-PNCR team visits
Will Winston Murray run for the presidency? That was the topic of discourse among many residents of Lethem following a visit to Region Nine by members of the People’s National Congress Reform over the weekend.
Some members travelled by air, while others braved the inclement weather and gut-rocking road and travelled by bus, Dr. Richard Van West Charles among them. While in the Rupununi, the team held meetings in Lethem and Aranaputa Valley in the North Rupununi.
The team comprised Winston Murray MP and Shadow Minister of Finance; Aubrey Norton, MP and Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs; Mervyn Williams, MP Shadow Minister of Agriculture and Regional MP Region 3; Dr. Richard Van-West Charles, Chairman, Meadow Brook PNCR Group and former Minister of Health; James Bond, attorney-at-law and youth leader; and Melanie Cornette, Regional Councillor, Region 4.
According to reports, at the meeting at Lethem Murray was hailed as the best possible presidential candidate for the PNCR.
In speaking with Stabroek News, Murray said that meetings were held with several communities in the North and near Central Rupununi but the inclement weather prevented them from visiting more communities.
He pointed out, however, that upon hearing of their presence, many residents braved the weather to meet with the team at Lethem to voice concerns and raise several issues that affect them directly and indirectly.
According to Murray, “The people warmed to us which enabled them to discuss freely issues including agriculture, land, economics, health, electricity, education and employment.”
Murray said what was demonstrated at all of the meetings was “the fact that people genuinely felt that these issues can be addressed with the team’s interventions since the people were finding it increasingly difficult to get the government and regional officials to do so.”
He said further that “there is a clarion call for unity at all levels of the party and society in general.
This is important because it will allow us, as a united people, to take our rightful place among the community of nations.”
When asked by Stabroek News about recent developments in the PNCR, Murray emphasized that there was no division in the party, but “what you are seeing is a re-invigorated PNCR which is now geared to face the challenges in the future, and who are ready and waiting to play a meaningful role in the development of Guyana, for all Guyanese.”
Meanwhile many persons Stabroek News spoke with said that it was a good sign for the party and country that party leader Robert Corbin had signalled his intention of stepping aside at this critical juncture of Guyana’s political history.
Many of the residents also said it will be best for the party to maintain its tradition of having the leader of the party and the presidential candidate be the same person.
While at Lethem, Dr Van-West Charles paid a courtesy visit to the Regional Hospital there. The team also paid a courtesy call on former PNC Minister of Government Philip Duncan, who now resides in Lethem with his family and is now a Minister of Religion.
Before leaving for Georgetown, the team met with Regional Chairman, Region 9 (Upper Takutu/ Upper Essequibo), Clarindo Lucas. At that meeting, issues raised by residents were discussed.
The team departed Tuesday via aircraft after a 21-hour delay of their flight due to inclement weather.
