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PNCR highlights importance of democracy as it celebrates 55 years
With a vision to fortify grass-roots democracy by supporting legislative reform and by playing a greater role in local government nationwide, the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) is currently celebrating 55 years of existence.
Iterating the party’s absolute commitment to ensuring equality of opportunity for all and protecting citizens’ fundamental rights was Party Leader, Brigadier (ret.) David Granger, at a press conference held at Congress Place, Sophia, Georgetown, yesterday.
According to him, the party will continue to work towards improving its relations with trade unions and promoting inclusionary democracy in its umbrella party, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).
Viewing a section of the PNCR anniversary exhibition.
According to Granger, the Party, inspired by the correct policies of its founders, will continue its work to build a nation where everyone can enjoy a good life, even as he alluded to what he described as “proud achievements in education”. He revealed that while in Government, the PNC was instrumental in expanding educational opportunities by constructing the University of Guyana and the Cyril Potter College of Education campuses. It was also the PNC, he said, that facilitated the construction of multilateral, primary, secondary and community high schools in rural and hinterland regions, and inaugurated a comprehensive programme of scholarships.
Among the party’s notable achievements, too, was an increased number of school places, the producing and distribution of textbooks, and the introduction of free education from nursery to university, Granger disclosed. The PNCR, according to him, “is today conscious of the economic, social and political challenges which still confront the nation.”
Against this background, Granger said that the party on the occasion of its anniversary renews its commitment to continue to work towards improving access to education and towards ensuring equality of opportunity for all.
“The PNCR also renews its pledge to fortify local democracy in order to improve the people’s livelihood. It intends to do so by intensifying people’s participation in neighbourhood democratic councils which, unfortunately, are now being dismantled by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic administration,” Granger lamented.
He revealed too that the country’s rural and hinterland villages are today plagued by poor infrastructure, unemployment and shrinking economic opportunities, especially in crop farming and animal husbandry. The PNCR, he said, holds that “all politics is local,” adding that the solutions to local problems can be provided best by the practice of local democracy.
The PNCR’s observance of its anniversary commenced yesterday with a flag-raising ceremony followed by a brunch for party members. An exhibition has also started at Congress Place, reflecting the historical journey of the party.
The observance was also marked last evening by a book launch by Granger and a symposium aimed at considering the party’s past and charting its way forward, according to General Secretary, Mr Oscar Clarke. He revealed, too, that a series of book launches are set to kick off today by the youth arm of the party, a move which will see efforts being made to encourage the residents of the target communities of Sophia, Lichfield and Golden Grove to read.
Tomorrow, too, the party will make the announcement of service awards for stalwarts who have been with the party for the last 40-50 years, an event which will be followed by a fund-raising anniversary brunch, Clarke said.
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