PNC recommits to APNU coalition, amps up LGE campaign

– at party’s first General Council for 2018

Even as the minority Alliance For Change is mulling contesting the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE) separate from its governing Coalition partner, the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) is looking to amp up its campaign efforts at the community level as it recommits to A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) coalition party.

This was revealed by party leaders on Saturday at the PNCR’s first General Council for 2018, which was held at its Congress Place Headquarters under the theme “PNCR – The Vanguard of a Green Economy”.
Delivering the feature address, President David Granger, who is the party’s Leader, pointed out that 2018 would be a very challenging year for the PNCR, and called for steps to be taken to improve its work in communities all across the country in preparation for local government elections.
Granger further recommitted the party to its coalition with the APNU. “We are better together, we are not leaving APNU. All five parties will stay together and contest the local government elections,” he said.
Referring to the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy, the President said Guyana was now in the best place it has ever been in 52 years. He then went on to call for vigilance and attention to the security of the nation. President Granger said the best guarantee of Guyana’s defence was its people. In this regard, he said, “The Militia was on the march again.”
The PNCR Leader also emphasised the importance of Community Policing to the security of neighbourhoods and the suppression of crime. The president called on Guyanese to come forward and volunteer for Community Policing. “We have to establish a system which can guarantee the safety of every citizen of this country,” the leader said.

Sugar industry
Turning his attention to the sugar industry, Granger said a plan was being put in place to keep the sugar industry alive, and that workers whose jobs had been terminated will get their benefits.
In his address, which covered several areas of national interest, Granger further called for a revival of the village economy. He stressed the importance of agro-processing, buying and eating local produce, and creating jobs for youth and women.
Meanwhile, PNCR Chairman Basil Williams’s presentation called attention to the decision of the Secretary General of the United Nations to refer the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). He complimented the work of the Party Leader and President over the last thirty months in securing this outcome.
Additionally, the party’s General Secretary Amna Ally, in her report to the gathering, brought the General Council up to date on the state of the Party and the work of the Party Secretariat over the period between General Councils.
She informed General Council that the Party was already in campaign mode for the upcoming Local Government Elections, and called for regional leaders to work harder in their communities in order to secure victory in the 62 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils and nine municipalities.
Ally implored all Party leaders to work relentlessly to achieve success, as she called for good leadership, good governance, and a united Party.
The General Council, second highest decision-making forum of the PNCR, meet once every quarter.