The Citizenship Initiative, Guyana’s newest political party, launched last evening promising an unwavering posture in demanding constitutional reform, campaign financing legislation and shared governance, while shunning any possibility of coalescing with the major parties.
The venue, at the Herdmanston Lodge was eventually filled to capacity, with attendees including Private Sector Commission President Gerry Gouveia, and Air Services Proprietor Annette Arjoon-Martins.
Members of the “movement” who were present included author Ruel Johnson, who chaired the event, Shazaam Ally, and Rhonda-Ann Lam.
Nikoli Jean-Paul Edwards, a young Trinidadian who launched Trinidad and Tobago’s newest political party earlier this year was invited to the launch, and in his address, encouraged attendees to give the new party a chance.
In addition to its positions on constitutional reform, campaign financing legislation, and shared governance, the party said its six pillars are Participatory Citizenship, Enhanced Governance and Accountability; Economic Security; Infrastructure for the Future; Education and Resource Development; Social Cohesion, Security and Equity; and Intellectual Property Rights, and International Leadership, and gave details on how focusing on these areas will assist Guyana’s development.
Campaign finance legislation non-negotiable
Regarding campaign finance legislation, Johnson, one of the party’s founding members said there will be “no shadow money here”, declaring that the party will push campaign finance reform, and will stick to it.
Johnson said that this position is partially informed by the fact that weak campaign finance legislation creates societies in which decisions are influenced by the private interests of persons providing the finances to political parties.
Johnson clarified that though the party will not be refusing financial contributions, persons who contribute sums beyond a certain amount ($2 million) will have to agree that their names will be out there. “Anonymity is not an option,” Johnson said
Possibility of coalition
Johnson also said that while the party supports shared governance, and will pursue this though various means, a coalition with either of the two larger political forces – the PPP/C and A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) – is not an option.
“You cannot say that you want to change the status quo, and then join the status quo,” explained Johnson, emphasising the party’s position.
