The recently formed, Independent Party (IP) which is led by social and political activist Mark Benschop has stopped short in its ambition to be the next government but has its eye on being the force that will fight against corruption and injustice after the May 11 elections.

With five days remaining before an expected 500,000 eligible voters head to the polls, the young and committed team which make up the Independent Party, is confident that it will be a part of the change to come as it faces two political giants and a few smaller parties in the ultimate test next Monday.

“I’m excited that the talk of change is in the air and excited also that the Independent Party will play a part in that change for the betterment for all Guyanese,” Benschop told News Source in an interview on Wednesday.

This will be the first time that the party will contest general elections, but Benschop maintains that with enough support to represent Guyanese in the National Assembly a “new brand of politics” could be birthed.

This new brand of politics, he said,  will feature more inclusivity of citizens at all decision-making levels through adequate consultation and more participatory democracy.

The Deputy Leader of the Independent Party, Attorney at Law, Dexter Todd said the IP wants to show Guyanese that it endeavors to only serve and that not all politicians are greedy and corrupt.

“Once the IP gets into Parliament we will consult with people to ensure inclusivity and full representation… that’s the sort of democracy and the sort of freshness we are talking about. We want to hold the government of the day accountable,” Todd said as he suggested that the IP will seek to hold Parties to the promises they laid out in their manifestos.

The Independent Party says none of its members who make it into Parliament after the elections will accept duty-free concessions as a means of demonstrating its desire to truly serve the people of Guyana.

Benschop said too that the IP will push for the granting of duty free concession to Parliamentarians to be totally abolished.

“Politicians ought to work for their money. For five years 65 parliamentarians cost tax payers close to $500 million just for duty free concession and this must stop. We will not be accepting any duty free and we want others to join us in support of that,” he added.

Moreover, the IP does not believe that Secondary School Students should be made to pay for their exit examinations and will push for a Bill to scrap the idea and allow for all Secondary School Students to write as many subjects as they wish and let the government of the day foot that bill.

The IP also wants to reach out to University of Guyana and proposes grant amnesty to students who have outstanding loans and can’t find jobs.

It also proposes to look at reviewing marijuana laws and advocates for a decent and respectable pension for retirees.

Benschop is confident even as the ruling party and the opposition coalition continue to dominate the campaign, a change will come and the IP will play a major role in bringing about that change.

 “We don’t need loud music or dozens of estate trucks bring people in… we believe our strategy is effective by reaching the people and talking to them one on one… we are going in there to look after the people’s interest. All will be treated equally,” Benschop insisted.

He also took a jab at the APNU+AFC coalition and the ruling PPP Civic over the “negative ads” which he believes “has no place in a democracy.”

Meanwhile, Todd said legislation is urgently needed to ensure a level playing fields in elections campaigning.

“The bottom line is that while we feel as though there is not a level playing field we cannot complain because we have to realize we are faced with two political giants been around for a long time,” he added.

Benschop told News Source that he is largely satisfied with the preparations by the Guyana Elections Commission – GECOM –but is still concerned with the length of time it may take to declare the elections results and the fact that he list is “heavily padded.”

He hopes that the electoral process will be conducted peacefully and following the elections there will be a smooth transition. (Kurt Campbell)

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