My approach as President of Guyana

Jun 24, 2024 Letters

Dear Editor,

I have spent countless sleepless nights thinking about this. Ever since I have announced that I intend to run for President of Guyana, people have been meeting me over the past four years and asking if I am still running. At times, I felt that the price would have been too high, and I was counting the cost. However, it seems at this point that those of us who feel that we can make a difference in Guyana, have to step up. Leadership is important, who sits in the seat of power and has the authority over our country is important. I remember in the movie ‘Malcolm X,’ a policeman looked at Malcolm X and said, ‘that is too much power for one person.’ As I look at this government, this is too much power for any government.

This government from 2020 to now, has effectively taken away power from every aspect of our country and the Guyanese society. They have taken away power from the Opposition, business community, public sector, justice sector, civil society sector, law enforcement, security sector, communities, individuals and have effectively neutralized the international community. This has put the Guyanese people in a position where many of us have four choices; either to join the government and confirm to their approach to governance; stay silent while we are dying inside; migrate; or do as Mahatma Ghandi said, ‘be the change that we want to see’. I have chosen the latter; I will be the change I want to see. I am running for President in 2025.

Here are some of the things I will do as President: Within the first six months, I will confirm the Chancellor of the Judiciary and the Chief Justice. I do not need to be concerned about whether they will support my government because the government will operate within the rule of law. If a government operates within the rule of law, it should not be concerned about confirming those in high office in the judiciary. Additionally, within the first six months, my government will set up the Petroleum Commission which will be accountable to the National Assembly, Christopher Ram is one of the persons who will be on that commission. We will establish a ‘League of Elders.’ Some of the people who will be on that body would be former Presidents David Granger and Donald Ramoutar; Hamilton Green; Indra Chandrapal; Clement Rohee; Joe Singh; Volda Lawrence and two civil society representatives.

Within the first six months, as president, my government will set up a ‘Reconciliation Commission’, I will push for a ‘Reconciliation Commission’ and not for a ‘Truth and Reconciliation Commission’ because I believe that if we know the truth about our history and who really did what, among other things, we will never reconcile. So, for us to have a functional and effective reconciliation process, it may be best to leave some things behind. This may not be the right approach but sometimes we have to make the best decisions under the circumstances and depending on what we would like to achieve.

In the first six months, we will develop an ‘Economic and Social Development Plan’ for Guyana, inclusive

of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Gross National Happiness (GNH) as indicators with which to measure the country’s growth and development. This will be done by integrating the National Development Strategy (NDS) approach.

I see ExxonMobil as a critical player in the Guyanese economy and society, however, the company operates as a responsible corporate citizen in the United States of American and my government will engage the company strategically around an equal level of operation in Guyana. Our government will also create a business environment conductive for foreign investors and businesses to operate at the highest level.

Some people have asked me what I will do about crime and security. I believe while there will always be some degree of crime in a society, the degree is highly dependent on other factors, such as education, quality of law enforcement, employment opportunities, etc. With a 1.4 trillion Guyana dollars budget for 2024, there is no reason why crime should be this high in Guyana. Guyana’s GDP in 2000 was 1.36 percent, while in 2023, the GDP was 38 percent. There is absolutely no reason why crime should be so high in an economy that grew by 38 percent last year, despite a post-COVID period. It means that we are not doing a lot of things right.

Additionally, on the topic of crime, my government would require the security sector to develop a plan to recruit more men, young men, into the sector, even if it is as entry level jobs as a part of the growth curve for young men. We have become a society where our women are the protectors, this needs to be re-examined, so that women can have more space to nurture their children and families. This would assist in increasing education results, reducing crime, greater wellbeing, etc. As president, my government will designate the month of February every year to late President Forbes Burnham and the month of March every year to Cheddi Jagan in recognition and observance of their contributions to Guyana. With regards, to the state media, the Guyana Chronicle, National Communication Network (NCN) – Television and Radio, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and the government will have access. I am of the firm view that both the Opposition and government must have access to the state media. The Opposition will be very involved in my government at various levels, we will govern this country together.

I would like to work with the Hindu, Christian, Muslim and other religious organisations, the private sector, civil society, and others to move our country forward, together. Many people are of the view that the developed countries would never allow Guyana to be truly independent. People are concerned about what they call the role of the ‘colonial masters.’ I say to them if the ‘colonial masters’ are so bad, how is it that people are doing everything possible to go to these ‘colonial masters’ countries for a better life. If the countries that they are leaving are so good, then why are people so desperate to leave? Another point is that some of the same leaders who are talking about the ‘colonial masters’ are not even as accountable and transparent as some of ‘colonial masters’ countries. Let us be honest, many developing countries need to improve on their governance and accountability, Guyana is an example. I once read a ‘quote ‘people like standards, set some.’ As president, my government will set standards for our engagement with countries from the developed world. We will negotiate for a 60/40 control (60 for them, 40 for Guyana [smile]). One example would be to preserve our Indigenous knowledge and culture. Guyana with all its challenges, was not sustained by magic, there is a body of indigenous knowledge, norms, values, and culture which hold the society together and we will not throw away the baby

and the bath water. So, while we take the modern knowledge from the develop world, we also recognize that there is great value in our indigenous knowledge in Guyana. My government will work with the West, East, South and others. Sometime back, I had indicated in a previous letter to the press that if I became president, I would settle the issue on Freddie Kissoon’s termination from the University of Guyana and I will keep my word. We will engage in settling this matter once and for all with Freddie. I also mentioned in a previous letter that should I become president, in the first week, I would appoint Nigel Hughes as a Senior Counsel, he is already a Senior Counsel, my government would just give him the official title. However, I guess now that he is running for the leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC) party, he may have to appoint me into a position someday (smile).

As I am talking about baby and bathwater, it is felt that what Guyana needs at this point, perhaps at this moment in the country’s history, is a mother in a president. I know that we would need funding to campaign, lots of it too, but we have a very good chance to steer Guyana in a different direction, together, government and Opposition. I would like to partner and team up with people who still believe in the ideal of our Motto: One People One Nation One Destiny. If you would like to share your views and discuss further, please contact us on Email:[email protected].

Yours faithfully,
Citizen Audreyanna Thomas
Presidential Candidate 2025