Buoyed by a multitude of screaming supporters, President David Granger yesterday declared that the governing APNU+AFC had the “winning” slate for the upcoming March 2nd polls.
“It’s a winning list,” the President declared to reporters following the submission to Chief Election Officer Keith Lowenfield at the Umana Yana.
Granger, who will serve as both the Presidential Candidate and representative of the list, was accompanied by his Prime Ministerial Candidate and leader of the AFC Khemraj Ramjattan, who will be the deputy representative of the list. General Secretary of APNU Joseph Harmon and a contingent of ministers and supporters from the six parties that make up the coalition also accompanied them. These parties are the PNCR, AFC, GAP, WPA, NFA and JFAP.
Granger went to on to note that the list includes a balance of gender, generations and geographical spread, while adding that he was confident that the persons selected would do the coalition proud in the National Assembly, the Regional Democratic Councils (RDC) and the Cabinet.
“We have over the last three months been very careful to lay down the principles by which persons are to be selected and our six partners have complied with the criteria about gender, generation, geographical spread and competence. I am satisfied that we went through the process and we’ve got the best list,” the president said.
A press statement later declared that the APNU+ AFC has prepared its partners thoroughly for the elections.
“Our candidates, members and supporters are mobilized. Our campaign is progressing. We are guaranteed of the overwhelming support of Guyanese, based on our record over the past five years,” Granger declared.
While the party is still to release the names of the candidates contesting in the 10 Geographical Constituencies, it released the National Top-Up list, which includes for the most part the same names that appeared in 2015.
Some of the new names included were those of the Head of the Office of Climate Change (OCC) Janelle Christian, attorney Roysdale Forde, who Granger recently named Senior Counsel, and General Secretary of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) Coretta McDonald.
In an invited comment, Forde declared himself happy to be part of the list.
“I believe it is about service to the country and I believe that this list presents the best candidates for the challenges facing Guyana,” he stated, before adding that he specifically brings his legal experience and a willingness to work hard.
“A person who votes for the APNU+AFC list of candidates will be getting a commitment to engage in good governance, a commitment to improve the quality of life of all citizens in way that is focused and without any discrimination,” he stressed.
An excited McDonald explained that while entering the arena of national politics was always her aim, she has decided to step up earlier than planned.
“Everything happens at the right time,” she noted, while adding that as a trade unionist she has been concerned about the treatment workers throughout Guyana have been receiving and is determined to make a difference.
“National politics evolved from trade unions so this isn’t anything strange for a trade unionist. I have been agitating for quite a lot of changes within labour framework from outside and honestly I wasn’t getting the results from the outside, so I believe now is the right time to step into the ring and make sure that these changes become a reality,” McDonald said, while stressing that it is her belief that she will be “better able to bargain from the inside than the outside.”
Acknowledging that there will be many who expect a lot from “Coretta McDonald,” she stressed that she will continue to serve the nation and ensure they benefit from whatever resources are available, including those in the developing oil and gas sector.
“Regardless of where I am placed, I am prepared to work and work for the people. I am not a yes person if it’s not right I will say it’s not right“, she noted.
Referencing her recent struggles with the incumbent administration during the 2018 teachers’ strike, McDonald explained that it was her job to fight for the right of workers and she made sure to do her job.
“Fighting for my workers doesn’t mean I was anti-government,” she stressed.
The list includes every minister except Agriculture Minister Noel Holder, who has indicated that he will be retiring from politics.
Current Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who has been replaced as the PM candidate, also appears on the list as do former ministers Carl Greenidge and Harmon, who have renounced their dual citizenship to be eligible to enter Parliament. They had been forced to resign as MPs after a finding by the courts that as MPs their holding of dual citizenship offended the constitution.
Members of the eleventh parliament including Michael Carrington, Haimraj Rajkumar and Audwin Rutherford also reappear on the list as do a number of individuals who previously served or contested at the local government level. They are former Beterverwagting/Triumph Chairman Leyland Harcourt, former Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan and former local government candidate Astell Collins.
