THE season of national elections is fast approaching and the political parties have started moving into action in preparation for the 2020 Elections.

Though the National Elections are an important concern of the population, the political parties know all too well that during the Christmas season holiday celebrants would never be distracted. They have, therefore, all decided to have their first salvos now in time for 2019. The most successful of these salvos was given by the chairperson of the PNCR, the major party in the ruling coalition.

It was notable, since it was the first time that Chairperson Lawrence was addressing her party’s General Council since she was elected to that important post. Ms. Lawrence was able to speak to the Council as a Cabinet Minister as well as Chairperson. She, in effect, laid out an important part of the blueprint of action for the coming year which the General Council as well as the members of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) must execute with an eye on the National Elections of 2020. Ms. Lawrence first referred to the Local Government affairs as they were very topical since the Local Government Elections (LGEs) were run off recently.

She pointed out with much pride that the party was deeply committed to cultivating and extending local democracy, and ensuring that ordinary folk in the countryside and the interior were managing their own affairs and building a better life from the grassroots. The government, since its accession to office three years ago, was able to hold two successful Local Government Elections (LGEs) and establish four new towns and eight new Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs). The population in these areas is now beginning to experience and appreciate the advantages of these innovations.

The core of her feature address called upon council members, ministers and various office-holders to meet members and supporters of the party, and indeed the public at large and strengthen their personal contacts. . . . “If this means,” she said, “that ministers and party leaders must get out of their offices and work regularly within these communities, we must put programmes in place to make this happen. Service must be peopled-centred… ”
The chairperson called upon the party to embark upon a massive membership drive so that the party’s base could further be extended and strengthened. She advocated: “We must be ready to fortify grassroots democracy by playing a greater role in local government countrywide and by providing solutions to rural and agrarian problems. With this, the party must be totally committed to ensuring equality for all and to protecting our citizens’ fundamental rights”.

Ms. Lawrence then went on to emphatically reiterate that the PNCR had always been committed to working for and achieving national unity, and to cultivating closer relations with all groups and communities. She called on all ministers and party leaders to recommit themselves to service of the people. She enjoined them . . . “No one must be left behind. Now is not the time for armchair service. Now is the time to work tirelessly and dutifully”.
Ms. Lawrence’s inspiring address was well received by the plenary and she participated in the ministerial panel chaired by Minister of Finance Winston Jordan, which discussed the 2019 Budget that had just been presented to Parliament. All participants were able to grasp the nuances and intricacies of the Budget which will be useful to them when they interface with the public. The imperative of Ms. Lawrence speaking now with an eye on the 2020 National Elections is appropriate, as for the last three years since the new government had assumed office, life in Guyana has become more relaxed and the population is less enveloped in the tensions of politics. This relaxed attitude seems to have reached a point where many people are not paying much attention to elections. In the recent Local Government Elections (LGEs), less than 40 per cent of the electors decided to vote which contrasts with the last 50 years where the usual voter turnout was over 80 per cent. On the other hand, however, the comparatively low voter turnout at the Local Government Elections (LGEs) could be attributed to the belief by many electors, that Local Government was of little importance to their lives and that it were only National Elections which mattered. Be that as it may, PNCR Chairperson Volda Lawrence’s address at the General Council was important, timely and appropriate and PNCR members and supporters should embrace it.