Drawing upon his military experience, Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d.) Mark Phillips is of the firm belief that political parties challenging the PPP/C for leadership of the country have already been defeated.“They are already defeated. I am a military man, so I know when the enemy is defeated. They are already defeated,” PM Phillips told a massive gathering at the PPP/C Region Seven rally held in the mining town of Bartica.However, the Prime Minister, who is seeking re-election at the September 1 polls, cautioned residents of Region Seven against becoming complacent.“When you sense your enemy is defeated, you cannot become complacent. Now is the time to maintain the focus up to September 1. Ensure everyone at home and in your communities come out and vote,” he stated.The main opposition party, the APNU, has struggled to mobilise support in key strongholds like Bartica since the launch of its election campaign last month. The other main contending party, led by US-sanctioned businessman Azruddin Mohamed, has not held a rally, and has relied on small public meetings.A section of the massive crowd at BarticaPM Phillips said that the poor showing for the APNU is a result of the track record of that party – including its treatment of Indigenous peoples and miners.He referenced the fact that after it took office in 2015, the APNU dismissed more than 2,000 Community Support Officers (CSOs) who were young Indigenous people employed by the state. Additionally, the party imposed new taxes on machinery and mining equipment, which resulted in the sector contracting.In contrast, PM Phillips said that the PPP/C government continues to make targeted investments which expand employment opportunities and improve the welfare of Guyanese.“Over 60,000 new jobs have been created because of better policies. Every indigenous community in Guyana is connected to the world and the future. Because of the ICT sector, you can stay in your villages and pursue higher education. We have drugs now at health facilities. We now have telemedicine, even right here in region seven,” he outlined.PM Phillips reminded residents, too, that the same APNU that took away the children’s ‘Because We Care’ cash grant and the joint services one-month bonus is now promising to double those grants.“It’s lies. They are running scared and they know they are already defeated,” the Prime Minister said, reminding residents that their future and that of their children must not be put at risk.“Do not risk the next five years of development by voting for these jokers. They are even copying the manifesto because they have no plan for the country,” he said, urging residents to ensure they vote solidly for the PPP/C on September 1.The post PM Phillips: ‘I’m a military man, I know when the enemy is defeated & they are already defeated’ appeared first on News Room Guyana.