DELIVERING the feature address at the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) maiden General Council Meeting for 2017, leader of the party, President David Granger,has reaffirmed his party’s commitment to coalition politics.

“The PNCR is committed to coalition politics; we are better together,” he told members of the party at the meeting, which was held on Saturday. The General Council meeting was held under the theme: “PNCR – Vanguard of a Green Economy.”
The PNCR coalesced with five other parties in 2011, to form the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), which in 2015 secured executive office, after having formed a coalition with the Alliance For Change (AFC).

And according to the PNCR leader, it was the coalition government that brought back local democracy to municipalities and local government areas all across Guyana. Local Government elections were hosted last year after not being held for more than 20 years under the then People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government.

“ It was the PNC that established a policy of hinterland development and built the first secondary school in the hinterland,” Granger said, while highlighting the PNCR’s contributions to the development of Guyana over the last 60 years.

Shifting his attention to the importance of the family, which he said society was founded upon, the PNCR leader urged party members to protect and preserve the family. He said that the PNCR must examine what is happening to families in its communities and make efforts to confront issues such as teenage pregnancy, juvenile delinquency and crime.
Staying on the topic of the family and efforts to advance the quality of life for Guyanese, Granger reported to the General Council that the Government-introduced 5Bs (Boats, Buses, Bicycles, Breakfast and Books) initiative is working.

“The 5Bs is working, but we need to do more; we must do more. Every child [must be] in school; our party regions must work to ensure that every child remains in school,” he said, adding that regions must focus on education.
Employment for young people
He also noted that it is imperative that employment be found for the young people of Guyana.

“Despite the challenges, we have to find employment for the young people of Guyana. We have to develop the village economies; we have to start producing things at the village level,” Granger charged.
Putting on his presidential cap, the party leader requested of village leaders to take rebuilding of the village economy seriously, as he pledged government’s support for such initiatives. Refusing to exclude those who have travelled from abroad for the meeting, Granger told members of the diaspora that they are vital to the PNCR.

“I trust the Diaspora and I believe in the Diaspora,” he said, saluting the efforts of PNCR members in the Diaspora, which he said has always been an essential element in the party.
Chairing the formal proceedings was party Chairman, Basil Williams S.C., who currently serves as Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs.
Like Granger, he too spoke of development in Guyana, noting that he is confident that the government would quicken the pace of development in many sectors during the course of this year.

“We must take up the many opportunities for employment that our pursuit of a ‘Green Economy’ together with the imminent ‘on-boarding’ of our oil and gas industries will bring,” he said.
Williams, S.C., also seized the opportunity to point out that for the first time in 23 years, orders have been made by judges in Guyana’s courts against the President (who has Constitutional Immunity from lawsuits), the Prime Minister and the Attorney General, without either of them being given a hearing.

He was keen to note though, that the good news was that the PNCR “would continue to support the coalition Government in its efforts to restore the rule of law in Guyana.”
The chairman also urged party members to enhance their contact with the Guyanese people in all communities and to continue to work to bridge the coastland and hinterland divide.

Featured at the meeting too, was a Power Point presentation on plans for the party’s 60th Anniversary this year, done by executive member of the party, Annette Ferguson. A moment of silence was observed for party members who had passed away in the period between General Council meetings.

Additionally, a motion giving full support to the Government in its action to repossess Red House, a National Heritage building, was presented to General Council by the Vice-Chairperson of the National Congress of Women, (NCW), Carol Smith-Joseph.
General Council is the second highest decision-making forum of the PNCR.