Harding ready to lead by example, if elected president

Senior Policy Advisor to the World Bank, and executive member of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R), Dr Faith Harding, says that she possesses all of the necessary skills, qualifications and leadership abilities to be president of Guyana. Dr Harding is one of four party members who have indicated their intention to contest for the post of presidential candidate of the PNCR.  

Speaking   with Guyana Times International from Sudan, Dr Harding expressed confidence that voters and PNCR members would support her as president. “The Guyanese population is sufficiently astute and sophisticated not to consider gender when they choose their leaders, even if the topographical shape of the country is seen by many as the shape of a woman.”

Dr Harding, who was a former public service minister and member of parliament, has exhibited much confidence in her party’s ability to garner lots of support in the upcoming elections. She says that, regardless of the challenges faced internally, the party remains “one of the most viable and influential forces in the political landscape of Guyana”.  She further said that all of the “missteps of the current administration will turn the tide in favour of the PNCR”. She added that the party’s base is thoroughly motivated to have the PNCR form the next government.

Another  woman president?

During the interview, Dr Harding explained that, were she to be elected head of the PNCR, and eventually president of Guyana, emphasis would be placed on fighting corruption, all forms of discrimination, crime, narco-trafficking, and the underground economy.

Dr Harding said that all leaders, especially those who hold public office, must “lead by example”, and then change can be had. Harding strongly believes that if more focus is placed on these areas, Guyana’s development and progress would be secured. She does not believe that enough is presently being done to fight crime, explaining that a more comprehensive and detailed approach is needed in that regard.

Her manifesto  

If elected, Dr Harding explained, her manifesto would focus on implementing welfare programmes for women and children; and ensuring the issues of education, Amerindian rights, and land and wealth distribution are tackled while promoting a vibrant civil society.  She also sees need for the a programme which would tackle investing in development, not only in the city, but in the riverine and rural communities. “The investment focus would be placed on equal and relative access to productive inputs, such as land, and improved education and health services, done together with an emphasis on agricultural development. Our poor and undernourished persons would be able to share more fully in the gains of growth…” Dr Harding disclosed.

The professional psychologist has also pledged to work with persons living with disabilities. She explained that “forward-thinking and innovative support services for persons with disabilities and developmental challenges” would be advanced once she is elected president.

Further, as all Guyanese presidential hopefuls have announced, she said that if chosen, renewed energy and more emphasis would be placed on the creation of jobs for young people and the unemployed in general. Her manifesto includes the establishment of training and skills development programmes aimed at empowering youth and creating jobs.

Harding has also disclosed that she would work on addressing the issue of gender discrimination by emphasising the need to tackle maternal health and family planning services, especially among teenage mothers. “Emphasis will be given to women’s effective participation in the labour market through skills formation and heavy support to entrepreneurship,” Dr Harding related. She further stressed that a rise in the number of divorces, and male absence and desertions, have left some women to bear the sole responsibility of their families. She also expressed concern over several other social issues affecting the population, making reference specifically to alcoholism, domestic violence and abuse.

Her campaign

Dr Harding will kick off her campaign in Washington on December 18, she said on Tuesday. 

At the event, she will be raising funds to support her campaign. Dr Harding will be battling other contenders, including economist and former Finance Minister Carl Greenidge, Brigadier (retired) David Granger, and attorney-at-law and parliamentarian Basil Williams. At the Washington event, she said, several issues pertinent to Guyana will be discussed.

The event will be held at Savor Restaurant at 2406 18th St NW, Washington DC, and is being organised by the North American arm of Harding’s campaign.  Issues to be addressed are Guyana’s political process, crime, corruption, education, business opportunities, the local economy, and quality of life. Special guest speaker is expected to be Maureen Bunyan, an inductee into the Hall of Fame of the Washington Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

A similar event is planned for December 19 at the Steiner Studios, Stage 6, 15 Washington Ave, Brooklyn, New York, 11205.

Dr Harding, with a Doctorate in Education, has more than 40 years’ experience in the fields of psychology and education, and has given more than two decades of service to the PNCR when it was in and out of government. Harding has worked in Asia, Latin America, USA, and the Caribbean, holding several offices in key developmental projects.

Her competitors for the PNCR presidential candidacy, so far, are Attorney-at-Law Basil Williams, retired Brigadier David Granger, and Dr Richard Van West Charles.  If selected, Harding will be the only woman competing against a line-up of males for the post of president.

Guyana   Times International has interviewed several other leading women in Guyana’s political hierarchy, and most have expressed no interest in running for the post of president. If selected to lead the main opposition party into the next elections, and if successful in that endeavour, Harding would become Guyana’s second female president after President Janet Jagan, who was elected the first in 1997.