The PPP/C introduced several members of their list of candidates to media yesterday. This was the second of what executive secretary Zulficar Mustapha promised to be a series of introductions.
The candidates all expressed the view that the PPP/C’s record of development and continued commitment to development convinced them to support the party.
Present at the conference were doctors Tandika Smith, Vishalya Sharma, Vanessa Benn, Clive Jagan and Mahender Sharma.
Mahender Sharma is the Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA). He was asked by Stabroek News to address concerns about a possible conflict of interest between his post as a public servant and his PPP/C Candidacy.
In his response Sharma said that there was “nothing in the GEA act [which] precludes me from being a candidate on a party slate and serving as Chief Executive Officer at the same time.” He however demurred when an attempt was made to further question him.
Former General Manager at GAIBANK Dr. Kenrick Hunte, in a letter published in Tuesday’s edition of Stabroek News wrote that “Public servants who are desirous of running for political office must resign their government post in an effort to avoid a conflict of interest. Such action precludes the possibility for the misuse of public funds/resources in partisan political campaigns and junkets, where one political party benefits at the expense of other political groups”.
Dental Surgeon Dr Clive Jagan who is the nephew of the late PPP leader Cheddi Jagan denied claims that the party has moved away from the principles of his uncle. “Presumptions are made that they are moving away but there has been no valid proof that PPP/C have moved away.
They still stand for the same policies; they still stand for progress; they still stand for democracy; they still stand for freedom of the press and everything else.”
