APNU to launch campaign on Burnham’s birthday, Feb 20

The late former President Forbes Burnham in military uniform

…signals commitment to former dictator’s legacy

A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) claims to be considering putting young people at the centre of its election bid even as it forges ahead with its plans outside of the proposed coalition with the Alliance For Change (AFC).

The latest information obtained by Guyana Times is that the AFC has been struggling to sell the coalition proposal to its key constituencies in Berbice. Already professor Daizal Samad, a key executive of the minority party, is on record as saying that the coalition will not happen.

Speaking at a news conference on Friday, Leader of the APNU Brigadier David Granger disclosed that the party will have the official launch of its campaign on February 20, with youth candidacy being considered for the key positions.

Granger noted that the party has decided to have the launch on February 20, the birthday of the “Founder Leader” Forbes Burnham. It is also just three days before the country celebrates its Republic Anniversary. When the date for Republic Day was first announced back in 1970, there were accusations that Burnham deliberately chose a day close to his birthday, since there was no definitive date when Cuffy launched the Berbice Rebellion.

According to the Opposition Leader, despite talks that he is the PNC’s Presidential Candidate, the Executive body of the APNU is still in discussion with regards to its Presidential and Prime Ministerial Candidates but these will be unveiled when the latter coalition of seven parties’ campaign launch is done in the coming month. However, contrary to Granger’s comments earlier this week, Communications Director of APNU Mark Archer told another media house that Granger is Presidential Candidate for APNU. In addition, General Secretary of APNU Joseph Harmon on Wednesday told this newspaper that Dr Rupert Roopnaraine will remain the Prime Ministerial Candidate.

Harmon said that there are no plans to replace any of the party members from their respective posts. It was reported last November that the major Opposition party might be heading into General Elections without Roopnaraine being its Prime Ministerial Candidate. Noting that Roopnaraine has enjoyed the confidence of the coalition, Harmon said he will not be replaced.

Asked whether the APNU has any policy on choosing its Prime Ministerial Candidate based on ethnicity, Harmon answered in the negative, although since 1992, the People’s National Congress Reform has always campaigned with someone of East Indian ancestry at the polls.

The Member of Parliament also noted that the party has a special select committee that selects their candidate and whoever is being selected will then be placed on whatever post they are selected for. Harmon said that Roopnaraine has always maintained a high profile at the coalition’s activities. In Granger’s absence, for instance, he has always been the last speaker at public meetings.

Youth candidacy

On the issue of youth candidacy, Granger said this is actively being considered. He said there is a formula which gives representation to geographical areas, gender, competence, occupation and what we call geographical age. “So we have a list of criteria which we will use but they aren’t absolute. They aren’t absolute yard sticks. You don’t put somebody simply because they’re young and they might be stupid; you want to put somebody who is competent and satisfies the other criteria.

We want to put people from the hinterland, the coastland; people who are from different occupations. We’re looking for a balance,” Granger said. He also noted that information and any decisions taken with regards to the coalition talks between his party and the AFC will also be made public at the campaign launch since he is not authorised to speak on the ongoing talks at this moment.

To every corner

Meanwhile, the head of the Guyana Youth and Students Movement (GYSM), the party’s youth arm, Ryan Belgrave told media operatives that the party will be taking its campaign to every corner of the country and will be targeting the young people, since they make up more than 69 per cent of the voting population.

He noted that the time for the youths to exercise their rights to ensure a better education system and the availability of job opportunities which is currently lacking under the ruling Administration.

Belgrave related that the party will be utilising the social media as well as the traditional methods of going door- to-door of the people to get the party’s message out. The youth leader also disclosed that the party will be seeking to have its messages translated as best as it can possibly can into the language of the Amerindians, naturalised Chinese and Brazilians so that they too can also come on board the party and its plans for Guyana.