Three weeks after announcing his resignation from the People’s National Congress and as an APNU+AFC Member of Parliament, Jermaine Figueira has announced his endorsement of President Irfaan Ali.
Figueira served as a Member of Parliament for the APNU+AFC for the past ten years and was also elevated to the position of Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee by the APNU+AFC in the last parliament.
In a statement early this morning, Mr. Figueira said after deep personal reflection, analysis and consideration of Guyana’s current trajectory, he offers his full endorsement and active support to the President for his re-election.
“Voters must evaluate candidates who want to be the head of state and who want to lead a country by what they have done, not merely what they claim they will do. It is in this evaluation of action, delivery, and competence that President Ali stands above the rest”, he stated.
The Linden resident said it is clear that only three parties will be seriously considered by the electorate at the upcoming elections and those are the APNU, the PPP and the WIN party.
He said only the two major parties have varying degrees of experience in governance of this country and have shared differing visions and policy proposals to the electorate, while the other party wants citizens to be patient and wait.
“When it comes to the actual practice of governance formulating national policy, overseeing large-scale development, negotiating bilateral partnerships, and executing social transformation, only one of these candidates has the tested and proven experience necessary and that is President Irfaan Ali”, Figueira said.
The former MP said while none of the candidates is perfect, and President Ali has made decisions that may not have satisfied all expectations and has made some lapses in judgments, he still believes that in the totality of his leadership, his focus on national unity, economic growth, infrastructural transformation, and foreign diplomacy far outweighs his imperfections.
Figueria said in his decision, Guyana comes first, and his commitment, political maturity, and growth through the years have transcended beyond the organization he served “to a greater calling to that of the people of my town, my region, and to Guyana as a whole. That commitment has not changed. What has changed is my understanding of the leadership required to secure Guyana’s continued progress in this critical period and the progress that must be experienced on a more equitable scale for all communities and people of Guyana.”
He said he intends to join the President on the campaign trail in the coming days as the election race heats up, adding that his voice will continue to be one that advocates for inclusive development, unity of our people especially the next generation in our youth through the power of sports, cultural and music, and through economic empowerment, and long-term prosperity for all Guyanese, regardless of political affiliation, ethnicity, religion or geographic location.
“This election is not about nostalgia or protest. It is about leadership. It is about who is best positioned to navigate Guyana through the next phase of development and transformation. We are a young nation with unprecedented opportunities, but also new vulnerabilities. We must choose with discernment”, Figueira stated in his endorsement.
He said he has asked no favors for his decision to support the re-election of President Irfaan Ali.
The former APNU+AFC Member of Parliament is not listed among the PPP Civic’s candidates for the upcoming elections.
However, political analysts saw his support for the governing PPP as long in the making.
While Figueira was the first MP to christen APNU Presidential Candidate, Aubrey Norton as “the next President of Guyana”, just after Mr. Norton was elected Opposition Leader and took up his seat in the National Assembly four years ago, the relationship between the two appeared to have become strained over the past two years.
That relationship soured even more when the party group in Linden under Figueira’s leadership was dissolved as it had not held elections and meetings in several years. Figueira was later removed as the Opposition MP shadowing the Culture, Youth and Sport Minister. However, he was kept on as the Chairman of the powerful Public Accounts Committee in the National Assembly.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login