The United Force (TUF) has announced that Marissa Nadir, the daughter of former party leader Manzoor Nadir, is its prime ministerial candidate for the upcoming elections.
The announcement was made at a press conference at the party’s Unity House headquarters on Thursday, where it was emphasised that there is no relationship between TUF and Valerie Garrido-Lowe, who was unanimously designated leader until a split with some members of the executive. Garrido-Lowe is now candidate for the Alliance For Change (AFC).
Nadir, 29, who TUF said is the country’s first female prime ministerial candidate, stated that she saw her own selection as a great accomplishment, not only as a woman but as a career person.
Nadir, who is the only woman at the top of the slate among the contesting parties, said she will be focusing primarily on women’s issues, and particularly on domestic violence, which she will continue to champion after the polls.
She will be paying attention as well to the enhancement of the entrepreneurial skills of women, who, she said, are the future. She also encouraged women to speak up for their rights instead of staying quiet and declining to voice their opinions, especially in these crucial times.
Nadir, according to a party bio, has a Bachelor’s Degree in law from the University of Guyana, and after graduation worked in the Difficult Circumstances Unit of the Ministry of Human Services. She is currently employed in the private sector.
Her bio said she is no stranger to politics since she has been on campaign trails from the age of seven and has traversed the length and breadth of Guyana, St. Lucia and other nations participating in Caribbean Youth parliaments and conferences.
TUF said she will be the voice of the women and youths of Guyana and that looks forward to their input, which she will be receiving via TUF’s Facebook page as well as through calls, letters and e-mails.
‘Party’s focus’
Meanwhile, TUF’s presidential candidate Peter Persaud identified developmental training for women, revision of the tax system, the sugar and bauxite industries, better job opportunities and rapid Amerindian development as being among the areas that the party will be focused on in its election campaign.
He stated that while TUF is right and ready to give Guyanese a better life, it will not be making any promises to the people. “We can make many promises but when we get in there is another thing,” he said, while pointing out that the country’s financial status is uncertain. The 16% Value Added Tax (VAT), he explained, is a crucial one, and as a result he emphasised that the economic situation must be examined before a decision is made about the tax.
Opposition groups APNU and AFC have both committed to lowering the VAT, while the incumbent PPP/C has said it would review the tax.
According to Persaud, TUF will, within the first 100 days in office, review the country’s entire tax system, after which there will be possible reductions of Pay As You Earn (PAYE) from 33.3% to 25%, for example, or eliminations, depending on the results of the review.
Persaud also stated that the party will be focusing on attracting foreign and local investment, which will serve to create for young people.
He added that it will look into establishing a task force to examine the sugar, bauxite and other industries in Guyana to see what potential they have in improving the livelihood of the people.
“We will also focus on restructuring the productive sectors of the country… so that they can realise their potential in the development of the country,” he said.
In relation to the development of the Amerindian people, Persaud, an indigenous rights activist, noted that the party has plans of establishing a marketing agency for the exportation of Amerindian products, since the indigenous people are having a difficult task in this area, among others.
Meanwhile, when asked about TUF’s campaigning, party spokesperson June Anne Brassington noted that it has been visiting regions One, Seven, Eight, and Nine, and that it will “continue to go to these areas until elections day.” Brassington pointed out that the party has representatives working in every region.
TUF, Brassington also said, is not aligned with any party and does not plan on do so.
