As the governing People’s Progressive Party Civic celebrated its 2^nd anniversary since returning to Government on Tuesday, the Opposition APNU+AFC said the Government has spent the past two years involved in high levels of discrimination and corruption.

The APNU+AFC along with the Working People’s Alliance hosted a rally on Tuesday night at Burnham Court in Georgetown and the over 2000 people who attended were told by Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton that the Opposition will now be stepping into full campaign mode against the Government and its shortcomings.

Mr. Norton said the country is currently facing dictatorship under the PPP.

“Let us be clear in our heads, we are facing a very dictatorial regime, we are facing a regime that is prepared to violate the rule of law. They can’t tell us anything about democracy, they know not the rule of law. They are lawless, they are corrupt and that is why we will confront them”, Norton told supporters.

The Opposition Leader also defended his move to refuse a handshake from President Irfaan Ali at a recent Emancipation event in Berbice. He said he will not be shaking the hands of his oppressors.

“I want people to know that I shake hands, but I do not shake hands with my oppressors. I can shake hands if you treat me, if you treat my people and if you treat all Guyanese as equal,” the Opposition Leader said.

The rally was also told by Mr. Norton that while the cost of living in Guyana is spiraling out of control, crime is on the rise and there seems to be a return of extrajudicial killing.

He said those problems are compounded with acts of discrimination by the Government. Norton said while the President speaks about One Guyana, he has been ignoring the cries of Guyanese.

“It is easy for some to talk about protocol and decorum, but if they go into our villages, they will understand what this regime is doing to the people of Guyana. At Mocha on the East Bank, they are seeking to remove people who live of these lands for years, taking state money to give them so they can give their rich friends, we say no to that,” Norton cites as one of his concerns with the government.

The Opposition Leader also raised concern over the President’s failure to meet with him on the appointment of several critical Constitutional Commissions, which has forced the Opposition to head to the Court.

“You shake a hand when somebody is nice to you, you shake a hand when there is some amount of gratitude, you shake a hand when there is cordial and friendship, you do not shake the hands of those who seek to oppress you and I say that without fear of successful contradiction.

Norton said the Opposition will be mobilizing itself more and will hit the ground to let people understand all that is happening around them.

He has also promised a return to the picket line to bring more attention to the grievance of citizens.

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