Granger classless when compared to Harper – Selman

PPP/C Prime Minister Candidate Elisabeth Harper

By Svetlana Marshall

Presidential Candidate of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC), David Granger is in no class with the Prime Ministerial Candidate of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), Elisabeth Harper.

This is according to former APNU Member Africo Selman, who has now thrown her support behind the PPP/C. Selman is among persons who have come out in full support of Harper following a vicious attack on her character by APNU+AFC Prime Ministerial Candidate Moses Nagamootoo.

“Elisabeth Harper is a woman of great integrity who would have served this country with much pride as the Director General of the Foreign Affairs Ministry,” Selman said in response to Nagamootoo, who sought to belittle Harper for being a victim of domestic abuse in her earlier years.

Selma said Granger’s failure to rebuke Nagamootoo publicly sent a clear message that he was in full support of the sentiments expressed by the AFC Executive.

“His silence supports my view that David Granger has always been an anti-women, anti-youth, anti-development leader.”

According to the aggrieved politician, prior to 2011 Granger was not popular in the political arena, noting that it was after being handpicked by the former leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Robert Corbin, that he became popular. However, she opined that Granger’s popularity has been built on deceit.

Former APNU Member Africo Selman

“His track record as a politician is quite poor. In fact, he is one of the worst leaders we have ever had,” Selman further opined.

In addition to Selman, Human Services and Social Security Minister Jenifer Webster and Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy have publicly defended the character and work of Harper.

Webster said Nagamootoo was disrespectful in his attempt to score cheap political points off of the highly-regarded diplomat. She noted that the comments Nagamootoo made regarding Harper being a domestic violence survivor and taking such a stance were “uncouth and unwarranted”.

“The recent attack on the PPP/C Prime Ministerial Candidate, Mrs Elisabeth Harper by the Prime Ministerial Candidate of the APNU/AFC coalition, Moses Nagamootoo where he said at a recent rally in Berbice: ‘this Harper lady wants to be Prime Minister because she was a victim of domestic violence’ is unwarranted. Mr Nagamootoo was facetious in an effort to score political points,” she told media operatives during a recent press conference.

Well-respected

APNU+AFC Presidential Candidate David Granger

Dr Ramsammy asserted that Harper was a woman who has held the respect of many for the past years and as such, has the Party’s full support in her bid as the PPP/C’s Prime Ministerial Candidate.

Harper, 57, who hails from Kitty, Greater Georgetown, has worked in the Foreign Service for decades. If the incumbent party secures re-election, she will succeed outgoing Prime Minister Samuel Hinds who has held that position since 1992 when the PPP/C was voted into office for the first time in 28 years.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in French from the University of Guyana as well as the title of the Best Graduating Student (1981-1986) as well as a Certificate in Diplomatic Studies from the University of Oxford, England.

The PM candidate, who was awarded the Golden Achievement Award, began her career at the Foreign Affairs Ministry in 1976 as a Registry Clerk, and worked her way up to Director General at the Ministry.

She had previously served as Director of the Department of the Americas and Asia at the Ministry from 1996 to 2001, as a Consular Officer at the Guyana High Commission in London 1991-1995, and Head of the Frontier Division 1990-1991.

She has been a member of Guyana’s delegation to various meeting of the Caribbean Community (Caricom); the Latin American Economic System; the Association of Caribbean States (ACS); the United Nations (UN); the Commonwealth; and the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR); among others.

Harper has served in several other positions as Ambassador to Caricom (2003 to present); Non-resident High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago (2003-present); Non-resident High Commissioner to Barbados (2004-present); Non-resident High Commissioner to Grenada (2006-present); and Non-resident High Commissioner to St Kitts and Nevis.