Latest update September 18th, 2024 12:59 AM
Apr 28, 2019 News
The Peoples’ National Congress Reform (PNCR), which forms a major part of A Partnership For National Unity (APNU), held its General Council Meeting yesterday at its headquarters, Congress Place, Sophia.
The council was told to be prepared for elections which will be no ‘cake walk’.
APNU is the bigger faction in the Coalition Government.
The General Council was chaired by Volda Lawrence, MP, Chairperson of the PNCR.
According to the party, yesterday, in her address to the General Council, Lawrence welcomed the participants to the first meeting of Council for 2019.
She also led the General Council in a rousing welcome of President David Granger, Leader of the PNCR. He has been in and out of Guyana since last year, for chemo treatment of cancer.
In her welcome remarks, the Party Chairman reminded the council that within days of President Granger’s
return from Cuba, he addressed the nation and said that “the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana is the country’s supreme law… your government is committed to upholding the Constitution unreservedly.”
She pointed out that that statement was followed by the resignation of four parliamentarians with dual citizenship; the reassignment of four ministers and the announcement of four new Members of Parliament.
The Chairman congratulated the new MPs and thanked the former ministers for their service to Guyana.
“Comrades, we must not forget their many significant contributions and hard work provided as ministers of the David Granger government. We do thank them and look forward to working with them be it in other areas,” she said.
In her address, Lawrence also called on all party leaders and groups “to endeavour to inform their constituents of the progress of the government, the value of our policies and their positive impact on the various communities across the country.”
She said that there has been significant work for the past four years to reduce crime and corruption.
“In this period, extra-judicial killings have vanished, the sale of illegal drugs is being addressed; health care, education and social services have significantly improved and we have dealt congenially with the public. We have been honest, reliable and efficient and have willingly worked the long hours needed to advance the economy, develop and move the country forward and improve the lives of the masses.”
In her report to the General Council, Party General Secretary (GS), Amna Ally, brought the council up-to-date on the state of the party and the work of the Party’s Secretariat over the last quarter.
She noted that the period under review was a very active one for the PNCR. She warned members that the year ahead was going to be extremely active as the party prepares for the General and Regional Elections.
The General Secretary assured the council that the party was ready for elections at any time.
General Secretary of APNU, Joseph Harmon, also briefed General Council on the Coalition’s preparations for the upcoming General and Regional Elections.
Harmon warned that these elections were not going to be a ‘cake-walk’ and urged members to continue mobilizing and organising at the group, district and regional level to ensure victory.
The feature address was delivered by President Granger.
According to PNCR, the Leader thanked members for their prayers and support over the past six months.
He reminded the Council that the PNCR was a strong party in and out of season and that since December 21, last, the Coalition government had at all times adhered to and acted in accordance with the Constitution of Guyana.
“We have respected the legislative branch…We have respected the judicial branch. The executive branch has continued to function.”
Granger said, “There is no such thing in the Constitution as a ‘care-taker’ government, there is the government and government continues to function.”
In reviewing the stewardship of the Coalition over the past four years, the Party Leader noted that there have been transformational changes.
Some of the areas highlighted were local government elections; four new capital towns; the increase in salaries, wages and pensions; increase in teacher salaries; the drilling of wells in the Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo Region; the many communities all across Guyana that were receiving running water for the very first time; street lights and a brand new road on the East Bank Berbice; buses, boats and bicycles to enable students to get to and from school; the regional broadcasting system – new radios stations in Bartica, Lethem, Aishalton, Orealla, Mahdia and Mabaruma; the decentralization of government services and ICT hubs and the Guyana Youth Corp.
President Granger stressed that the Coalition has improved the quality of life for the bulk of our population.”
In articulating his vision for Guyana, President Granger said, “There is no need for people to be poor in Guyana; there is no need for people to be hungry…”
The leader said that his vision for Guyana post 2020 was a country where there is better education, fuller employment, greater equality; greater empowerment – through local governance; better infrastructure and public utilities; better health care delivery and infrastructure; public services delivered to all regions.
Looking ahead to General and Regional Elections, the PNCR Leader sad that “we are strong, the PNC is strong and the Coalition (APNU+AFC) will win the elections!”
The party leader outlined six vices and six virtues of campaigning and warned against fragmentation, racialization, stigmatization, ignorance, indolence and arrogance.
Referring to racialization, President Granger said that the PNC has always been and is still a multi-racial party. He said that racialization had damaged the political fabric of the country.
“The programme of the PNC is a programme for all Guyanese wherever they are. Race must not be used as an electoral factor,” the PNCR Leader said
A plenary followed that discussed the Leader’s address, the Chairman’s remarks and the General Secretary’s report.
Reports for the last quarter were presented to General Council by representatives of the National Congress of Women (NCW), Guyana Youth and Student Movement (GYSM), Georgetown District of the PNCR and the ten administrative regions.
The proceedings ended with a summation and charge to the General Council by Granger.
The General Council is the second highest decision-making forum of the PNCR and meets once every quarter.
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