APNU+AFC parliamentarians optimistic about Washington Conference on Discrimination in Guyana

By Nicole Telford- Opposition Parliamentarians scheduled to meet in Congress at the United States of America Capitol in Washington shared some of their views and what they will be taking into the meeting with the Congressional Black Caucus.

People’s National Congress (PNC) member Ganesh Mahipaul said “Guyana is a sovereign state and we are governed by a constitution that is supreme above all. When the politicians adhere to the constitution and act in conformity, the people of Guyana will prosper and live more comfortably.”  

Mahipaul said it is unfortunate that we have a Government that is not following the constitution, discriminating based on what they perceive to be political affiliation and embracing only their friends, families and favorites. He posited that “If there was the rule of law and adherence to our supreme law then there would be no reason to turn to our big brothers and big sisters for help.” Stating that “in any family when the small is being taken advantage of they turn to the big for help and we are doing just that.”

Mahipaul further stated that  “ Guyana constitution and rule of law can work but it must be applied equally across the board and not selective. In some cases the PPP makes up new rules to satisfy themselves. All I will say is Guyana needs help and we will fight the fight to get the help we do desperately cry for now so that our children and grandchildren will not live in this ONE SIDED GUYANA that we are currently living in.” The Shadow Minister said.

The A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Members of Parliament will be headed by Leader of the Opposition Aubrey C. Norton and includes Ms. Dawn Hastings, MP, (PNCR) General Secretary, Mr. Ganesh Mahipaul, MP, Shadow Local Government Minister and (PNCR) Executive

Committee Member, Mr. Roysdale Forde, MP, Shadow Attorney General and (PNCR) Executive Committee Member, Ms. Amanza Walton-Desir, MP, Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs and (PNCR) Executive Committee Member, Ms. Nima Flue Bess, MP, (PNCR) member, Ms. Catherine Hughes, MP, Chairman of the Alliance for Change (AFC) Party, Mr. David Patterson, MP, Shadow Minister of Public Works and (AFC) Executive Committee Member, Mr. Deonarine Ramsaroop, MP, (AFC) member. Mr. Vincent Henry, MP, Leader of Guyana Action Party (GAP). 

In aN interview with Village Voice News  AFC Ramsaroop and Hughes also addressed what their agenda for the meeting will be.  Hughes said some of the key areas will be data.  “Data is important and will be presented” she said “we want to present data on some of the sectors in Guyana and the fact that we do not believe that there is an equal allocation of funds into communities.” 

Hughes added  that with Guyana’s oil wealth Guyanese of all ethnicities must be able to benefit equitably.  She said she is excited and hopeful for the meeting because “the Congressional Black Caucus all feel very strongly on the maintenance of democratic principles not only in their own country but in the rest of the world,  so some of the things we want to discuss with them is, the challenges we see as impacting on our democratic principles here in Guyana with a view to soliciting their support to articulate internationally these challenges,  this includes for example going into the next elections without a clean voters list that then citizens of Guyana can be comfortable with we feel strongly that biometrics at the place of Poll is something that we really want to implement.”

Meanwhile (AFC) Parliamentarian Deonarine Ramsaroop said his pitch to the Congressional Black Caucus would be based on victimisation and Marginalization by the People Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Government against every ethnic group in Guyana, especially those who do not support the PPPC. Ramsaroop stated that some data of “Poor East Indians who do not want to support the PPP/C that are being victimized through the non- receipt of old age pension.” Ramsaroop noted too that  he hopes to address the situation of “Guyana’s Indigenous People ‘Amerindians’ who are being left out of participating in the oil sector and gas sector as well as gold and diamond mining.” Ramsaroop said.