As he enters the contest for Leader of the People’s National Congress, former Guyana Water Inc Chief Executive Officer Richard Van West Charles wants to be judged on his character and experience and not that of his deceased father-in-law and party founder, President Linden Forbes Sampson (LFS) Burnham.
A licensed physician who worked in many countries and for years at the World Health and Pan-American Health Organizations, Van West Charles said that when Burnham was President, his [Van West-Charles] election to the executive of the PNC and his positions in government was never through nepotism but his qualifications.
“I was a physician. At that time I even had a medical group. I was a member of the party, I had contested the elections of the party, I was elected to the central executive of the party. The members of the party had a group. He [Burnham] couldn’t hand pick me to be a member of the Central Executive. I was never handpicked to be a member of the Central Exec or any position [in government]. ,” he told the Stabroek News in an interview last week.
“I am the son-in-law of Forbes Burnham [but] I have been involved in government for a long while, holding many portfolios. I have [held positions], in the international civil service and served in many countries. So why would one come to a conclusion that I was not involved in politics? I had to know the dimension of politics,” he added.
It is because of his love and developmental vision for the PNCR, proven work record, vision for holistic growth and strategy for unification of persons from all strata here that Van-West Charles believes he is the best person to currently lead the PNC.
Asked if he shares similar ideological views as his father-in-law, he said that the question could not be answered at an interview divided on many topics, as the time would not permit his extensive explanation.
Instead, he wanted the interview to be focused on Richard Van West Charles the individual and not one overshadowed by his father-in-law as they are different persons. He stressed that it was he who was campaigning and not Burnham, and is asking the public to focus on his campaign and the reasons why he would make the ideal leader for a party that is integral for Guyana’s future development.
‘Retooling’
First announcing publicly his intention to contest for party leader last month, Van-West Charles said the decision was founded on his belief that the PNCR needs “retooling” if it is to be successful at General Elections in Guyana, and he could help steer that part.
“I have been a member of the PNCR for over 45 years and as we stand here today the PNCR continues to be a major political force in the cooperative republic of Guyana. When we look at the coalition, it is very clear that the strength of the coalition is linked to the strength of the PNCR, and therefore, in the 21st century it requires a retooled organisation to respond to the challenges of the 21st century, to respond to the new expected wealth of the country, and therefore it requires a whole new retooling to perform its leadership role in the country,” he explained.
“Notwithstanding, we still have a minimum of 35% rate of poverty across the country. It therefore means our thrust with respect to growth and development has to be aggressive to the point where the hallmark principles which should guide us in every aspect in what we do is equity, fairness and justice,” he added.
When one looks at his experience, having worked nationally, holding many cabinet portfolios in health, water, housing, the environment, and his being member of the executive board of the WHO, among a long list of working experience, he said that they could judge him.
“I come to the table with a breadth of experience and knowledge with respect to working and development and planning and executing strategies et cetera. Understanding very clearly the inputs for sustainable development and going forward. Being very clear and having a deep understanding of the principles of transparency and accountability with over 25 years in the international environment, working with bi and multilateral institutions implementing programs that impacts at different levels and countries. I understand what are the remit and demands, not only needed to make a change for the PNCR but what is required of us in the country to make the change towards the 21st century. There are many issues we have to address in terms of our governance how competitive we are and being able to do business. Our systems have to be changed and retooled. Understanding what undergirds human development…,” he emphasized.
Further, he added, “Issues such as police reform has got to be addressed, I come to the table with this wealth of experience with respect to the party, I come to it understanding the role of partnerships and how partnerships should be nurtured. And how we can mobilise members and supporters to perform the leadership roles required to form a government. I believe in a participatory democracy.”
‘No boundaries’
He assured members that he would not be one to micro-manage or hold an anti-inclusionary stance.
