It has to be people first and leaders second

Apr 01, 2015 News

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 – APNU+AFC
As they updated the media fraternity on the progress it is making thus far with its political rallies,

executives of A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) at the coalition’s last press conference also spoke to the need for political leaders to understand their role in truly serving the people.
As it held its first meeting in its campaign office in Crown Street, Queenstown, AFC co-founder, Raphael Trotman articulated that in all that the party has been doing, it tried to hammer home several key messages, including its belief that for too long the citizenry has been oppressed by corrupt practices, and he insisted that, “it has to be the people first and the leaders second.”
APNU General Secretary Joseph Harmon said that with about 40 days remaining before Election Day, the coalition is pursuing its campaign duties with volunteers hard at work throughout the country on the “Team-Unity” train.
Harmon stated that from March 19 to 22 last, the party’s Presidential Candidate, David Granger and Prime Ministerial Candidate, Moses Nagamootoo took the campaign message of national unity to Guyanese in the Diaspora, and it was well received.  During his trip to the USA, Granger, he said, held several meetings in South Florida before travelling to New York on March 20 where he was joined by Nagamootoo.
This active campaign, Harmon noted, will continue on April 4, at Anna Regina in Region two.
The General Secretary also disclosed that on March 25, last, APNU+AFC held a special briefing for

Members of the Diplomatic Corps where the details of the Cummingsburg Accord were explained. Another was then led by Trotman with the Commissioner of Police, Seelall Persaud, where the party made it clear that the security situation in the country required the provision of strong security by the Police Force for the coalition’s Presidential and Prime Ministerial Candidates.
While the party continues preparations for Nomination Day on April 7, Trotman expressed that it is still in the process of blending the policies of APNU and the AFC to represent a unified manifesto.
Though it is still to decide on the person to head that list, the AFC executive member said that it is considering three persons.  They represent the business sector, civil society and the legal fraternity.
He clarified however, that former speaker, Ralph Ramkarran is not one of the options. Trotman said that while there have not been formal invitations extended to Ramkarran, he would certainly be welcomed on the APNU+AFC unity train.
APNU General Secretary Harmon said that there are still some unresolved matters as it relates to the cleaning of the electoral list, but the party will be doing all that it can to aid the Guyana Elections Commission in conducting free and fair elections.
Amidst growing concerns about the list being inflated with false voters, Harmon said that the opposition is putting in place mechanisms that will guarantee that the list will be verified and checked and “we will utilize international resources to scrutinize the list”. However, the Shadow Minister of Public Works and Telecommunications cared not to elaborate on what those measures were.
The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) has over the last few weeks increased its calls for longer staying observer missions during the election period. However, Speaker of the Tenth Parliament, Raphael Trotman said that he finds this amusing. He highlighted that the opposition has been asking for this for over 20 years, but the government has been resisting it.
“Now all of a sudden they have seen the light and the need to have this, as though they have something to fear. We always wanted observers on the ground; not just two days before and after elections but at least a month. So we support their call which we have been making for the past 20 years,” said Trotman.
There have also been calls for the Carter Centre to observe the upcoming general and regional elections. Carter had observed the 1992 elections which saw the PPP/C assuming office and Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon had disclosed that there has been some noted interest in having another mission for the 2015 polls.
To this Trotman said, “It has been statistically shown that wherever Carter turns up there is a change of government and so we welcome them with open arms and we hope that he does send a mission here. I saw on a PPP/C poster or newspaper ad which has President Donald Ramotar, Prime Ministerial Candidate Elisabeth Harper, Bharrat Jagdeo and General Secretary Clement Rohee. This is four against two… but we will still beat them. We will win these elections and the people are lending us their full support. So when you see them begging observers to come and be in the country, it tells you that they are panicking.”

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