentarian Joseph Hamilton added spice to the rally.The Presidential Candidate Donald Ramotar trumped up the PPP’s record in office,Brett Favre Falcons Jersey, vowing that if things are good now, they will be even better with him as President. The outgoing President, Bharrat Jagdeo, also trumped up the accomplishments of the party in office, and, in typical style, sought to vilify the Kaieteur News and Prime News, as being part of ‘an incestuous circle’ to bring down the PPP.Hamilton, who once represented the main opposition People’s National Congress Reform, took to the stage and announced that he will work for the election of Donald Ramotar as the next President, as he peppered the other two main presidential candidates.He said Khemraj Ramjattan of the Alliance for Change comes with too much envy, enmity and malice. When it was time to talk about David Granger,Nike Air Max 1 Womens Sale, who leads the opposition coalition APNU, Hamilton labeled him ‘ a reluctant politician’,Nike Off White The Ten, saying that at age 65 he has just awaken and does not have the fire in his belly or the politics in his veins that is required for the job.Less than 10,000 persons turned out for the rally, and that included those who had travelled from other parts of the country.Many from Albion itself and other neigbouring communities simply stayed home, expressing disenchantment with the PPP’s handling of the sugar industry that has been their source of livelihood, and other issues.Presidential Candidate Donald Ramotar arrives with his wife Deolatchmee to his right, for the PPP Albion rally.For example, 53-year-old Bacha from Fyrish Village said he has worked at the sugar estate at Albion since 1977, but says the pay these days hardly could make ends meet.“All the big ones fulling dem pockets while the small man working hard and getting little,” he told Kaieteur News while relaxing in a hammock at his friend’s home at Albion just a stone’s throw away from the rally.“This hay is from sugar,” he said, talking of his cap to show his bald head, “But we are like the little fishes in the sea being eaten up by the big ones.”His friend, though, who has worked as a security guard at the estate for years and is due for pension next year, is a die-hard PPP supporter, and left early to attend the rally. There, he passed another die-hard PPP supporter,Adrian Wilson Cardinals Jersey, who said the government is not perfect.“I iz a die-hard PPP,” said the elderly Kamal, “who else meh go vote fah?”The Chairman of the programme, Region Six Chairman Zulfikar Mustafa, first announced the crowd at 20,000, and persons braced to a fence just off the Albion complex road giggled and shook their heads in disbelief.When he later came back and added a further 8,000, he was further laughed at as persons could see that that was hardly the number in attendance. He never did muster another calculation even when the main speakers took to the podium.Warren Barlow was the first speaker. He praised the PPP for allowing people to enjoy “complete peace and happiness.” His comments drew irritation from a woman who was seated on the ground with her daughter.“A wah thing he a talk bout?” she grumbled. When asked why she decided to come to the rally, she blurted out,Cheap Capitals Jerseys, “To watch the madness hay, nah.”? She left even before the main speakers took to the podium.Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee said the PPP is getting better and stronger, and encouraged Berbicians to come out and vote.He said that the opposition is in shambles, and lacks direction. He hailed President Jagdeo as the “giant called BJ” and said that the party was now going with “the giant called DR,” referring to Donald Ramotar.Prime Minister Samuel Hinds said it was appropriate that the first PPP rally for this election season was being held at Albion, not far from Port Mourant – the birthplace of party founder Dr Cheddi Jagan.Hinds said that Guyana has improved tremendously, and changed over the year, and he expressed hope that Dr Jagan’s dream of the Guyanese people being united like they were in the elections of 1953 would be fulfilled this year.Hinds said that when Forbes Burnham (who later became leader of the PNC) wanted a party to join, he joined the PPP, and he therefore called for other old comrades to “come home” to the PPP, as Joseph