Former State Minister Joseph Harmon yesterday warned a General Council meeting of the Peoples’ National Congress Reform (PNCR) that the upcoming general and regional elections would not be a “cakewalk” for the current APNU+AFC coalition government and urged mobilisation at all levels to ensure victory.
The PNCR is the largest constituent of coalition partner A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and its General Council, which meets once every quarter, is the second highest decision-making forum of the party.
The PNCR, in a statement issued yesterday, said the General Council meeting, held at the party’s headquarters, Congress Place, Sophia, was the first for the year and saw Harmon, the APNU General Secretary, providing a briefing on the coalition’s preparations for the upcoming general and regional elections. “Mr. Harmon warned that these elections were not going to be a ‘cakewalk’ and urged members to continue mobilising and organising at the group, district and regional level to ensure victory,” it noted.
The coalition has been faced with the prospect of earlier than expected polls due to the controversial passage of a no-confidence motion against the government in the National Assembly last December. Following rulings both in favour of and against its validity in the local courts, a final determination is expected to be made soon by the Caribbean Court of Justice. Separate from the motion polls are constitutionally due next year.
President David Granger, who is leader of the PNCR, delivered the feature address at the General Council meeting and he also touched on the upcoming polls, about which he seemed confident. “We are strong, the PNC is strong and the Coalition will win the elections!” he was quoted as saying.
The statement added that Granger outlined six vices and six virtues of campaigning and warned against fragmentation, racialisation, stigmatisation, ignorance, indolence and arrogance. Referring to racialisation, the statement said he noted it had damaged the political fabric of the country. He also said the PNCR has always been and is still a multi-racial party. “The programme of the PNC is a programme for all Guyanese wherever they are. Race must not be used as an electoral factor,” he said.
Also addressing polls at the meeting was PNCR General Secretary Amna Ally, who said the year ahead was going to be extremely active as the party prepares for the general and regional elections. The statement said Ally assured the General Council that the party was ready for elections at any time.
The statement added that PNCR Chairperson Volda Lawrence, who chaired the meeting, also called on all party leaders/groups to inform their constituents of the progress of the government, the value of its policies and their positive impact on the various communities across the country. “We have worked effectively for the past four years to reduce crime and corruption. In this period, extra-judicial killings have vanished, the sale of illegal drugs is being addressed; health care, education and social services have significantly improved and we have dealt congenially with the public. We have been honest, reliable and efficient and have willingly worked the long hours needed to advance the economy, develop and move the country forward and improve the lives of the masses,” Lawrence was quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, President Granger also addressed the response to the no-confidence motion and pointed out that the government had at all times adhered to and acted in accordance with the constitution. “We have respected the legislative branch… we have respected the judicial branch. The executive branch has continued to function,” he was quoted as saying. “There is no such thing in the constitution as a ‘caretaker’ government, there is the government and government continues to function,” he added.
The statement said he also reviewed the stewardship of the coalition over the past four years and noted that there have been transformational changes. Some of the changes highlighted, it noted, were the holding of local government elections; the creation of four new capital towns; the increases in salaries, wages and pensions; first-time access to water for many communities; the drilling of wells in Region Nine; street lights and a brand new road on the East Bank Berbice; the provision of buses, boats and bicycles to enable students to get to and from school; the decentralisation of government services; and the resuscitation of the Guyana Youth Corps. “We improved the quality of life for the bulk of our population,” he said.
Granger also said his vision for Guyana post-2020 is a country where there is better education, fuller employment, greater equality, greater empowerment, better infrastructure and public utilities, better health care delivery and public services delivered to all regions.
The president, who has also been undergoing cancer treatment since last year, also thanked party members for their prayers and support over the past six months.
