Granger advocates for ‘One Nation’ governance approach

THE People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) 18th Biennial Congress opened yesterday amid a tangibly charged atmosphere, under the theme ‘PNCR for National Unity, Good Governance and Development’.
Leader of the PNCR, and the main Opposition the coalition-A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Brigadier (rtd.) David Granger used the platform to advance the party’s advocacy for a “one nation” approach to governance.
He said: “The PNCR’s ‘One Nation’ approach could be the main means of combining the talents of a wider constituency and of creating the conditions for social cooperation and economic progress.
“The three-fold purpose of such a project would be to reach a broad consensus on the goals of national development, to establish a sustainable institutional architecture and to create effective policy instruments for the achievement of our common objectives.
“…our One Nation project will be the basis for major sections of society – including the government; political Opposition; trade unions; private sector and civil society – to come together to seek agreement on a broad national programme to move our country forward.”
According to him, the PNCR understands that the building blocks of ‘One Nation’ include not only new policies, but also a continuous process of party reform.
“Our Party, therefore, is continually renewing itself within the Partnership as a movement to give a voice to people from every part of the country and every part of our great diaspora,” Granger said.

UNITED NATION
The PNCR leader added that a united nation ought to be one in which cooperation prevails over confrontation and national integration over communal disintegration.
“The President and the PPP/C (People’s Progressive Party/ Civic) must understand that the way out of the crisis is to promote national unity, ensure human safety and foster economic development. The PPP/C has demonstrated that, on its own, it is incapable of solving the country’s current crises,” he said.
Granger stated too that it was with that vision the party’s founder leader, Mr. Forbes Burnham, sought to establish a government of national unity.
He said: “It is with that vision that, today, as the fourth leader of our Party, I am proud to continue the PNCR’s tradition of leadership in advancing the One Nation project and in reaffirming A Partnership for National Unity’s commitment to that objective.”
The PNCR Leader was emphatic that going forward, his “mission” is to establish a government of national unity.
“The people want greater inclusion, not exclusion. The PNCR is convinced that greater national unity will bring greater national benefits including: elimination of one-party domination of the government; enhancement of local, municipal and parliamentary democracy; enlargement of multi-ethnic space and the elimination of ethnic insecurity; expansion of economic enterprise and development; and enrichment of cultural life, national consciousness and pride,” he said.
Granger pointed out that the PNCR made a contract with Guyana 50 years ago and it has a duty to transfer the “injunction of inclusionary democracy” from the dry pages of the Constitution to a living practice in every neighbourhood, every municipality, and every region, as well as in the National Assembly.
“The PNCR is an integral part of APNU. We will together continue to fulfill our obligation to the nation both through the legislative process in the National Assembly and in the country at large. We shall continue to work with the major sections of society – including other political parties; trade unions; private sector and civil society – to realise our common quest for consensus on a broad national programme to move the country forward. We shall continue to work to harness the talents of a broader constituency, to foster the conditions for social cooperation, to deepen the democratic process and to develop the economy,” he assured.
The PNCR Leader stressed that the party understands that the building blocks of ‘One Nation’ include not only new policies but also a continuous process of party reform.
“Our Party, therefore, is continually renewing itself within the Partnership as a movement to give a voice to people from every part of the country and every part of our great diaspora,” he concluded.
The end of Granger’s address was met with as much enthusiasm as was his entrance, where his supporters cheered ‘Only one leader, David Granger’ among other slogans.
The Congress continues today through Sunday, July 27, 2014, and the issues to be addressed include: the General Secretary’s report from Mr. Oscar Clarke and the report on the Constitutional Review Committee. On Sunday, the much anticipated elections for key leadership posts will be held.
Among those in attendance were representatives from the different regions, with a noticeably small turnout from the party’s stronghold in Region 10 (Upper Demerara/ Upper Berbice). Contender for the PNCR Leadership, Mr. Aubrey Norton, was also absent. Private sector and other stakeholders from civil society were also among those present for the opening session. Altogether, some 400 persons were in attendance.

(By Vanessa Narine)