“I am in full support of any government project that will bring development to the people” – Dr Harding

By Samuel Sukhnandan –

People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) 2011 presidential nominee Dr Faith Harding has thrown her support behind the Peoples Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government’s effort to improve the country’s national standing.
Dr Harding, in an exclusive interview, told Guyana Times International that she is ready and willing to support any government project which will bring benefit to the people of Guyana and the country at large. The longstanding PNCR politician’s comments came weeks after she announced her support for the government’s move to build a Specialty Hospital.

Dr Harding had told sections of the media that she will support the construction of the Specialty Hospital, pointing out that the establishment of such an institution will bring great economic and health benefits to the country. She took the opposition to task during the 2013 national budget debates for the move to cut the Gy$ 2.25 billion budgeted to construct the facility.
Dr Harding was quoted in the media as saying that modernising and improving health services, upgrading specialist skills, uplifting confidence in the population, bringing about resourcefulness and boosting the economy are all important.
“It is a shame that the opposition decided to cut the budget,” she said.
Membership non-renewal
The former PNCR government minister also said she will not be renewing her membership with the party, which expired at the end of May. She revealed that she has been approached by other political parties, outside of the PNCR, but is uncertain whether she will join any of those parties.
Speaking about the reason for her decision not to renew membership with the PNCR, Dr Harding said, “I don’t hold the same views, mostly now, with the trend in the party being changed. So I am independent at the moment and I like that.”
Dr Harding noted that she will not renew her membership, “unless the party changes its views and its habits”, something she believes cannot be changed anytime soon.
The former PNCR stalwart said she witnessed the “ugliness of the party” during the last election and said bluntly, “I didn’t like it”. However, she was still determined to see if there were going to be changes in the behaviour of those in the party’s leadership.
According to her, to date, there has not been a single change in the way things are done in and by the party.
She is no longer an executive member of the PNCR and has never served as a consultant to the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), which was initially suggested by the coalition group.
“So I rather just work by myself with people to better their lives,” she said reflectively.
Dr Harding went on to state that she is free to admire things that the governing party does. The PNCR politician said she wants to see Guyana improve from where it is and, if the government of the day is making headway in doing this, then she will throw in her support.
“For me, the government is the government of the people and therefore I will support projects that I think that are good for the nation, to help raise the nation from where it is,” she pointed out.
Government support
Further, Dr Harding also stated her willingness to help government do the things they cannot do alone.
“If the PPP/ C is doing something good, I would encourage them. I am not seeking membership or trying to please anyone,” she said.
According to her, Guyana has the potential to become like Barbados, which is now counted as a developed nation.
She noted that Guyana has many resources to do greater things and as an individual and professional who has served in government and in other posts, she is ready to support development here (in Guyana).
Dr Harding said she is willing to give her service to issues relating to education and would love to work with teachers to help them and to help their children in the classrooms. She stated her willingness to get involved in community projects where she can work with both parents and teachers to tackle issues of depression and other negative behaviour of children, among other social ills.
“I love politics”
“I love politics,” Dr Harding said, explaining why she opted for such a career in the area. According to her, it was her mother and aunt who both worked with the Guyana Red Cross and the PNC that also inspired her to become a politician.
Dr Harding is now working in several communities to help empower people and has formed a non-governmental organisation (NGO), which is just about a year old.
She has launched a sorrel project, targeting rural communities. These include communities in Corriverton, Berbice; Moraikabai, Mahaica, Region Five; Mocha Arcadia, East Bank Demerara; Lily’s Hideout, Linden Soesdyke Highway; and West Watooka, Region 10.
The project involves exporting the high-in-demand fruit to overseas markets to bring in much needed revenue to these communities.
Since its launch in 2012, the project has grown to include more people who benefit financially from the planting and exporting of sorrel.
This, she said, is a way by which she helps to empower people, but most importantly women.
Dr Harding served as a minister of government in the PNC administration from 1989 to 1992. She was credited with reforming and transforming the Public Service Ministry, for which she was responsible.
She also served in the capacity of minister of state with responsibility for the Planning and Development.
As assistant chief education officer, she managed the National Nursery Education Programme, including 300 employees and established national standards for teacher performance and behavioural indicators.