The newly formed National United Front (NUF) says it will contest three of the 15 seats in the February 19 general elections and dismissed suggestions that it should be regarded as a breakaway faction of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The party, which held its first convention on Sunday and elected Glynnis Roberts as its leader, said that while it is not yet in a position to govern the country, the intention is to be represented in the parliament.

“We want to see members of NUF in the parliament come February, we want to ensure the membership of NUF is represented in the parliament, let us work towards that objective,” NUF chairman Siddiqui Sylvester said.

Roberts, who was among 10 people, including government ministers and trade unionists expelled, from the NDC last September, said that party comprises people who saw the need to present a real alternative to the present administration.

“There comes a time in a country’s history when the old must be done away with,” she said, insisting that the NUF is not a breakaway faction of the NDC that came to power in 2008 winning 11 of the 15 seats and ending the 13-year rule of the New National Party (NNP).

Roberts said that the NUF plans for the development of the country would be based on its nine-point agenda that places emphasis on increased high yielding jobs, developing the agricultural sector, improved health services, education, tourism and implement social oriented programmes that would support strong family bonds and establishing close family ties.

In addition, she told the convention that was also addressed by embattled Guyana’s Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, that the plan also calls for supporting a labour policy that is inclusive and removing political victimisation from the workplace.

“With this as our agenda we can have economic transformation to the benefit of all,” she said of the nine-point agenda that also looks at developing the cultural sector and the environment.

Source:jaobserver