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Dear Editor,
I would like to officially launch my campaign as Presidential Candidate for 2025, under the title and banner, ‘Project One People, One Nation, One Destiny’. The theme is: ‘Your Hope for a Sustainable Future and a Better Guyana’. Our Vision is: To realise the true potential of Guyana and the Guyanese people, together; and become the ‘Singapore of South America’.
Our Mission is: ‘To change the political, economic and social culture in Guyana. We will do this by building ‘Strong Families; Strong Communities; Strong Citizenship; Strong Economy; Strong Bonds; with Strong Leadership.
What is ‘Project One People, One Nation, One Destiny’? This is really an ‘Ideal’ towards which we will work, campaign and lead. However, it is also a ‘Governance and Sustainable Development Approach for Guyana’. The campaign, as well as our programmes and activities, will be developed and implemented around a ‘Clean Agenda’.
What is the ‘Clean Agenda’? This is a clean approach to our sustainable development and governance programme. It includes: Economic – A Clean approach to economic development which will address issues relating to business, investment, corruption, transparency and accountability, rule of law, etc.; Social – A Clean approach to social development by transforming the social culture into one that promotes respect for our diversity and addresses inequalities, among others; and Environment – A Clean approach to environmental management and climate resilience.
Our Governance Approach: Will be around inclusive governance at various levels, at the central and local government, as well as the community. Shared governance will be integrated not only in the Legislative Arm of Government but also in the Executive Arm of Government. High priority areas are, Constitutional Reform and Electoral Reforms, for example, Constitutional Reforms will include removing the Executive status from the position of Presidency and electoral reforms will explore the development a hybrid electoral system to include both First-Past-the Post and Proportional Representation.
Why ‘Project One People, One Nation, One Destiny? Since Independence in May 1966, over the past 56 years, the current governance model has not developed a cohesive society, neither has it created the conditions and environment for equal growth and development of all Guyanese, irrespective of where they live, or other social and cultural peculiarities. This is our governance and sustainable development approach for a better Guyana.
Our Leadership Approach/Style: We have developed a leadership style to guide our behaviour as leaders. The ‘Strong Humble Leadership (SHL)’ style is a combination of ‘Transformational Leadership’ and ‘Servant Leadership’, this will also form a part of our Code of Conduct.
We also intend to develop and promote a more objective perspective of our political history and leaders, as such, we have identified a key governance and development approach from two of our former leaders, which will be included in our governance and development approach. Hence, we will build on the late President Forbes Burnham’s approach to ‘Community Development’ and former President Dr. Cheddi Jagan’s approach on the ‘Development of the Working Class’. So, in a way, ‘Project One People, One Nation, One Destiny’, reunites Dr. Cheddi Jagan and Forbes Burnham, by objectively building on aspects of their legacy.
Our Economic Development Approach: While we will seek to build on some what is being done currently and previously, our economic approach will be much more strategic, systematic, and focused on increasing equity by expanding choices and opportunities for citizens in all ten regions.
Our Social Development Approach: Our priorities are, Health and Wellbeing, Environmental Health, Education and Training, Youth Development, Women’s Development, Family and Community.
Our political, economic, and social programmes will converge to transform the country from a triangular-shaped economy into a diamond-shaped economy, by largely increasing the middle class. We will narrow the base of the triangle by moving people up to the middle, to form the diamond-shaped economy.
Who can be a part of ‘Project One People, One Nation, One Destiny? As mentioned above, this is an ‘Ideal’ and a governance and sustainable development approach for Guyana; as such, we are looking for people who still believe in this ‘Ideal’. More specifically, Guyanese in Guyana, the diaspora and friends of Guyana are invited to join our movement.
The movement targets individuals and groups who can be identified in the following categories: ‘Guyanese for Project One People, One Nation, One Destiny’; ‘Women for Project One People, One Nation, One Destiny’; ‘Youths for Project One People, One Nation, One Destiny’, ‘Diaspora for Project One People, One Nation, One Destiny’; and ’Sponsors for Project One People, One Nation, One Destiny’, among others.
Our Focus over the next four years will include the Building Strong Families Programme – focus will be on assisting families in the areas of economic and financial stability and mental health; Building Strong Communities Programme – focus will be on environmental management and greater cohesion; Building Strong Leadership Programme – focus will be on general governance, rule of law and building greater cohesion.
How can we be contacted? Individuals, groups, sponsors, and friends interested in joining our movement, can contact us on Email: onepeople_onenation@yahoo.com.
Looking forward to working with you in this movement to realize the Guyanese dream of ‘One People, One Nation, One Destiny’. I hope to work with religious leaders, young people and youth leaders, women and women leaders, community leaders, the Guyanese diaspora, among others. to promote this ‘Ideal’.
Additionally, it is my desire that our young people will take ownership of this ‘Ideal’ and lead this movement.
Yours faithfully,
Audreyanna Thomas
Presidential Candidate 2025
