Dear Editor,

Let me begin by first congratulating President David Granger on his tenure as Executive President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. He led this nation with dignity, integrity, honesty and purpose. Just have a look at the aesthetics of our country, the removal of the scourges of drugs, money laundering, trafficking and rampant corruption. Thank you President Granger!
It is my firm belief as a comrade and card bearing member of the PNC/R that our Cde. Leader if he desires to enter the hallowed halls of Parliament then he must get the full support of all APNU+AFC. I treat with disdain any suggestion of an exit by the Cde. Leader on terms not his own. If however, the Cde. Leader is not desirous of following in the footsteps of the Bharrat Jagdeo who having served as President went on to serve as opposition leader too, then it is with great pleasure that I nominate Mrs. Volda Lawrence for the position of Leader of the Opposition, for the 12th Parliament of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana. I make this nomination on the underlying fact, our Cde. Leader has in the past exhibited tremendous trust in the leadership of Cde. Lawrence. Cde. Leader your legacy has been the promotion of women. Your legacy is empowering women. Under your Presidency women functioned and in some cases continue to function in the following posts: Chancellor, Chief Justice, Chief Magistrate, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Chief Elections Officer. There were more women parliamentarians and ministers under your tenure than ever before. As leader you had women served as your General Secretary and Chairman. You can further cement your legacy and further establish your place in history as the leader who stood for and by women, by appointing Cde. Volda Lawrence as Leader of the Opposition. Cde. Lawrence is the second ranking officer in the PNC/R a party whose backbone is women. Further Cde. Lawrence has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to the people of Guyana the PNC/R and the APNU+AFC.
Her span of service runs from the hinterland to the coastland, from city to town to neighborhood. Every region has been impacted by Cde. Lawrence in her capacity as an officer of the PNC/R and as a member of the APNU+AFC Coalition Government. Through her leadership at the Ministry of Public Health and as Chairperson of the PNC/R, Mrs. Lawrence has provided exceptional support and service to all who sought her assistance. She was quick to discern their individual needs and moved efficiently to provide key information, recommendations, or direction, to achieve desired party or government outcomes.
Mrs. Lawrence is the quintessential representation of genuine public service. She epitomises servant leadership by performing above and beyond the call of duty, while inspiring others to give back and pay it forward, whenever they can. Her efforts are unique and far-reaching. Mrs. Lawrence was appointed to serve on the World Health Organisation’s Executive Board, from 2020 to 2022. She also led the passage of the Tobacco Control Bill No. 5 of 2017, which resulted in international recognition of Guyana’s outstanding leadership in tobacco control. The country was awarded the World No Tobacco Day Award, a year later (in 2018).
In addition to the above, infant mortality rates at the Public Hospital and all Public Health Centres were reduced during her tenure as Minister of Health. Further, under her leadership, the Ministry of Health recorded a reduction of suicide rates in Guyana. She facilitated the passage of updates to the Nurses and Midwives law, to improve the welfare of the practitioners. While Minister of Social Protection, she facilitated the opening of the Family Court, with its own registry, proceedings and procedures and facilitated the registration of 230 daycare centres and the licensing of 84.
Mrs. Lawrence resuscitated the Women of Worth (WOW) programme, targeted towards the empowerment of vulnerable women in society. And she implemented the People of Worth Entrepreneurial Resources (POWER) project. The POWER programme is aimed at providing support in the form of loans to single parent men, married women, widows and widowers, who are unable to access loans under the Women of Worth Programme (WOW), to start-up or expand income-generating projects.
Mrs. Lawrence has made a difference in our society. She exemplified the mission of the Coalition Government and has positively impacted the people of our State. She is identified as the most successful minister of the Coalition’s term in office. Her skills, knowledge, willingness to help others, and dedication to our country and party make her the perfect choice for Leader of the Opposition. She will be a strong and exceptional Opposition Leader and will deliver the needed leadership that will return the Coalition to the seat of government.

Sincerely,
Maureen Philadelphia