Divisions in Guyana and old wounds must be addressed in a nationalistic manner, according to the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) presidential candidate, Dr. Irfaan Ali. When pressed on the issue during a recent interview, he said, “National unity and bringing our people together must be achieved through a number of initiatives. We have to build the Guyanese identity. We have to understand that there is something called the Guyanese identity, who we are as Guyanese, not who we are as Indo-Guyanese or Afro-Guyanese – that’s who we are as a people.
“What are the things that binds us together as a people? What are the things that brings us together as a people? What are the things that holds us together as a people? What are the principles that we stand on as a people? These are the questions we have to ask. “We have to start to get this inculcated from a very young age. We have to get this in a school system. We have to get this in a teacher’s training system because you have teachers being trained to youngsters because at that level are we addressing this issue when the mind is young and ready to absorb solid principles.”
Ali added that there have to be efforts to build a country where every single person feel involved, where every single Guyanese see themselves as having an equal opportunity and where all Guyanese sees themselves as being part of the future. Asked whether the broadening the next PPP/C government will be able to do this, Ali said, “Civil society has a major role to play and will play a major role…you have to have the policy formulation and that must reflect the national priorities. “It must be able to draw people on board and must be able to create a platform through we all believe and we all feel as if we have a stake in the future…unity is an action unity, it is not talk. It has to be a set of actions by the government of the day, in which we have national buy in from stakeholders all across the country, from all segments of our population… once all our people believe that they are part of that national programme, we can move forward as a people, together.
“…we seek to broaden our alliance in terms of bringing more persons on board with the national development strategies and priorities and working towards improvement of the lives of all Guyanese, ensuring that they have a better future – a future that all Guyanese can be proud of and want to be part of.” To understand what is at stake, the PPP/C presidential candidate stressed the need for grassroots grounding – something he charged that all leaders should strive for. “I’ve visited all the region so far, but there are still a number of villages that I will have to get into,” he said.
Ali added, “I have had experience experiences working throughout Guyana in all the regions both at the technical level and at the political level, so I have consistently been working in the national interests – been working in ensuring the lives of people and communities are developed.” According to him, grassroots grounding was bolstered by a strong desire to enter public service from a young age.
“My love for public service it comes from a long tradition within my family. My grandmother as many may know on the West Coast (of Demerara) was part of the initial struggle that saw the recognition of the trade union. She was part of the early struggles of the People’s Progressive Party. She was part of the struggles that helped us to gain independence, help us to have democracy return to our land. My parents also are both public servants. They spent most of their lives in public service, teaching. My mom retired as the Deputy Chief Education Officer. My father retired as a headmaster. After retirement they continue to serve.”
Leaders can only understand the need for more to be done to advance national unity, once they are able to recognise what is at stake and have a desire to serve the Guyanese people, Ali charged. “My experiences have shaped me, the deep sense of commitment and dealing with the challenges and ensuring that people the lives of people is advanced in a positive way…there is much more to do…as Guyanese we are stronger together,” Ali declared.
https://citizensreportgy.com/?p=13495
