By Cathy Richards
PNCR presidential candidate hopeful Carl Greenidge attracted strong support among the residents of Region 10 on Friday, which saw the largest turnout at the ongoing Town Hall-style meetings organised by the party.
There was a capacity audience at the Linmine Consta-bulary Recreational Hall, where the five nominees each made their case to be the PNCR’s presidential candidate at the upcoming general and regional elections.
Residents came out to hear what the nominees had to say on several issues of concern to them, especially unemployment, infrastructure, water and security. At the commencement of the programme, each candidate was given two minutes to give an introductory presentation, while residents later took full advantage of the time given to them to ask questions. Among those asking questions were a large number of youths, who expressed concerns about the unemployment situation and the effects of the government’s ‘No Child Left Behind’ policy.
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udging from the reception after the meeting, Greenidge was the favourite among residents of the mining town. Several of them flocked him and pledged their support to him. Speaking with Stabroek News, he said the reception was the kind he was hoping for. He added that Linden was very special to the party and had gone through some difficult times in the past. “I was very concerned to know what was the sense of Linden as it regards this process within the party and as well their attitudes toward the efforts of the community in general and toward the change of government and to improve the quality of governance in general,” he said.
Greenidge said he was very pleased to see the wide spectrum of the audience present at the meeting. He added that he was also very pleased to note that the quantity of questions focused on the education system and opportunities for youths in this regard. Following the meeting, he was forced to spend extra hours in a round table discussion with a large number of young people, who demanded an audience with him. “The question about education and bringing education into the 21st century is not only about equipment and buildings, it is about a knowledge system,” he said.
Later, in a statement, the Murray/Greenidge Support Group said Greenidge told Linden he would reinvigorate the PNCR. “[He] told his audience that the future of Guyana lies in the hands of its people and there was a clear need to revitalise the PNCR so that its members and supporters could be motivated to effectively contest the next general and regional elections,” it said. “He affirmed that he would do all that is necessary to make the PNCR attractive and attentive. He observed that the party must listen to the people, listen to their problems and integrate their concerns into an attractive platform which can appeal to its members and supporters.”
Greenidge addressed the economy and said he would implement programmes that would encourage investment in all sectors of the economy, including human resources and infrastructure, so that prosperity could be generated and shared by all the people of Guyana. He noted that the right policy and leadership can promote an invigoration of the economy and the creation of jobs offering adequate remuneration and satisfaction. “Mr Greenidge also said that he will put in place policies aimed at winning the business community, so that their investments can ensure the growing of the economy and create employment for the people of Guyana,” the group’s statement added.
He also noted that there is a need to develop a modern economy, in which all sectors are integrated. In the case of bauxite, he said emphasis should be placed on developing by-products needed in the automobile industry. He added, “Side-by-side with this, there must be the required technical training so that the workers, including the young people, can be up to speed with the requirements of the modern and global economy. In the process, the workers must be trained to acquire the level of discipline and social skills necessary for the modern productive worker.”
‘Fully Committed’
Meanwhile, retired Briga-dier David Granger dispelled claims in a NCN 6 O’ Clock news report on Friday that he was contemplating dropping out of the race because of a rift with party leader Robert Corbin. “I have no problems with Mr Corbin [and] I am fully committed to the process and I have no intentions of dropping out. Tomorrow [Saturday] I go to Lethem with my colleagues and I will see the process through to the end. This is the commitment I have given to my supporters both here in Linden and in the Diaspora,” Granger told Stabroek News.
Another nominee, PNCR Vice-Chairman Basil Williams indicated that he was a familiar face frequenting Linden and also expressed his satisfaction at the turn-out of residents of Linden. He said he thought that the questions asked were “bunched up on the topic. I expected to have questions related to the problems you are having in Linden but we didn’t get them coming through. We had those questions that were standard throughout the trips…. We want questions to come from people in the various communities,” he said.
Williams added that he has always had very strong support from the people and he has always had high votes at party elections. He said that he had no reason to believe that his support would diminish. “I have been there, done that. I live on the frontline baby,” Williams added.
The lone female nominee, Dr Faith Harding felt that the questions posed were “fantastic” and touched the heart of the issues of Linden, which must be dealt with by the party in governing the country. She added, “Everybody stayed so attentive to the issues and that speaks volumes about how in touch the people in Linden are on the political issues and their future. The questions were about ‘What are you going to do? We are hurting, and we want change.’”
Harding said that she felt robbed of the opportunity to comfortably answer the questions that were posed and that is why she is focused on putting out her ‘100-Days Jobs Plan,’ which would afford persons to have a full understanding of what she intends to do for the country when she becomes the president.
She said that she was awed by the support that has been forthcoming and felt it had nothing to do with her gender but rather her leadership skills and her ability to run the country.
The other nominee, attorney James Bond, also attracted a strong response from the audience and particularly among the young people. One man said, “He is very young still and has a long way to go. I don’t see him making it this time around. But he should stick to it and one day he’ll definitely get there.”
