As the PNCR “town-hall style” public meetings wind down the candidates have exuded confidence that they will gain the nod at the February 26 Special Congress to be the party’s presidential candidate this year.
Guyana’s self-styled “Obama-like” figure Basil Williams says he has the political acumen necessary to defeat the incumbent PPP/C at the general elections constitutionally due later this year.
Williams thinks his chance of the securing the post at the February 26 Special Congress are “very good” and he expects to win as he has done at previous congresses for internal posts. Speaking to Stabroek News on Friday, the party’s Vice-chairman said that at all the meetings held so far the people have been responsive and appreciative of him. According to Williams, he is confident that the PNCR membership will “do the right thing” and elect him as the candidate since he believes he has the necessary qualifications.
“This is a political office we’re running for not a technocratic office. So the question of the nominees’ political exposure is very important. I’ve been exposed in my early 20s, I was legal assistant to two presidents for over five years, I’ve coordinated trade unions, I was a city councillor, everything I’ve done,” Williams stated.
He also noted his time as an opposition councillor under late president Desmond Hoyte and currently as a parliamentarian as all redounding to his benefit.
‘I think I have the instincts to deal with the People’s Progressive Party and generally any political party in Guyana. You have to have political instincts …” According to Williams, he believes that the PPP recognise that he would be a “formidable challenge” and that is why they have attacked him in sections of the media.
But beyond political astuteness Williams posits that the PNCR needs a candidate that could draw votes across the racial divide in order to win the election and he believes that he is that individual.
“As I’ve said before the PNC needs an Obama-like candidate, one who transcends race, in other words that candidate has to be able to attract votes from everywhere and I believe I’m … situated to do that, in not only my lifestyle, but also I believe by the way I’ve conducted my practice over the years,” he stated.
The attorney said his major focus is investing in the Guyanese people in order to give them a decent standard of living with a living wage while he will also be looking to restore the rule of law.
Williams added that he will also decentralise power and reform local governance to empower communities. He also promised to beef up the police force and go after white collar criminals.
Meanwhile, James Bond, himself a criminal attorney and the youngest of the aspirants, told Stabroek News that the people have embraced his entry into the political realm.
“All the regions so far have been extremely supportive of my candidacy which they see as a breath of fresh air in the staleness of Guyanese politics. They are surprised that I am doing so well and wish that i continue in national politics no matter the result.
According to him, party members and the wider populace have pledged their support to him and are “eager” to work with him as the PNCR’s presidential candidate in the national polls.
“I have the unique ability to bridge the ethnic divide and also the generation gap. I am confident in a victory at the Congress on February 26,” he said.
Bond said among the issues his campaign is focusing on are youth, the economy, health and the disciplined forces. He added that his broad-based “message of advancement” has been well received, especially what he called “the novel concept of Community-Based Development.”
This, he said, targets the optimal development of a community’s natural and human resources by providing the physical infrastructure e.g. electricity, drainage, machinery (factories, mills) technological capabilities coupled with training and education of members of the community.
“This concept is unique and has the ability once implemented with consultations of the individuals of the community to lift our depressed rural and hinterland communities out of poverty by providing more than substantial income and much needed jobs. We will move our citizens from sweetie vendors, kitchen gardeners to modern entrepreneurs,” Bond declared.
He noted that as a given he is advocating strongly for greater involvement of young people in the decision making process of the country and added that his candidacy has been hailed as “the start of an era of the youth.”
“I have proposed the novel concept of youth ministers in every government department to design programmes and policies to better the economic, social and physical welfare of the Guyanese youth. I have promised passing in parliament a Comprehensive Youth Policy within my first six months of office and the creation of a representative Youth Parliament not the shambolic one we have now,” the 31-year-old father of one stated.
David Granger, viewed by many as one of the frontrunners in the race for the party nod, acknowledged that there is no objective means of measuring the candidates’ performance but as is to be expected he did not slight his chances.
“I would not like to guess about the popularity of the nominees. I am confident, however, that my policy for giving Guyanese ‘a good life’ has remained unchallenged. From the start, I have promulgated a clear three-pronged plan based mainly on first, the maintenance of public security; second, the improvement of education to eliminate school dropouts and third, enhancing employment opportunities, especially for young school-leavers.”
He added that his vision also encompasses the importance of economic diversification into agro-processing and through the export of non-traditional farm products, and the provision of micro-financing services to small farmers to boost their capacity and to provide employment. To support this programme he has called for the establishment of regional agricultural institutes which could promote agricultural education and research in rural and hinterland regions.
“I have maintained this policy focus for the past month and it has been well received. My emphasis on agro-processing and micro-finance has been appreciated especially in rural and hinterland centres such as Mabaruma, Manchester, Hopetown, Calcutta and Lethem. My emphasis on education was regarded as relevant and topical at Bartica, Corriverton and Vreed-en-Hoop where the schools are in a state of disrepair,” the retired army Brigadier said.
He believes his plan is achievable saying his proposals are “affordable, realistic and based on the actual needs of the country right now.” According to the veteran soldier, the feedback he has received indicates that members of the PNCR and audiences at town-hall meetings understand the value of his policy.
“People are prepared to support my candidacy to enable me to achieve the clearly defined goals of restoring a high level of public security, repairing the educational system and reducing unemployment,” Granger asserted.
Meanwhile, the lone female in the PNCR primaries Dr. Faith Harding, a former PNC minister, says it is clear to her that the delegates identify with her and the vision and platform she has put forward at the meetings.
“I have heard from a large percentage of them that my style of leadership, my experience, my understanding of their needs and the needs of the country as a whole, and the trust and hope that I inspire around the 10 regions of our country serve as the motivating force driving them to vote for me as the Presidential Candidate for the PNCR,” she stated
Dr. Harding said she has presented a platform for change in the party so that it becomes more responsive to the needs of its members, “providing grass root support and productive activities that will lift them out of poverty while engaging young persons and other members in viable programmes/activities.
Secondly, she is looking at a governance structure where the rule of law is paramount thereby reducing the level of corruption.
“Another area of priority is creating jobs. I have launched a 100 days jobs plan that outlines the actions to be taken in financing these jobs, investing in our infrastructure and using our natural resources to their fullest potential,” she said.
Another initiative she outlined was providing affordable electricity to every household and industry.
“I will reopen the ENMAN Services discussion for the development of the Turtuba hydropower project, which once completed will have 800 MW of installed power generating capacity … located on the Mazaruni River. This project estimates that some 5000 people will be employed on the construction and other activities under the project,” Harding stated.
Several efforts to get feedback from the final nominee, economist Carl Greenidge came to naught as a result of conflicting schedules.
Today’s meeting is at the Mahdia Primary School, Region 8 at 5 pm.
