PPP/C list reflects continuity, youth - Opposition fails to inspire their own children to join them

 (Guyana Times)The ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is standing resolutely behind the List of Candidates presented to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on Tuesday ahead of the upcoming elections, restating its position that it is the winning List founded on the principles of continuity, youth diversity and varying forms of equity and balance. The Party made its pronouncements following what many have described as several opportunistic, unsubstantiated and malicious statements being peddled by sections of the Opposition-run private media houses. PPP/C Executive Member Irfaan Ali, speaking with the Guyana Times, during an invited comment, declared that the Party was proud that it could produce a List of competent, qualified, passionate and dedicated Guyanese who were desirous of serving their country at varying levels when the Party was re-elected to Government with a majority. He debunked the concerns raised by the People’s National Congress Reform(PNCR)-led A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition that the List was nepotistic in nature because there were several children of veterans of the PPP/C on the List. Laudable Ali said that the fact that the senior members of the ruling party could have convinced their immediate families and other relatives to rally around the cause of continuing development by joining the Party’s List after they were duly nominated via the various party organs was laudable. From a personal standpoint, he said, immediate members of the family of a person are in the best position to evaluate that person as to whether they are sincere in what they are doing. The fact that so many children of the APNU+AFC coalition rejected being members of the List shows clearly that they probably find their parents’ politics to be hypocritical or deficient or both. Additionally, he said that in general, the PPP/C culture is one where youths from all walks of life – including the children of serving and past politicians – are trained to understand the philosophy governing the Party and the role they must play in safeguarding and developing Guyana. At this time, they can see the clear and present danger presented by the “dirty and murky” hands of the Opposition. “It is good that we as a party have managed to attract so many youths and new faces to our candidates’ List. For that, we offer no apologies. The fact that our Executives have managed to get their children and families to put their backs to the wheels and work hard to serve this country is laudable. For that, we offer no apologies,” he said. Ali made it clear that the Party was well aware that the outburst by the Opposition and its media cohorts was an attempt to manufacture controversy and to divert attention from the PNCR-led coalition’s “lacklustre, unbalanced and highly militarised List”. He continued, “The last component is especially troubling, because most of them were trained to follow Granger reflexively without question. This attitude is anti-democratic to the maximum.” He said that the PPP/C’s List was reflective of the dynamism with the Party and the wider country and boasted a set of attractive, bright and committed Party comrades who were all nominated at varying levels to serve. “It is not my problem that those within the Opposition could not influence even their family members to consider serving at higher levels in their party and giving back to the Guyanese people. It is not my problem that David Granger’s bed-fellow Moses Nagamootoo could not produce a credible List that is reflective of youth,” he charged. Ali said the fact that this politician could not present a single member of his family to the country as worthy of any sort of leadership position was telling and an indictment on their part. “Our youths grew up in the party. They have worked at varying levels. They have learnt about the importance of keeping Guyana on the trajectory of progress and they have offered themselves up to be part of the cause. Not even Moses with his slithering, deceptive tongue and the branding of his new masters could stop this youth force in the PPP/C,” he said with enthusiasm. Ali urged the Opposition to focus their attention on the glaring inconsistencies and shortcomings of its own Lists, the exclusion and sidelining of a party stalwart, Vanessa Kissoon, and the overwhelming numbers of “have-been politicians” on their List. “We condemn all forms of attacks on our youth candidates and we urge all right-thinking Guyanese to reject the opportunistic, yard fowl and political insensitive nature of the PNC-dominated coalition. The PPP/C moves onwards to another resounding victory,” Ali concluded. Friends and family The coalition earlier on Wednesday had said that dozens of relatives and friends were on the Party’s List in a statement to the media. “The PPP’s ‘Friends and Family List’ confirms their shameless, blatant and unbridled nepotism which the PPP continues to throw in the faces of the people of this nation,” it protested. The PPP/C in a release almost immediately after it had departed City Hall on Nomination Day, said its List was concrete testimony that it was the only national political party with genuine participation by all sections of the Guyanese community. “It is representative of people from different parts of Guyana, different professions and occupations, women and gender, youth and experience, ethnicity and religion…We are proud that leaders of different professions, business, farming, education, youth leaders, women leaders, leaders within different communities, including Amerindian leaders, religious leaders have joined forces with the PPP/C, as the only party with a record for development,” the statement read. It disclosed that approximately 450 candidates make up the List of Candidates of the PPP/C. The List, the statement also disclosed, comprises 52 per cent Indo-Guyanese, 23 per cent African Guyanese, 12 per cent Guyanese of Mixed Descent, 10 per cent Amerindian, 2 per cent Portuguese and 1 per cent Chinese. The PPP/C also underscored its commitment to gender equality, noting that its List represents 35 per cent women. Further, the List includes 57 per cent Christians, 32 per cent Hindus and 11 per cent Muslims