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‘I will only give jobs to PNC people’ – Min. Lawrence
Minister of Public Health and Chairwoman of the People’s National Congress (PNC), Volda Lawrence, is facing public backlash for declaring her intention to give work to only party supporters and friends.
The statements attributed to Lawrence were published in a Demerara Waves article on her address during the party’s Region Four District Conference at Congress Place, last weekend.
PNC Chairwoman, Volda Lawrence addressing party members at the weeked.
“The only friends I got is PNC so the only people I gon give wuk to is PNC and right now I looking for a doctor who can talk Spanish or Portuguese and ah want one that is PNC,” Lawrence is quoted by the online publication.
Lawrence has not denied making the statements publicly and did not address the criticisms she has received as a result of the publication of her statements.
Instead, a statement appeared via her official Facebook page yesterday and indicated that she stands by her views on the issue of jobs and unemployment that measures are being put in place for the young and industrious to be afforded the opportunity of becoming self employed or gaining meaningful employment.
“Cde. Lawrence also stands by her views that Comrades must educate and position themselves to be in the 20% bracket that will be afforded Government contracts. Cde. Lawrence also stands by her views that we must become bi-lingual as the world is now smaller and Guyana is fast becoming a haven to people from countries near and far.
“Cde. Lawrence emphasizes that if the Coalition wants to remain in power after 2020 we must take better care of all Guyanese,” the statement highlighted.
Lawrence’s statement is interesting since the PNC forms part of the political alliance of A Partnership for National Unity which has a signed agreement with the Alliance For Change (AFC) that forms the current coalition Government.
PNC members, while in opposition, had accused the People’s Progressive Party of nepotism in filling Government posts and awarding of contracts. In fact, former President Bharrat Jagdeo was accused of providing opportunities for his close friends and family through the award of Government contracts and access to state resources, including the issuance of radio licenses.
In the statement, Lawrence claimed that the playing field is now level for all Guyanese.
Lawrence indicated that she has reflected on the number of complaints she had received of leaders who did not put in the work and the feeling of neglect amongst party cadres and stated categorically this must not be.
In the statement, Lawrence noted that she was a Guyanese with mixed heritage and it irked her when she gets reports that little or no work is being done in perceived strongholds of the PPP.
“The Chairman stated we must bring everyone in whether they looked like her or not.”
Lawrence was voted Chairperson of the PNC in August after a bruising campaign. She defeated party heavyweights Joseph Harmon and Basil Williams.
The statement noted that Lawrence has called for absolute unity stating categorically that there is no more Joe’s Camp or Basil’s Camp but one Camp led by President David Granger.
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