Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon on Thursday night launched his campaign for leadership of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and he pledged to reunite the party while seeking to ensure that it is seen as a place for all regardless of ethnicity.
“I am honoured to have been asked to step up to the plate and do what is necessary. I, Fredrick Joseph Harmon, do accept that challenge of being the leader of the People’s National Congress Reform and I pledge to work with every member of our party,” Harmon said to an applause from the small group of supporters present for the launch, which was held at the Herdmanston Lodge, in Queenstown, Georgetown.
Harmon is seeking to replace David Granger as leader at the party’s upcoming congress, which is scheduled for December. Two other executive and long standing members, Aubrey Norton and Dr Richard Van West-Charles, have also announced their intention of vying for the post.
The party and its leadership have faced major backlash from supporters and the citizenry following its handling of the March 2020 General and Regional Elections and the political impasse in the aftermath.
Nonetheless, Harmon, who was instrumental in the campaign and was one of the key figures in the former APNU+AFC government, said that he believes he possesses the necessary skill and type of leadership to move the party forward, while firmly holding on to its foundation and morals.
Harmon said he wants to see a strong PNCR positioned as the party with moral authority and conscience of the Guyana to bring back decency in public life.
In an apologetic tone, Harmon said that he is prepared to take charge of the movement of reconciliation with members who feel they were ill-treated and that their views were not respected. This, he said, is among the issues he wants to address in the party, should he be elected to the position of leader.
“We are sorry. We made a mistake and we will correct it…If we harm you, if you felt aggrieved, it may not be real but we are going to apologise and bring you back home, [it] is one of the first element of the goals I have,” Harmon said as he underscored unity and cooperation being vital for the party’s future.
Over the past year prominent members of the party have resigned over its leadership.
“That unity will require us going out and reaching out to our comrades. Many persons, who feel that they have been treated in a bad way, in some way or the other, we need to reach out to them. We need to give them a hug. So the first phase of unity is basically reaching out and bringing home of our comrades,” Harmon underscored.
“I believe our party is haemorrhaging; I believe we are at a place where we have to take stock and regroup; I believe that… the first item on any agenda must be the healing of our party; must be bringing all the various little groups and factions together,” he declared and pointed out that their retrospection of the party’s movement will give them the opportunity to defeat the governing PPP/C, which he believes is “mortally afraid of a strong PNCR.”
He further called on his competitors to look beyond the jockeying for position and consider the importance of a unified image as many are watching and looking for guidance.
Harmon advanced his speech by announcing that once elected, he will be aiming to achieve greater inclusivity.
“The party must reach out to every sector of this society. They must reach out to every ethnicity and broaden that base. People must feel at home in the PNCR,” he declared before adding that the party is not about one group of people.
Harmon also posited that the PNCR must be able relate to persons it values and debunk misconceptions of the party. He noted, too, that the heritage of the party must be taught and preserved as it works to change the views of the party. On this note, he pointed out that persons must be able to understand that it is the PNCR that has taken Guyana through the difficult periods in history in the 60s and moulded it into a nation and that the party possesses the strength to do it again.
He added that once elected leader of the party, he will aim to improve the lives of grassroots supporters, who he claimed have stood with them through the years.
Harmon said they must be able to benefit from a higher standard of living and the party must be channel for them to achieve such.
On this note, he disclosed that he will like to see the employment opportunities created through initiatives that he had once submitted to the party executive. He said, too, that through the development and upgrading of congress houses across the country, new opportunities such as training for jobs will be made available.
As he continued to outline his plans for the party, Harmon said under his leadership, youths and women will be given support.
“So, as leader, I intend to give more resources to our Guyana Youth and Student Movement; I intend to see it reorganise; I intend to see it reaching out to young people across this country,” he highlighted before pointing out that he is prepared to work with youths and have their views included in decision making.
He stressed that youths by the next elections will be a critical constituent and it would be detrimental to the party if it foregoes any thoughts of not having them as part of their voting base.
Harmon also said that he intendeds to strengthen party groups across the country by providing the necessary resources and skills to ensure their objectives are achieved.
“I pledge to do it and stand up as leader of PNCR against this tyranny that is called PPP/C and for our party to take back its place of prominence among all political parties not only in Guyana but across the region,” Harmon added at the conclusion of his speech as he received loud cheers.
At the last congress in 2018, Harmon contested for the position of Chairman but was defeated by current acting party leader and Chairman Volda Lawrence. Harmon received the second highest number of votes.
During the launch, several party members appeared to give their endorsement to Harmon, including Vice Chairman Annette Ferguson, Roysdale Forde, Coretta McDonald, Ganesh Mahipaul, Dineshwar Jaipersaud, and Daniel Seeram.
While PNCR General Secretary Amna Ally was present at the launch, there was no public endorsement from her.
