Annette Ferguson APNU
Providing a voice for the voiceless is the motivation behind Annette Ferguson’s huge step into the world of politics and as a new parliamentarian she hopes that she would be speaking for the many who are unable do so for themselves.
She has always been a member of the PNC but this is the first time she has come out and spoken on a political stage. Her voice, however, has been loud and clear, since she was one of the vocal youths on the APNU campaign trail. And in recent times she has taken the microphone from time to time when the Youth Collation for Transformation (YCT) held its rallies.
While studying social work, Ferguson said she learnt about the Johari window, which talks about the four selves.
“It talks about the blind, the known, the unknown and the hidden,” she said, explaining that it is the hidden her which took to the political platform.
She is one of the new parliamentarians chosen to represent APNU and she promises that she will do her best to speak for the people she represents.
There is much to be learnt she admitted during an interview with the Sunday Stabroek, but added that she has always had a vested interest in becoming a politician.
“I have a passion for helping people so I always tell myself look, I am interested in helping people [and] that is the reason for me getting involved in politics, because politics is more or less about people…” she told the Sunday Stabroek in a recent interview.
She knows that many persons view politics as “a dirty game” but she reiterated that it is about people and about people’s lives and “I don’t see all politicians as persons out to rob people; yes, there are a few out there who might have a set agenda.
“But as I said I have the people of this nation, my people to fight for… because it hurts, it pains me to see how my people are living, how my people can’t get jobs. And when I say my people, I mean all Guyanese,” she emphasised.
On the campaign trail she volunteered her time and she led a group of young people who called themselves the ‘APNU campaign movers’ and who went into communities to sell APNU to citizens.
As she walked the streets and dams of the country selling the “whole idea of APNU” to citizens, Ferguson said she was convinced that the coalition could have won the November 28 elections.
“I was convinced, that is why I got involved, I had the feeling that we were going to pull it off and from the response or the feedback given by the people out there… I felt we would win.”
When APNU did not win Ferguson said she was indeed gravely disappointed, but instead of getting emotional she had to comfort the many persons who openly vented their displeasure at the results.
And when she walked into the National Assembly last Thursday, Ferguson had a number of issues on her mind that she would like to see addressed; these included moving the retirement age from 55 to 65, “since persons at age 55 are still in their prime, their mental faculties are in effect.” She would also like VAT to be revised, public servants to be paid better salaries, the constitution to be reformed and a government of national unity set up. She also hopes that there will be policies in place to assist the less fortunate and those who are vulnerable. She also wants the old age pension to be increased and for food vouchers to be given to the elderly which they can redeem for food items or be given a discount on some items. Transportation for the elderly is another issue she would be advocating. She would like to see the issue of domestic violence addressed and will be calling on the government to create safe homes for abused women and children.
Like many others in the past, Ferguson called for policemen and women to be trained in how to deal with domestic issues, and for every police station to have areas specifically set up for officers to hear complaints of domestic violence.
And in reference to the boycott calls issued by YCT against Kashif & Shanghai and Hits & Jams, Ferguson said she fully endorsed those calls since the youth arm of APNU recognized that for the “past years they have been operating for the PPP/C and rather than giving back to the communities we strongly believe that they were just out to grab from the poor class of people out there.”
Ferguson said that it is not just because the two are supporters of the ruling party, because there are other businesses that have supported the government, but in contrast they have given back to communities.
She said another thing behind the boycott was the call for young people to conserve and when told that some had argued that you could tell young people not to go to the functions held by the two entities but instead go to those held by others, Ferguson replied, “I guess it is all up to the individuals.”
“We were preaching conservatism, conserve, spend wisely just buy the things you need and not your wants and we were more or less emphasizing to parents, rather than spending on the fantasies at least buy books, educational tools for your children.”
She said that there is a purpose for her in politics and if it is indeed her calling she is willing to take it up in full strength.
“We in the APNU we promised all Guyanese and that is what I would like to see for all Guyanese.”
A fervent Christian, Ferguson said God is behind her move and she thanks him for showing her the way. Born in Georgetown, Ferguson grew up on Albert Street where she still lives, and she has spent most her professional life at the Guyana Post Office Corporation where she started out at the level of Clerk Two and then moved up the ranks. When she resigned thirteen years later she did so in the position of maintenance manager. And up to October of last year she was employed with USAID as an administrative officer, but now is unemployed. During her working years she attended the University of Guyana and read for a diploma in public management, a post-graduate diploma in administration and a degree in social work. She is single with no children.
