“MY focus really is to speak to the electorate; the electorate wants to hear what issues you are bringing to them and that is what I will be doing in the next few weeks… My integrity speaks for itself, and therefore I am presenting myself to the people of Guyana as someone who I hope they can have some confidence in.”This constituted the emphatic dismissal coming from the Ruling Party’s prime ministerial candidate, Elisabeth Harper, to her detractors.

The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) second lead on its leadership ticket appeared on local radio programme, ‘Hard Talk’, yesterday, and opted to deal with real issues, which ranged from her domestic violence platform to gay rights.
On the latter issue, she stressed the human right of choice. “Everyone has a right to live their life the way they see, and therefore it’s their life.”
According to her, the PPP/C Administration has a consultation in the pipelines, which will take into consideration the views of the Guyanese people regarding gay rights.
“I do know that the Government will be embarking on consultations with regard to the rights of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) persons and so therefore that consultation has to take into account all of the views of all of the population and at that point Guyana will decide.”

NO POLITICAL FOOTBALL
Tackling head-on the criticisms over her silence on the domestic violence front, up to the point of her nomination as the PPP/C prime ministerial candidate, Harper made it clear that her choice ought not to be made into a political football.
Harper explained that not addressing her personal experience with domestic violence, prior to now, was a personal choice.
“I think that it is unfortunate that we should be debating this constantly. It does show that in some segments of society and in some people’s minds, that women’s rights still are not being respected, the right to choose,” she said.
The PPP/C prime ministerial candidate lamented the impact the ‘debate’ could, and possibly would, on other women who have had similar experiences.
“I wonder in all of this what this unfortunate saga is doing to some of those women who initially might have heard me speak. Yes, it might have been 25 years later, but there may be women who are currently being abused, and they have no recourse. Now what does that do to their confidence, if this is now being seen as though it is just sort of a political football? It is not! It is a very serious issue, and it is something that should go across the political divide,” she said.
According to her, she has seen and welcomed the formulation of polices to address social issues in Guyana, and her nomination positions her to be increasingly active in the formulation of policies that would positively impact the lives of the Guyanese people.
“I hope we can strengthen the domestic violence programmes, to work with women, to help them to tell their story and try to see how we can prevent domestic violence,” Harper said.

VISION FOR GUYANA
In her most recent public interview, she consistently referred to the PPP/C’s plans, policies, programmes and legislative advances that will support the development of Guyana and improve the lives of the Guyanese people.
Harper also addressed the issue of youths, as well as that of working with the political Opposition to take Guyana forward.
“I have been speaking to some of our youth and I know that they are looking for more and we are prepared to listen to them and engage them. We don’t intend to be condescending towards them,” she said.
The PPP/C prime ministerial candidate acknowledged that regardless the issue, the PPP/C Administration, once re-elected will engage, as it has done in prior year, the political Opposition.
“We will even work with the Opposition as we have to because we are working for Guyana; we’re not working for ourselves,” she said.
Harper noted too that there has been progress, despite challenges.
“You can look around and see, at the housing expansion in particular…we have seen improvement in health and education, infrastructure has also been improved….these are some of the more tangible signs of progress….you have to look at how our economy has grown,” she said.
The PPP/C prime ministerial candidate added, “…you have to understand that whatever you set out to do, you might attempt to do it and get to a certain level, but everything that you do, at the end of the day, you can still say ‘we can do this better’. We are not unaware, we are not insensitive to the fact that we can improve on…there have been improvements over the last two decades…moving forward we have to put more things in place for our people.”
She maintained that increased partnerships with developmental partners, in addition with a clear vision from a tested political party will take Guyana forward.
“I intend to maintain my line in terms of I am here to serve you, this is what I would like to do for you, and this is how I am going to do it. I will work with the PPP/C when we get into Government,” Harper stressed.

By Vanessa Narine