Mark Phillips is PPP’s Prime Ministerial candidate

– Edghill pulls out of race

The People’s Progressive Party has confirmed that at a meeting on Friday, at Freedom House, Brigadier (retired) Mark A Phillips MSS, MSc was unanimously endorsed as the prime ministerial candidate for the PPP/C at the March 2, 2020 National and Regional Elections.

Phillips has had a long and distinguished career in the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) spanning nearly four (4) decades, culminating with his appointment as the Eight Chief of Staff of the GDF, from September 2013, until he retired in October 2016. As a member of the Army, Phillips held a number of crucial leadership positions at various levels and ranks and his consistent upward mobility clearly demonstrated that he acquitted himself with distinction in every position held.
He received vast military training, certification, military decorations, medals, awards and honours, both locally, as well as, in the Caribbean, South America, Central America, the United States of America (USA), Canada and the prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, United Kingdom (UK).

Academically, Phillips possesses a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Management, a Master’s Degree in Public Management and several Post-Graduate Diplomas in Defence Planning and various areas of Management.
Phillips is, therefore, well qualified and equipped to partner with the PPP as its prime ministerial candidate, as it strides forward to win the upcoming elections and form the next Government of Guyana, the party stated in a statement.
“The party’s leadership and its supporters expect Brigadier (retired) Mark Phillips to serve all the people of Guyana in accordance with the high PPP tradition of discipline, dedication, loyalty and commitment, both in and out of Government,” the PPP stated.
Phillips was unanimously endorsed by the party’s Central Comm

ittee after the other contender, Bishop Juan Edghill, wrote the party withdrawing his nomination as a prime ministerial candidate for the party.
In a letter to the party’s General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo on Friday, Edghill explained that his preference is for a consensus candidate and that the bigger picture of an electoral victory for the PPP/C trumps personal ambition and desires.
Edghill said it is of strategic value that he no longer be considered for the party’s prime ministerial candidacy at this time.
“I consider it a great honour to have been nominated a possible candidate for the PPP/C’s prime ministerial position in the March 2020 elections. The support and words of encouragement from leaders and members within the party has been extremely heartening,” he stated in his correspondence to Jagdeo, who is also the country’s Opposition Leader.

Edghill, a former Junior Finance Minister, posited that “notwithstanding, the popular views expressed by persons known and unknown to me, and the embrace by our activists and comrades throughout the country and in the Diaspora, subsequent to the commencement of this process, I engaged in deeper personal reflection and prayerful consideration”.
As such, he told Jagdeo that he remains committed to the PPP/C. “Please be assured of my continuous commitment and dedication to the cause of restoring democracy, ensuring transformation and a new wave of prosperity grounded on principles of good governance, transparency and accountability. I remain a committed member of this team that will achieve this for Guyana and all Guyanese.”
Edghill served in his former ministerial post from 2011 to 2015. Before that, he served as Chairman of the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) and Chairman of the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC). He was also a Member of Parliament, focused on public procurement issues.
Meanwhile, the PPP took the opportunity to recognise the tremendous contribution of Edghill in championing the cause of all of our people, both in the National Assembly and across the length and breadth of Guyana, against a corrupt, incompetent and unconstitutional Granger-led Government.
“We are heartened by the assurance given that he remains a committed team player, who will work to ensure a resounding PPP/C victory at the upcoming elections. We wish to assure all Guyanese that Bishop Edghill remains a valued and valuable member of our team and will certainly play a critical role in the next PPP/C Administration, in executing our manifesto promises to the electorate,” the PPP added. a