— “Elections are won on the ground, not only on the internet or on talk shows, or sounding and looking nice with a pretty face and fancy clothing.”
Several political observers have commended Simona Broomes and Amanza Walton-Desir for breaking ranks with the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) to chart their own course with their own political parties. To Lindener, Jermaine Figueira, who also severed ties with the PNCR on Saturday evening, these women have taken a bold step towards challenging entrenched systems, even serving as inspiration to other young women who aspire to take their place in local politics.
But apart from asserting a sense of agency, can Brooms, who heads Assembly For Liberty and Prosperity (ALP), and Walton-Desir, who leads Forward Guyana, outshine their former PNCR leader Aubrey Norton and PPP’s President Irfaan Ali?
According to Figueira, it is highly unlikely that these women, with their fledgling parties, pose a serious threat to their male counterparts.
Be that as it may, Figueira said these women could begin the work of augmenting the political currency of their parties by building real political infrastructure. “That means to have a constituency presence, trained volunteers, data-driven outreach, and policy teams,” said Figueira. He was keen to note that “elections are won on the ground, not only on the internet or on talk shows, or sounding and looking nice with a pretty face and fancy clothing.”
To truly stand out and secure parliamentary presence independently, he said a transformative vision will be a non-negotiable for the electorate.
He noted that the ideas that will determine whether Guyana achieves greater progress in education, health, agriculture, housing, technology, and gender equality must not be treated as afterthoughts, buried in manifestos,or blueprints released mere weeks before elections. “They must be front and center in the political conversation from the outset,” the Lindener added.
He also stressed the importance of authentic leadership and the power of alliances. In Guyana’s political system which has historically been dominated by two major parties, Figueira said any new entrant, no matter how charismatic they are, must consider coalitions and strategic partnerships. He said this does not mean a surrender of power. “It is survival and smart politics.”
No matter the outcome for these women at the September 1 poll, Figueira said they should strive to represent well and take pride in the fact that their participation widens the democratic space, disrupts old patterns, and opens doors for future generations of girls and women leaders. He concluded, “Their boldness is a gift to the nation, and I see this as a win for them in this regard.”
