Being the PM candidate is a “great honour”– Mark Phillips

ꟷ says he identifies with PPP/C’s vision for Guyana

Newly-selected Prime Ministerial (PM) candidate of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) retired Brigadier Mark Phillips is counting his selection as a great honour, as he promises dedicated service to the people.

In a statement after the PPP Central Committee would have endorsed him, Phillips noted that his selection was both an honour and a privilege. He also made it clear that he is in support of the PPP’s vision for the development of Guyana.
When it comes to PPP Presidential Candidate and former Housing Minister Dr Irfaan Ali, Phillips emphasised that he wholeheartedly supports him. And he urged everyone to remain focused on the big picture.
“I identify with the party’s vision for Guyana and I wholeheartedly support our Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali. As we embark on this journey together, be assured of my continued service to all the people of Guyana. Let us be steadfast and let us always remain focused,” Phillips said in his statement.
Phillips emerged as the consensus candidate on Friday after the withdrawal of another contender, Bishop Juan Edghill. It is understood that Edghill wrote the party to withdraw his nomination, after which the Central Committee endorsed Phillips.
In his letter, Edghill had described his withdrawal from consideration as a move of strategic value. He had said in his letter that he remained committed to the party, a point the PPP itself reinforced in a statement it put out afterwards.
In the statement, the PPP lauded the Bishop and his contributions and made it clear that Edghill, who served as a Junior Finance Minister under former President Donald Ramotar’s administration, would play a key role should the party win power in the March 2 General and Regional Elections.
Hugh Todd, a University of Guyana lecturer who had also been cited as a possible Prime Ministerial candidate, threw his support behind Phillips. In a Facebook post, Todd congratulated Phillips and urged supporters to back the Ali-Phillips ticket.
“Brigadier Phillips has my full support as we work towards restoring democracy and putting Guyana back on a pathway towards prosperity. March 2 is another critical juncture in our political history. Let us support the Ali-Phillips ticket as they lead us to a March 2 PPP/C victory,” Todd said in his post.
Phillips served as Chief of Staff of the GDF from 2013 to 2016. He previously attended the Royal Military Academy of Sandhurst in the United Kingdom and was Guyana’s non-resident Military attaché to Venezuela. Phillips is also the holder of a Master’s Degree in Public Sector Management.
Elections are due March 2, 2020… one year and two months after the No Confidence Motion was passed against the Government. Nomination day is meanwhile scheduled for January 12 and will potentially see as many as 19 parties participating.