Candidates of the United Force (TUF), the National Independent Party (NIP) and the Independent Party (IP) on Friday passionately presented their plans and policy ideas for a post-May 11 Guyana—provided they manage to secure seats in Parliament—to a small group of University of Guyana (UG) students.
The event was a series of student forums hosted by the UG Students Society (UGSS) in the George Walcott Lecture Theatre (GWLT). These forums were organized by the UGSS following its unsuccessful efforts to facilitate debates between the presidential and prime ministerial candidates of the two major parties contesting tomorrow’s elections. Friday’s forums, which follow one with APNU+AFC presidential candidate David Granger on Wednesday last, were poorly supported by the students of the university. The GWLT which can hold over 300 persons at no point had more than 30 students. In fact several of the attendees seemed to be mostly passing through.
Marissa Nadir led a three-member team from the TUF, including prime ministerial candidate Roy Vantull and executive member Dr Victor Allen. They outlined their policies both for Guyana generally and the university specifically. They told those present that they recognize that they cannot win the general elections so they have chosen to concentrate on securing two parliamentary seats which would allow them to begin to be the voice of youth in the parliament. They also specifically highlighted their intention to advocate for effective and efficient government services if granted the two parliamentary seats they hope to win in Monday’s election.
Allen told the students of TUF’s intention to develop partnerships with the private sector so as to make UG a bigger, better institute.
Saphier Hussain of the NIP spoke of his intention to develop a Constitutional National Youth Commission. He bemoaned the neglect of youth under the present administration charging that this neglect is clearly represented by the decision to “set the date of election on an exam day without any consultation with the youth to hear their opinion.” Students were previously expected to write the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate’s Agricultural Science, Theatre Arts and Food and Nutrition examinations tomorrow.
He further promised to advocate for the provision of financial assistance through the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport to disadvantaged youth. Also promised by Hussain is a cricket academy at UG.
Referencing his successful legal challenges of unconstitutional governmental decisions, Hussain told the students that he would only need one seat. “Look what… one man has done, imagine what I can do in Parliament,” he stated. Hussain has been able in recent months to challenge the Home Affairs Minister on the policy which required persons applying for a passport to have a birth certificate issued a maximum of six months before the application. Most recently Hussain has submitted a legal challenge of Dr Roger Luncheon’s continued performance of the duties of Cabinet Secretary while being a candidate for the ruling party.
Mark Benschop of the IP spoke of his record as a human rights activists and asked those present to vote for him based on his record of advocacy.
When asked if they felt the low turnout was a blow to their chances tomorrow, the representatives expressed confidence that the activity would yield positive results. Nadir said she felt confident. “If even you address three persons, you do it well and the word will spread so that you will have an impact,” she said.
Benschop said he felt “It went ok. [We had] hoped for better attendance but it was a good opportunity for the students to learn that the IP is going to be working for them in Parliament. We are satisfied that they are satisfied that their questions were answered and we hope that they tell their friends about the Independent Party and how it will work for them.”
Joshua Griffith president of UGSS told Stabroek News that the event went well, “it was good and refreshing to hear from smaller parties whom you don’t normally hear from though the turnout was unfortunate,” he said. Noting that Friday is not normally a busy day on campus he said this was perhaps compounded by the fact that many students left campus early to travel to their homes in distant regions so they could vote tomorrow.
The forum could not however have been concluded without reference to the political party which refused to participate in the process. The ruling PPP/C refused the invitation to address students. According to a release from UGSS the party cited as its reason what it deems to have been “the unprofessional behaviour of individuals during a pre-elections forum held in 2011.”
Nadir addressed what was deemed as a shortcoming, noting that if the party was serious it would’ve been present. “If you are seeking the support of young people you must show them that you are willing to work for and with them,” she said.