The decision making process, he underscored, will come from one with backed up data and facts and not personal opinion of anyone. “One of the issues you would find very frontal is the capacity to analyse and do research , to ensure that the members voices are heard, their opinions, their capacities to share their knowledge, so that the organisation can come to the right equation to formulate decisions based on evidence.
“In essence, you have to ensure the party is connected at all levels, that it has a robust capacity to represent the needs of people across the country and emphasis on not only its members but all Guyanese,” he added.
A husband, father, and grandfather, he said that special emphasis, not only at the party but at the country level, he said was ensuring that women and youth are included in policy and decision making processes if this country is to progress. .
“The road to development has no boundaries to gender, age, class, and ethnicity. The role to development is based on knowledge and so it has to bring together the knowledge of all actors working in development. When you look at the population distribution in the country, you cannot but ensure that the young people are at the decision-making table and playing critical roles in the developmental trust,” he said.
He explained that many youths graduating from high school or university and entering the world of work are asked for extensive work experience for positions they are new to and it was unfair.
A system, he said, should be in place for the training and mentoring of those willing to give service, as that is a key way they will gain the requirements for vacancies. “Many young persons who would have graduated coming to government and working is new, having managerial experience is also an issue. So what has to happen be that the system has to prepare young people to function and give the opportunity to be exposed to decision making at all levels,” he said.
“I am not afraid of working with young people,” he emphasised, while pointing out that when he was at Guyana Water Inc. “most of the executive directors were young people”.
With women already in leadership roles at home, he said that the system has to be fair and balanced to them in the work environment because they execute the same duties as male counterparts.
“Women are critical. We have to ensure the system is fair. Sometimes there are many vacancies that women are not even aware of and therefore I think there should be a requirement that allows for their inclusion,” he stressed.
“When I was at the UN [United Nations], if you didn’t have a number of females, the vacancy had to be re-advertised.,” he said.
Empowering women he said is a sure advantage in developing a country they want and he feels that adding technology to their skills empowerment is a sure way to achieve this.
Like there being no gender biases, he said that ethnic balance is also integral. “You have to have some consideration to ethnicity so there is not a bias where you find one ethnicity filling the vacancy. Technology can help to push opportunism to women to ensure they are a part…,” he said while pointing out that overall there should be a system to ensure “transparency in the recruitment process”.
‘Serious discussion’
And as leader of the PNCR, he said, broadening the base of the party will be a focus as the party must aggressively discuss the issue of race within the party because when a leader is elected it is for all people.
“In 1969, the founder leader said it [the PNC] doesn’t represent one ethnic group; it represents all ethnic groups. In the 80s you could have seen the multi ethnicity,” he said.
“The party has to have a serious discussion, first of all about race, and maybe some of the issues needs to reflect itself in the constitution to protect ourselves against a serious racial division; linked to race is power and economics,” he added.
In Guyana, he believes there is “a serious racial cleavage” and that is reflecting itself in different organisations. “It has to be dealt with if we are to move forward in the country. We say one people one nation one destiny but those are words. Our political actors, we need to deepen our approach in dealing with race… We have to ensure we as a people, understand that one of our greatest challenges is racial unity which can fertilise our growth and development. It is easy to say we have a GDP of fourteen point something percent, but yet all the other freedoms are not available to all sections of society. The system cannot be a system which has a canopy of fear and the fear of the actors exercising their powers to oppress,” Van West Charles emphasized.
And as he campaigns across the country, he said that he will not get into personal attacks on other candidates as he lobbies members on his platform of inclusivity and assures them that he won’t take their confidence in him for granted.
“I can’t take things for granted. I have been speaking to groups and will continue to until nominations. I am also explaining my vision, how I see the diagnosis of the organisation of this time and what are some of the interventions that are needed for the development of the organisation… and country. I think it is incumbent for persons to hear from candidates before decisions are made. I see it as a means of being fair to the members to hear from the candidates… it is so all have the opportunity to speak to the members who will in turn inform their members as to how they should vote,” he said.
