Independent Party leader Mark Benschop yesterday said he is confident the party can secure thousands of votes to become a “third force” in the upcoming general and regional elections.
“We are confident we will become a third force,” Benschop told a press briefing at the Pegasus Hotel.
At the last elections, he noted, thousands of people did not vote and they are the undecided voters. Benschop said his party is there for the undecided voters and the ordinary man.
Benschop said the party will be offering Guyanese an opportunity to breathe again. He said it will be focusing on human rights issues, such as police brutality.
Benschop said police reform is needed and the Independent Party will be pursuing that once it is parliament.
He also said the judicial system needs to reviewed and reformed as well as the prison system. The party will also be paying special attention to child abuse and domestic violence, he added.
According to Benschop, the party will be scrutinising what is done in Parliament because it wants to make sure that the leaders are acting in the people’s interest.
He also said support for the budget will be based on what the people want.
General Secretary of the party, Dexter Todd, also said the party will be focusing on accountability and representation of the Guyanese people.
Todd said people are fed up with “Playboy politics,” while noting that the two major political forces—the incumbent PPP/C and the opposition APNU+AFC—cannot agree on anything and, even if there is a switch in power, he does not believe that the parties will come to consensus.
Todd said the country needs to move forward and the Independent Party will be, “The country’s eyes, ears, and most importantly, voice.”
The Independent Party, which Todd said has hundreds of members throughout the country, will be contesting in regions 2, 8, 4, 5, 6 and 10.
