– party promises real opportunities for development
While the government has made several cash transfers to vulnerable groups in the past five years, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) believes the incumbent’s approach has done little to lift citizens out of poverty.
During a recent online interview with journalist, Enrico Woolford, APNU’s Presidential Candidate, Aubrey Norton and its Prime Ministerial Candidate, Juretha Fernandes, gave all assurances that should they emerge victorious at the September 1 polls, their top priority would be poverty elimination through a suite of people-centred measures. Both vowed that citizens would be armed with the means to secure financial freedom and not the mere illusion of it.
Their joint position was articulated in response to a perspective shared by Woolford. The host recalled a comment from a young entrepreneur who, upon considering the state of affairs of Guyana with the rising cost of living, said it is better to “drink soup”, that is to say, accept contracts and other financial favours and initiatives from the government, than to be left begging. Norton quickly dismissed this as a warped conception.
Norton said, “Drinking soup should not be pitted against begging. What should be said here is that the system should be structured so that people need not drink soup nor beg. But if you put begging against drinking soup, you are creating a gradation of poverty that wouldn’t serve the people.”
The Presidential Candidate said his vision for the country would ensure that citizens are not forced to barter their dignity for survival.
“What I would like to see for Guyanese is that they don’t have to beg, they don’t have to drink soup. They can earn, live a proper life and feel dignified. The choice between begging and drinking soup removes whatever dignity you have. And that shouldn’t be the case,” said Norton.
Fernandes, in agreement, cited an example of a government programme that leaves citizens accepting dribblings for profits. She noted that the administration has been handing out contracts to small contractors. She said this occurred in her community in Region Seven.
Fernandes noted that the danger with this arrangement is that often times, the first time contractor has to outsource to someone who has the experience and tools to get the job done. Fernandes said this forces the newbie to accept any bill handed to them, and therefore, any little profit left.
“That’s what we want to change…You do not develop the business class (in this manner)…And that is a problem we have when they talk about drinking soup. I want people to be empowered,” said Fernandes, adding that small businesses should be able to enjoy a sizeable bite of the pie. She assured that this would be the reality under an APNU administration.
