Juretha Fernandes ‘honoured’ to serve as APNU’s PM candidate

Jun 21, 2025 News

Juretha Fernandes ‘honored’ to serve as APNU’s PM candidate

APNU’s Prime Ministerial candidate, Juretha Fernandes

Kaieteur News – Days after she was selected as the prime ministerial candidate for the APNU coalition, Member of Parliament, Juretha Fernandes has expressed gratitude and honour to serve the political unit.

“To be selected as the prime ministerial candidate for the APNU Coalition is both an immense honour and a profound responsibility, one I accept with humility, knowing that no meaningful progress is achieved alone,” she said in a statement on Friday.

She continued, “this moment belongs to the people of Bartica, who shaped my belief in community; to the mentors who guided me with patience; and to the countless Guyanese whose struggles and aspirations must always remain at the center of governance.”

Fernandes said her journey from the Bartica Town Council to date, has taught her that leadership is not about elevation, but service.”

“The lessons learned at the grassroots level were never mine alone; they were gifted by colleagues, elders, and constituents who demanded accountability and collaboration. That same spirit of teamwork must define our national path forward.”

The shadow minister of finance and former member of the Alliance For Change (AFC), was named the prime ministerial candidate for APNU by opposition leader, Aubrey Norton on Tuesday.

Norton told Kaieteur News shortly after the announcement, that APNU has been searching for a capable person, confirming that Fernandes has been doing a lot of work in parliament. These include shadowing the finance minister, and robust budget presentations, among other things.

Meanwhile, in her statement, Fernandes expressed that coalition politics is Guyana’s strength at this critical hour.

“No single voice, no individual leader can unite our diversity or solve our challenges alone. What’s needed is disciplined unity, a shared commitment to policies that put people first, and a government that views its mandate as a covenant with all Guyanese, not just some,” she said.

As such, Fernandes said she is grateful to stand alongside Aubrey Norton, a principled leader, whose vision for a people-centered government aligns with the APNU Coalition’s highest ideals.

She noted that the role is not a platform for personal ambition, but an opportunity to work within a team dedicated to equitable development, where every Guyanese benefits from Guyana’s wealth.

“My acceptance is a pledge to uphold that collective mission. Governance is not a spectacle – it is the daily work of listening, building consensus, and delivering results. Together, with humility and resolve, we will prove that leadership means lifting others.

The task ahead is greater than any one of us. But united we can achieve it for the people of Guyana,” Fernandes added.

“We also look to see if the person is someone who engages the ordinary man on the ground. So, we only want intellectual capacity. We also want the prime minister candidate to be somebody who can engage with people on the ground, and in this regard, we thought that she was a good candidate.”

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AFC, APNU, Guyana Elections, Juretha Fernandes

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