{"id":280,"date":"2009-11-05T14:41:55","date_gmt":"2009-11-05T19:41:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/afcguyana.com\/afcnew\/?p=280"},"modified":"2009-11-05T14:41:55","modified_gmt":"2009-11-05T19:41:55","slug":"mr-clayton-hall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/afcguyana.com\/afcnew\/?p=280","title":{"rendered":"Mr. Clayton Hall"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a>I was born in Georgetown, where my father was a schoolteacher.\u00a0 When he became an Agriculture Field Assistant he was assigned to various locations out of town, and we all followed him; so we lived for on and off in West Demerara, in the Essequibo River area, and in the Essequibo Islands.\u00a0 When we returned to Georgetown, we lived in Charlestown.\u00a0 We were poor, so I am accustomed to living a very ordinary life.\u00a0 I was educated at St Mary\u2019s RC School and then St Stanislaus, both in Georgetown.\u00a0 My first job was at Central Garage, where I eventually became Workshop Manager.\u00a0 Following this I was Manager of the Guyana National Engineering Corporation (GNEC), then I was Manager of the Bel-Lu Claybrick and Tile Factory during 1979-82.\u00a0 I had completed a Diploma in Public Administration at the University of Guyana, but as you know, as a government officer one was often redeployed, and this is how I ended up in the forestry sector.\u00a0 Eventually I went to the UK to do a BSc in Wood Science and Technology, followed by an MSc in Forestry, specialising in Forest Industries Development, from the University of Wales.\u00a0 I am a former Commissioner of Forests at the Guyana Forestry Commission.<\/span><\/p>\n

I would say that in my early life the Roman Catholic church had an influence on me.\u00a0\u00a0 The other great influences came after I began to work.\u00a0 In the private sector, people like John Simon DeFreitas set an example of work ethic and commitment.\u00a0 In my government posts, at GNEC former Divisional Manager Burchell Forde and former Executive Directors Pat Carmichael and then Claude Saul taught me a great deal as well as encouraged me in the development of my career path.\u00a0 Later in life I was also influenced by John Douglas, former Advisor on Forestry and Dr Kenneth King, former FAO Director.\u00a0 I would say that at each phase of my life I was fortunate to have such persons guiding me, and advising me; allowing me to develop and bloom.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why did you become involved in the AFC?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Back in 2005 I was completing a stint as Programme Director of Conservation International, when I was approached by Raphael Trotman, Khemraj Ramjattan and Sheila Holder with their idea of forming a political party.\u00a0 I was involved in several discussions on this issue, during which I made some recommendations; but the end result was that I was prepared to support them and to be a part of this, and the AFC was launched.<\/span><\/p>\n

I had never been overtly involved in politics before this, but I have to say that what was said to me by Raphael, Khemraj and Sheila stirred me; and having had so many experiences \u2013 working for the government and being subject to political whims \u2013 I thought it was time to take a stand and made a contribution to my country in this area.\u00a0 I never planned<\/em> to become involved in politics, but I guess you could say the time had come.<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019d like to state that I am also an environmentalist and conservationist, in essence, and I remain very concerned with this area.\u00a0 I thought the Alliance for Change created an opportunity for a new dispensation of politics in Guyana.\u00a0 Politics for us in Guyana has always been confrontational \u2013 based on race and ethnicity.\u00a0 The AFC\u2019s message:\u00a0 \u201cdon\u2019t vote race, vote change\u201d was a new approach and new political culture for Guyana, that is not confrontational.\u00a0 This change is fundamental to a new Guyana, and it captured not only my imagination but also those of other people.\u00a0 Most people are suspicious of politicians and it takes some time to give trust, but what the AFC offers is a new way of cultivating pride and giving hope for the future of Guyana.\u00a0 This positive approach, I think, has made many people besides myself prepared to stake their future in politics in a way never seen before in Guyana. <\/span><\/p>\n

