…says Min Lawrence has worked tirelessly for betterment of citizens

AMID the public outcry over statements recently made by Chairperson of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Volda Lawrence the Alliance For Change says its position on equality is well known, noting that it believes in and espouses equal opportunities for all Guyanese, regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, political persuasion or sexual orientation.

“The AFC believes that all Guyanese are entitled to share equally in the benefits of the state.” Lawrence, during a PNCR regional conference last week reportedly told members of the PNCR that “the only friends I got is PNC, so the only people I could give work to is PNC.”

In a statement issued on Sunday, the AFC said it is in a coalition with A Partnership for National Unity based on the Cummingsburg Accord. In the accord, “we jointly subscribe to pursue a common vision and pathway that put Guyana and all Guyanese first, without a resort to discrimination or favouritism in any form. We look to President David Granger, in particular, to articulate that vision on behalf of government and his party; and most recently this was done at the Biennial Delegates Congress of the PNCR,” the AFC statement read.

“The AFC’s position on equality is well known and recently restated, whereby the AFC believes in and espouses equal opportunity for all Guyanese, regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, political persuasion or sexual orientation. The AFC believes that all Guyanese are entitled to share equally in the benefits of the state. We believe that the PNC Chair’s widely reported statements were made in the aftermath of the hotly contested Local Government Elections and have created an unnecessary distraction at this time.”
The AFC then quoted its chairman Raphael Trotman as saying that “The chair [Lawrence], I as leader have known and worked closely with for 25 years has never shown racial or political partisanship, but in fact has worked tirelessly, as politician and as a minister of government for the betterment of people of all walks of life and all backgrounds.”
Lawrence, in a statement following the release of the recording at the conference said she stands by her views on the issue of jobs and unemployment, that measures are being put in place for the young and industrious to be afforded the opportunity of becoming self-employed or gaining meaningful employment. Lawrence also said she stands by her views that comrades (PNCR members) must educate and position themselves to be in the 20% bracket that will be afforded government contracts.”

“Cde Lawrence also stands by her views that we must become bi-lingual as the world is now smaller and Guyana [is] fast becoming a haven to people from countries near and far. Cde. Lawrence emphasised that if the coalition wants to remain in power after 2020, we must take better care of all Guyanese. Cde. Lawrence has called for absolute unity, stating categorically that there is no more Joe’s camp or Basil’s camp, but one camp, led by His Excellency David Arthur Granger.”

Lawrence also, according to her statement, called for an end to the complaining, saying “if we project negativity then we would not be able to influence others.”

She noted that government has made it possible for everyone to get a chance at succeeding in their endeavours by giving small contractors 20 per cent of government contracts, noting that the playing field is now level for all Guyanese.