While other political parties are still stuck on base one and find it difficult to move from there, the AFC has already moved ahead with its mandate and message to change Guyana. On January 29 the AFC kicked off its campaign for the 2011 Elections in Georgetown and then went on a rigorous regional launch including the University of Guyana. The Guyana launches were well received and attended with much excitement and expectation from the AFC, Guyana’s largest multi-ethnic party.
With its Presidential and Prime Ministerial Candidate, its Action Plan, its new Campaign Headquarters and staff; activists and members, the AFC took the message of change to the Guyanese Diaspora on a two week journey that proved to be both reassuring and promising.
The overseas launches led by Presidential Candidate Khemraj Ramjattan, Party Leader Raphael Trotman and Campaign Director Salaudeen Nausrudeen began in New York City, where more than 400,000 Guyanese call home. In Richmond Hill, NY on February 11, more than 350 Guyanese of all backgrounds gave the AFC a resounding welcome to call for change in Guyana.
In the packed banquet hall in Richmond Hill, AFC Leader Raphael Trotman stated that he will hold his Presidential Candidate Khemraj Ramjattan responsible for the devolution of the powers of the President of Guyana within the first year of the new AFC Government.
Expanding on his theme, Mr. Trotman emphasized that “it is the AFC’s plan to see a President who will be the custodian of the Constitution and the vehicle for the preservation of the independence and power of the National Institutions, while the Prime Minister will become the Head of the Government accountable to the people’s representatives in the National Assembly.”
Trotman also outlined two other pledges he will personally take responsibility for as the Leader of the Alliance for Change:
- Arrest the crime wave in Guyana through a comprehensive strategy which includes inviting the counsel and input of the DEA and Scotland Yard. The objective of the AFC Government will be to stamp out organized crime in Guyana.
- Mobilize the Diaspora since the AFC cannot develop Guyana alone. He outlined the fact that Guyana needs the talent and financial resources of the Diaspora to truly develop. Trotman stated that the AFC will establish a National Diaspora Policy which will facilitate the utilization of the resources of the Diaspora in a meaningful manner for the good of the Guyanese State while exploring Parliamentary representation and voting.
Presidential Candidate Khemraj Ramjattan in his feature address spoke on the urgent need for racial unity among all Guyanese both at home and in the Diaspora. He was emphatic that under the PNC/PPP Governments, all they did was give lip service to the racial unity of our people.
He stated under his Presidency, an investor, public servant or ordinary Guyanese will not benefit from Government’s resources because of the texture of hair, but because of the merit of case as he is on the road in Guyana to encourage all Guyanese of all races not to fear one another but to do what it takes to mold our nation into a more harmonious and progressive one.
Ramjattan stated he is committed to solving crime in Guyana and creating jobs when he becomes the President. He spoke of the AFC policy to educate Guyanese and to make UG an accredited research institute to find solutions to our developmental challenges intelligently. He made note of how important the Diaspora is to the process of evolving our knowledge needs by their investments in education in Guyana to create the critical mass of knowledge workers to take Guyana to the next level. Ramjattan stated we cannot continue with losing the majority of our best minds to the developed world. He encourages the Diaspora members to read the AFC Action Plan and help the party build a new Guyana under an AFC Government.
Ramjattan spoke of how his Presidency will be guided by their philosophy of liberal democracy which will preserve the independence of national institutions, keep in check the lobbying power of vested interest and preserve the civil and human right of the people.
“No more will an investor have to be the business buddy of the President to invest in Guyana; the entire process will be professionalized under an AFC Government. No longer will illegal investments be made in Guyana and then the Government after the fact, change the law to regularize these illegal acts. No longer will millions of dollars be awarded to so-called contractors for a road when that contractor has no skill, talent or resource to build that road as in the case of the Amailia Falls Road.”
