THE Healing the Nation Theocracy Party (HTNT) says it is hoping to become the new ‘Third Force’, following the recent alliance between the Alliance For Change (AFC) and A Partnership For National Unity (APNU).The party announced Wednesday that its Chair is Alfred Park, who is also its Presidential Candidate in the upcoming National and Regional Elections.

The HTNT believes that it can rally the support of Guyanese at the upcoming May 11 polls.

“We are in the midst of a country on the verge of melting down and the powers that be sit on their ‘racial/ethnic mix formula’ and do nothing except think of a coalition in the form of ‘jockeying for positions’ instead of giving the nation a vision.”

Leaders of the HTNT were in discussion with APNU-AFC officials to join the alliance, and from all indications, the talks failed, thus the party is going without partners to the polls.

MAIN SELLING POINT
The small party said the legalisation of marijuana is one of its main selling points on the campaign trail.

According to the HTNT, the current crop of politicians has great difficulty in providing practical solutions to the challenges facing Guyanese.

In its “Vision 2020” agenda for change, the Healing the Nation Theocracy Party says: “We recognise that we have to put the power back into the hands of the people” and not leave the development of the country to some.

The party said it aims to create wealth by transforming the nature of the economy to achieve growth, accelerate poverty reduction and protection of the vulnerable and excluded by providing proper jobs and employment opportunities through the co-operative movement.
CAMPAIGNING MODE
The HTNT party, along with other political parties contesting the May 11, 2015 elections, has entered full elections campaigning mode, following the dissolution of the 10th Parliament on Saturday.

With Parliament dissolved, members of the major political parties will no longer be designated as Members of Parliament, therefore, it is expected that they will pay more focus on their campaign strategies for their respective political parties and constituencies.

Nomination Day is likely to be April 9 this year and already, the political parties have started putting their Regional and National lists together.

“Healing the Nation Theocracy Party (HTNT), which is causing quite a buzz in the political environment will be penetrating the markets to lure indecisive voters,” the release said.

The HTNT Prime Ministerial Candidate, former Toronto resident, Ras Leon Saul noted that some 130,000 persons did not vote at the last elections in 2011 because “they were not presented with a party that represented real change.”

“We are targeting that set of non-voters,” he stated.

Ras Saul, who in October 2010 ran to be a councillor on the Toronto City Council, believes that many in that grouping are Rastafarians who believe their rights are not being represented by the existing political parties.

“We want to bring our community into the frame because the other parties do not represent our interests,” Ras Saul said.

“Of course, Rastafari is also a philosophy grounded in the teaching of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie 1 and Marcus Garvey, and a faith-based way of life. We promote one love and unity across all communities,” Ras Saul said, noting that the HTNT has been receiving an overwhelming response, with more attention expected as soon as their campaign intensifies.

Ras Leon Saul is a well-known and popular playwright, journalist and cultural/social activist who was once an Executive Member of the ruling Conservative party of Canada, the release said.

(By Tajeram Mohabir)