THE People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), as it celebrates its 61st Anniversary, is proud to have restored local democracy to the country through the holding of regular Local Government Elections (LGEs).

These were the sentiments of President David Granger on Friday during a flag-raising ceremony on the lawns of Congress Place, Sophia, Greater Georgetown.

Several top party leaders, some ministers of the government; mayors and members of municipal and regional councils were present. “Our party, consistent in its constitution and its principles restored Local Government Elections on the 18th of March 2016, only 10 months after entering office and 22 years after the People’s Progressive Party administration failed to conduct Local Government Elections,” the President said in his feature remarks. He later asserted: “We shall return to the polls on the 12th of November, 2018.”

In his speech, President Granger noted the establishment of four new towns: Lethem, Mabaruma, Bartica and Mahdia and the increase in the number of Neighbourhood Democratic Councils. This, he stated, is a stark contrast from the practice of the previous administration which implemented “obnoxious interim management committees.”
“Comrades, we recall how former PPP Local Government minister employed the haughty and high-handed approach by removing Neighbourhood Democratic Councils and Municipalities and set up interim management committees without even bothering to consult the local residents. “Citizens all over this country…protested against the handpicked, PPP-installed interim management committees. We agreed IMC is history. Our party is proud to end the denial of citizens’ rights to elect their own local and municipal leaders. Our party is proud to have restored local government democracy to Guyana,” he said.

He highlighted, too, the establishment of the Local Government Commission and the convening of the Local Democratic Organs (LDOs) conference as proof of the government’s commitment to regulating and reinforcing local democracy. These, he added, would also ensure collective discussions among leaders on how their communities can be improved. “Today, our party celebrates its 61st Anniversary with a sense of satisfaction; satisfaction with the success of its efforts to make Guyana a better place for everyone. As we go forward into Local Government Elections, let us take this spirit of struggle to ensure that there is victory not only for the party, but also for the partnership and most of all for the citizens of Guyana,” he stated.

Meanwhile, during her remarks, Chairperson Volda Lawrence thanked PNCR members for contributing to the service and development of the party and for placing their trust in her to improve upon past accomplishments.

She referred to the 20th Biennial Congress and the National Congress of Women Congress held last August as affirmation of the readiness of members to uphold the parties founding ideals. “Comrades, today we have yet another golden opportunity to stop and take stock, each and every one of us, to consolidate that pledge we all unanimously made to intensify our efforts to strengthen the party’s membership and to reinforce the vision of the good life for all Guyanese,” Lawrence said.

She also urged members to reflect on the legacy of the PNCR’s late founding member and executive President of Guyana, Linden Forbes Burnham, who made numerous sacrifices to ensure betterment for all citizens today.

“Some 41 years ago, at the party’s second biennial congress held on August 19, 1977, our founder/leader Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham spoke to the PNC members on consolidating the party’s base by bringing together other sections of the working class, including groups and smaller political parties on board in order to achieve national unity. Today, comrades, our party can lay claim to fulfilling that promise since we are partners in the coalition government with a vision of eventually forging national unity,” she stated. Lawrence further urged leaders to reach out to people in all regions of the country and in the diaspora and the future will present itself as better and brighter. During the ceremony, musical interludes came from the Guyana Police Band while closing remarks were made by PNCR General Secretary, Amna Ally.