On February 16th, the AFC’s team held exclusive talks with officials from the Department of State at the United Nations. The nine member AFC team included executives from the AFC NY/NJ Chapter as well as the AFC Candidates from the Guyana. The Officials were impressed with the quality and thoroughness of the AFC presentations which were extracts from the Action Plan. The AFC team also met the current Auditor General of the UN and former Guyana Auditor General, Mr. Annand Goolsarran. Mr. Goolsarran pledged his support and willingness to participate in any capacity under the AFC Government.
Annand Goolsaran’s endorsement of the AFC is a positive reinforcement for the work that the AFC has been doing as well as its plans to change Guyana.
The AFC team then went to the Sunshine State of Florida, where many Guyanese from the Central Florida area gathered at the Timehri Restaurant and Lounge to listen to the AFC’s call for a Changed in Guyana. Speakers included renowned economist Dr. Tarron Khemraj, NY/NJ AFC Chairman Dr. Rohan Somar and Presidential Candidate Khemraj Ramjattan.
Dr. Tarron Khemraj went into much details to explain why good policy is the key to economic success. He used the example of Barbados with such meager natural resources and land mass becoming the Singapore of the Caribbean while Guyana with an abundance of natural and other resources is grossly underdeveloped, impoverished and backward.
Presidential Candidate Khemraj Ramjattan continued the discussion with details on what AFC will do to reduce crime, make the private sector the engine of growth, return jobs, ethnic harmony and the major role that the diaspora will be playing under the AFC Government. The audience was pleased to hear the AFC’s acceptance of the DEA and Scotland Yard’s assistance fighting crime in Guyana as well as the introduction of Diaspora representation in the Guyana Parliament. “These are the kind of creative changes required to move Guyana in the right direction,” commented an attendee.
On Saturday February 19th, the AFC team was invited by the Guyanese American Cultural Association of Central Florida (GACACF) to their 41st Republic Day Awards and Ball. In his address to the more than 400 very successful Guyanese professionals and academics, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan shared the sorrowful truth of the exodus of the best of Guyanese and stressed the importance of the Diaspora towards the development of Guyana. “Guyana cannot and will not move forward without your participation,” said Mr. Ramjattan on behalf of the Guyana Parliament.
At the GACACF Awards and Ball, the keynote speaker was Dr. Vincent Adams, former national cricketer and the most senior executive with the US Department of Energy. His entire speech focused on the critical elements of the next government of Guyana needs to embrace to make Guyana prosperous. These elements include ethnic harmony, job creation, investments, honesty of leaders and education. Mr. Ramjattan listened attentively and found it extremely pleasant and coincidental that such a high ranking US official shares the same concepts with the AFC on the requirements to change Guyana.
The following day the AFC’s team left the warmth of Florida and landed in freezing weather to take the message of change to its members and supporters in Toronto, Canada. Here again Khemraj Ramjattan inspired the packed Twilight Restaurant with his message of fighting crime, diaspora representation, creating the right investment climate, ethnic harmony and reduction of the presidential powers. Many members took the opportunity to drill AFC Presidential Candidate on the many issues and problems that are unfolding in Guyana.
While the AFC candidates and executives were in North America the story of 22 years old cane cutter Davekumar Jainauth from Bath Settlement was unfolding. His story was related to every possible audience in North America as it represents the essence of the PPP government – one of mismanagement, neglect and lies. Davekumar fell in the fields while at work, after one hour of painful wait he was rushed to the New Amsterdam then, Mahaicony and finally Georgetown hospitals. He was told by the doctors of those hospitals that he was pretending and was even slapped and punched.
Still in excruciating pain, his family was forced to take him to a private hospital where he was quickly diagnosed with a pinched nerve near his spine. Being poor, his family could not afford the private medical bills and was therefore taken home. Neither Minister of Agriculture, manager of the Blairmont Estate nor any GAWU representative ever visited Davekumar. Reports carried in certain section of the media claimed that the Ministry of Agriculture took care of the bills and held discussions with the family; this is totally untrue according to the family. Money collected by fellow cane cutters and private citizens covered the medical expenses. The AFC was invited to provide guidance and leadership to the sugar workers.
The recent visit of the AFC to the USA and Canada reiterate what many Guyanese want – Change. For details please visit www.voteafc.com
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