What do you think is the AFC\u2019s key to the future of this country?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I think we should go back to our Agenda For Change which speaks clearly of the kind of government we would like to offer:\u00a0 the creation of a rule of law which would be upheld.\u00a0 People tend to be cautious in their dealings with the law, and lack confidence in the justice system at the moment.\u00a0 There are too many discriminatory practices, and a lack of basic human rights.\u00a0 We need to develop a new culture of trust, respect for each other and institutions of government.\u00a0 Unless we are able to separate the judicial and the bureaucratic arms of government, people will always be concerned about whether they are being fairly treated.\u00a0 I feel too that we must ensure that qualified and professional and competent people are allowed to carry out their duties and functions and not be influenced in any way in the discharge of the work they are given to do.<\/span><\/p>\n

I think that we have helped to engender a more enabling political environment in this country, which can be seen in the way that everyone is looking forward to the Local Government elections.\u00a0 We have to ensure that this prevails so that citizens can feel confident in electing the representatives they want for their communities; and through this, improve representation and leadership at all levels.\u00a0 A long time ago, when Guyana was a young republic and we were all proud of being Guyanese, we spoke of self-reliance, but we lost that will.\u00a0 Now, Caricom leaders are meeting to see how we can achieve some of this self-reliance to alleviate the poverty of our people.<\/span><\/p>\n

You hold the post of Chief Executive Officer of the AFC.\u00a0 Does this fit in with what you hope to achieve on the Party\u2019s behalf? <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

It is an elected office, so the appointment is political as well as administrative.\u00a0 I think that initially we were trying to create a different type of movement, then as we developed into a full-fledged political party we found that the role had changed.\u00a0 The office is in transition, and it is now not a CEO\u2019s role so much as a General Secretary\u2019s \u2013 I think this will be adjusted at our next Delegates Conference in two years\u2019 time.\u00a0 Right now, the office coordinates administrative, management and political function.<\/span><\/p>\n

I think my role is one of service.\u00a0 There is an old saying:\u00a0 \u201cBlessed is he who has no expectations, for he is never disappointed.\u201d\u00a0 I\u2019ve run my race.\u00a0 I have reached the highest levels of my profession, I am a grandfather of 5.\u00a0 Whatever experiences I have gained I am prepared to share.\u00a0 I am prepared to take on whatever is required.\u00a0 But one has to be mindful of the fact that in the harsh realities of this world one has to satisfy basic needs and obligations.<\/span><\/p>\n

Do you think that your long involvement in the forestry sector has defined you?\u00a0 Does this affect you politically?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I think what I have is name recognition. I don\u2019t know if the effect is positive or negative, but in politics any news is good news.\u00a0 I think if people know us and what we stand for \u2013 and perceive us to have a high level of rectitude, integrity and professionalism, and to be trustworthy \u2013 they tend to be confident that here are people we could follow in the political arena.\u00a0 Sometimes politicians take a bum rap when it comes to judgement of their character, but it\u2019s all par for the course.<\/span><\/p>\n

What change do you want for Guyana?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I would like to see an environment in which we recognise and respect the rule of law, and the institutions of government; recognise and hold sacred the fundamental rights of all citizens.\u00a0 I would like to see the implementation of the recommendations of the Constitutional Reform Commission as well as the recommendations of many of the review commissions we have had in this country that would allow the participation of all citizens in the decision-making processes that affect their lives and the happiness and prosperity of all Guyanese.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I was born in Georgetown, where my father was a schoolteacher.\u00a0 When he became an Agriculture Field Assistant he was assigned to various locations out of town, and we all followed him; so we lived for on and off in West Demerara, in the Essequibo River area, and in the Essequibo Islands.\u00a0 When we returned […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7134,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[24],"class_list":["post-280","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-people","tag-photo-by-dwayne-hackett"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/afcguyana.com\/afcnew\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/image001-2.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4F7T1-4w","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/afcguyana.com\/afcnew\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/280","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/afcguyana.com\/afcnew\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/afcguyana.com\/afcnew\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/afcguyana.com\/afcnew\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/afcguyana.com\/afcnew\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=280"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/afcguyana.com\/afcnew\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/280\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/afcguyana.com\/afcnew\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7134"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/afcguyana.com\/afcnew\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=280"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/afcguyana.com\/afcnew\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=280"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/afcguyana.com\/afcnew\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=280"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}