…launches manifesto with plans to depoliticise GECOM

By Navendra Seoraj
THE Citizenship Initiative (TCI) will be looking to leverage the strength of coalition politics as the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections draw closer.

Along the lines of youth, ethnic and gender inclusivity, the TCI has engaged political parties such as Change Guyana and A New and United Guyana (ANUG) on the possibility of a coalition, said TCI presidential candidate Rondha-Ann Lam.

“A coalition among the small parties would be ideal heading into the elections,” said Lam during her remarks at TCI’s launch of its manifesto titled, “An agenda for transformation–2020,” at Duke Lodge, on Tuesday. TCI, which will be contesting the elections in seven of the 10 administrative regions, will be looking to form the coalition before Nominations Day, which is set for January 10, 2020, but will do so on the grounds of inclusivity.

Lam, who was assertive in remarks about inclusivity, said: “The coalition will only come after we would have discussed all of the areas I’ve highlighted before which include gender, ethnicity and youth inclusivity.”

She said those factors are crucial for TCI, because it is the founding principles on which the political party stands. “They must be looked at and be favourable in order for us to produce a slate which takes into consideration Guyana’s diversity,” said Lam. She added that the parties which TCI engaged have portrayed similar interest in those areas of concern.
The presidential candidate said the formation of a coalition would also be heavily based on the “optics” of ethnicity, because TCI is a multi-ethnic party. In that regard, she said her concern is not based on the issue of who is presidential candidate and who is prime ministerial candidate.

“TCI is not built on egos, therefore, if a coalition means that I have to be seconded to junior positions, I have no issue with that…at the end of the day, it is not what is best for my ego, it is what is best and better for the electorate,” said Lam.

She believes that a coalition is the best option for Guyana at this point, but the party has since been practically turned down by ANUG; ANUG recently coalesced with FED-UP, and had also approached the LJP led by Lennox Shuman, who also said his party is contesting the elections independently. TCI, however, will be re-engaging ANUG, considering its move to coalesce with FED-UP.

“It is our attempt to clarify if this position still holds as of early December and then if that position has changed, then we will re-engage,” said Lam.

In the interim, she said her party will continue to hold talks with the Robert Badal-led Change Guyana, which is yet to decide on the way forward.

“It is an uphill task to win the elections, but forming a coalition can help to form a third party which will contest against the two major political parties,” said Lam.
TCI, however, believes that it has the strength to create a “credible” third force, which will pay keen attention to areas such as constitutional reform and digitisation if elected to the executive, or wins adequate seats in the National Assembly.

As part of that confidence and as a show of coordination and planning, TCI launched its manifesto. The party’s manifesto will be uploaded to its website at 18:00hrs today and will be interactive, so that the public could make recommendations. TCI’s manifesto was based on the party’s six pillars for development: participatory citizenship, enhanced governance and public accountability; economic security, diversification and growth; infrastructure for the future; education and human resource development; social cohesion, security and equity; and international leadership.

Executive member of TCI, Ruel Johnson, said the party’s aim will be to depoliticise the Guyana Elections Commission and ensure that there is inclusive governance.