Georgetown, Guyana.
August 28, 2020
For immediate release to all media houses.
The Way Forward – Khemraj Ramjattan Leader-Alliance For Change
The AFC in this first Press Conference prior to the reconvening of Parliament on Monday expresses with a mixture of sadness and gladness that we are where we are.
The hard fought campaign of 2020, the trials and tribulations experienced post elections, and the final declarations after much political contestation and judicial litigation, readies us as a party to learn and unlearn as we move forward.
These lessons will forge a more united AFC, steeling it for the struggle for enhanced electoral and constitutional reforms, governance with increased integrity in all spheres of public activity, the condemnation of all acts of executive lawlessness by the PPP Government and the ensuring that Guyana’s patrimony is enjoyed equally by all.
The AFC sees a huge task ahead at the local, regional, central and international level. Its leadership, along with its partnership with APNU, will see these tasks confronted successfully, notwithstanding Covid 19. In getting ready to do that and lots more we have to continue doing, as we have done during the time of our existence to date, exercise and elaborate on our liberal democratic method.
Our base, comprising of our membership and supportership, in all the Regions must be informed of all decisions taken by our Executive and scrutinise them as thoroughly as is possible. Their suggestions must always be treated with respect and given the highest consideration. The structures on the ground namely members, groups, and regions must soonest come out of the disappointment of a loss of an elections and put out the works that will get us back in to continue the progress we started with our partner APNU.
Our Youth and Women sections will have to be rejuvenated and speak boldly and freely on national issues.
With 9 MPs, 16 Regional Councillors, and a couple of Vice Chairs, the AFC continues to make a name for itself across the political landscape of Guyana. Its ever broadening support will see even further gains nationally.
Don’t stop the progress!
The AFC supports efforts to convene Parliament virtually given the Covid pandemic – Cathy Hughes – Vice Chair AFC
The Alliance For Change appreciates the significant efforts being made by the Clerk of the National Assembly to convene Parliament virtually as outlined in his recent statement.
The AFC viewed with grave alarm and raised its concerns regarding the proposed convening of the 12 th Parliament of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.
In a time of a global pandemic and the rapid increase in cases of COVID-19 that have plagued Guyana over the last two weeks, the AFC was disturbed that arrangements were not being put in place for Parliament to meet virtually.
We recall that several guests including Ministers attending the recent Inauguration Ceremony were found to have contracted COVID19. The AFC remained unconvinced that the safety and good health of the citizenry could be guaranteed given the large numbers of persons who are required to attend a sitting of Parliament. Generally, this includes the 65 Members of Parliament, parliamentary staff, support staff including drivers, invited guests including members of the Diplomatic Corps, media, caterers, cleaners, security and much more. This makes safe distancing virtually impossible.
The AFC recognises that this is an unnecessary risk given that the APNU+AFC coalition government left in each Ministry, at several regional offices and statutory agencies across Guyana, sophisticated videoconference facilities that operate on a secure e-government platform and increased internet access across many parts of Guyana.
The Alliance For Change looks forward to meeting virtually and hopes that serious consideration will be given to re-examining the constitutional issues and rules of procedure that require the presence of members and meetings in a specific location. Today several parliaments worldwide are meeting virtually. These include Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Denmark, Estonia, France, Greece, Iceland, Indonesia, New Zealand, UK, USA and Venezuela to name a few.
A voice of our youth and indigenous peoples and new M.P –
Juretha Fernandes – Chair, Youth For Change YFC
Good morning again everyone, I thank you for joining us today and giving us an opportunity to speak with you. Today is my first engagement as a representative that will be in the national assembly. As a young Guyanese woman who come from Region 7 my experiences that have brought me to where I am are very different as compared to many young people that have lived their entire life on the coastal regions.
Coming from the mining town of Bartica I know first hand what the challenges are for young people in hinterland communities. I have faced the struggles of getting an education as a student and I have struggled along with my students when I was a teacher.
Under the Granger led administration I have seen first hand the impact of the 5 B program and how simply providing a boat for students to get to school made all the difference in the lives of one student and provided that student with the opportunity to better their life.
These are the simple things that drive me to do more and to make sure that more is done to better the lives of young people. My passion for youth representation is nothing new as I started along that path while pursuing my first degree in economics at the university of Guyana. I was always passionate about bringing to life the innovativeness of young people and the 12th parliament will
give me an opportunity to do just that. I believe that equity and equality is paramount when developing all youth programs so as to ensure that no one is disenfranchised. Thus I will be monitoring the beneficiaries of all youth based programmes very closely and their selection criteria.
One of the most important things regarding youth is the Enforcement of the Guyana National Youth Policy that was passed by the APNU+AFC government. This was the first youth policy that was passed by any sitting government and it formed the guiding principles that all youth programs followed. Sadly these principles have been pushed aside as we see activities such as the National School of Music been told to pack up and leave without any consultations been done. This particularly will have a negative socio-economic impact for the numerous youth that utilized that facility. Advocacy for youth is a holistic one that needs to transcend all barriers and I commit to working in that regard.
End.
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