NEWLY elected Chairperson of the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R), Volda Lawrence, has sharply responded to Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira over comments about the elections.

“Elections are not about individuals but about our nation, about improving the lives of all irrespective of race, colour or creed and my plea to all in Guyana is together we will aspire, together we shall achieve,” the PNC/R Chairman said in response to Teixeira’s claim that she can beat Lawrence at any elections if placed as a presidential candidate.

At a recent People’s Progressive Party (PPP) press conference, the Opposition’s Chief Whip said she can “slaughter” Lawrence in any elections. She subsequently retracted the word “slaughter” and replaced it with “beat.” In a statement posted by the PNC/R on Wednesday, Lawrence, who is the Minister of Public Health, said slaughter is a terrorist word while contending that Teixeira’s comment was racist. The PNC/R Chairman said that while Teixeira retracted the word, she said what was in her heart.

“I on the other hand respect Ms Teixeira and as a Christian would never think of such an utterance against any human being and especially the female gender,” said Ms Lawrence. “Onward, upward may we ever go,” Lawrence said. Lawrence secured the chairmanship of the PNC/R after defeating former chairman Basil Williams, SC and Minister of State Joseph Harmon in a highly competitive elections when the party held its biennial congress last week.