Contender for Leader of the PNCR Dr Richard Van West-Charles on Saturday launched his leadership campaign in Linden and stressed that the party needs to first focus on rebuilding itself to enable it to tackle national struggles and this is why delegates should vote for him.
A supporter of a coalition government, he said that inclusivity is necessary for this country to holistically develop.
“Under my Leadership, we shall have a level of organisation which will make us one of the most organised forces in our country. I say this because the solutions we arrive at will be based on contributions from our members, our supporters and Guyanese at large. This is how we shall establish our vanguard position,” he said in his address to the launch.
“We believe that the politics of Partnership and Coalitions are relevant and the PNCR will continue to play its leadership role at all levels, that being the community, the region and nationally. This is the history of our political struggles. Additionally, we shall welcome investors who are interested in growing our economy with respect for all of our citizens,” he added.
But before engaging in national struggles and looking at gaining control of the executive arm of government, the party should focus on its own growth and image.
“We must, however, take care of business within the party. And by this, I mean we must fight to win the leadership and other strategic positions within the Central Executive Council (CEC). We must fight for change and fight to rebuild the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) as a potent political force capable of taking on the tasks we have identified as pertinent to our peace, stability and growth as a nation,” he said.
He told attendees that the party’s supporters have suffered much at the hands of the PPP/C “during the 23 years of their misrule” and it needs to address the leadership to ensure it doesn’t continue.
He said that he would not be a leader who sits in his office or is aloof but would be out in the field listening to the masses because he is a leader for all the people.
Former President David Granger has been heavily criticized by party supporters for being aloof.
“I am a peaceful man and do not miscalculate the nonappearance of a belligerent persona, for too often we miscalculate when we allow ourselves to be led by the loud voice which is unplanned and all that exists is bark and no bite. We now require a leadership which is patently inclusive, consultative, embracing transparency and being accountable to its membership,” he said.
“Our leadership must be seen in the vineyard working with our comrades to have them emerge out of the grassroots environment where their elderly and children have a better quality of life, where their youth can have new vistas and hope to open new doors to the creation of wealth. Our leadership must be ethical in its operation at all levels with respect for all even when we differ. Differences of views and opinions must not breed hate but respect for alternative views, perhaps different thought processes and intellectual competence, and maybe opportunities for teaching and /or learning,” he added.
It is why the time, one which cries out for quality leadership such as his, has come, according to Van West-Charles, and voters should send a message that they want the change necessary to take the country on the trajectory of growth they want for themselves and children. “A category of leadership which has an intolerance for economic disenfranchisement, barriers to opportunities for young people, increase in poverty and all forms of ethnic marginalization,” he said.
“Under my leadership as stated in the words of our battle song we shall organise the Forces and charge the haughty enemy. We shall organize the forces against all forms of discrimination. We shall organise the forces against the oppression of the Police. We shall organise the forces against the barriers for our young people. We shall organise the forces to promote Equity, Justice and Fairness. We shall organise the forces in defence of our territory. We shall organise for our women to have equality and have healthy families. We shall organise the forces against all forms of racism and promote Unity in the Cooperative Republic of Guyana,” he declared.
Throughout his address he trumpeted unity and said that the party must confront the ethnic cleavage. “We have to be open and have dialogue which will give us strategic directions where we can understand the insecurities of all ethnic groups and be able to confront them with a view to peaceful resolution. All Guyanese need that reassurance, that confidence that the pursuit of the creation of wealth cannot be stymied by the expressions of racial animosity and where those expressions exist there must be a collective intolerance for same,” he stressed.
“None can enjoy peace if any is without peace. And in this regard, we must truly become our brother’s keeper. In other words, we have to work to embrace the position where our preeminent identity must be Guyanese, then and only then we can truly say One People, One Nation, One Destiny,” he added.
