| A new political party – Healing the Nation Theocracy (HTNT) has emerged in Guyana, “with hopes ofPresidential Candidate Alfred Parktruly breaking away from an ethnic divide and providing a balance between Guyana’s two main political parties – a united Alliance for Change (AFC)/A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) and the incumbent People’s Progressive Party/Civic.”The entity says it hopes to become the “third force” in the political sphere with its main aim being “to put power back into the hands of the people.”Alfred Park a Corentyne, Berbice native is the chairman and also the Party’s Presidential candidate, while Ras Leon Saul is the Prime Ministerial candidate and General Secretary. Park who hosts the weekly ‘Healing the Nation’ talk show on HBTV Channel 9 is said to be an herbal practitioner with his own establishment ‘First World Symmetry Healthcare’ located at 255 Earl’s Avenue, Subryanville.The gentleman in the late 1970s – early 1980s had spent some time in the United States where he said he participated in the historical civil rights movements taking place in that country at the time. Park is an entrepreneur who aims greatly to “end poverty in Guyana.” He seeks to create a “healthy nation to build a wealthy economy and end all poverty in Guyana.”Past President of the Guyana Rastafari Council and secretary of the current Reparations Committee Ras LeonPrime Ministerial Candidate Ras Leon SaulSaul is also a Berbice native who resided in Canada for more than 20 years and was a member of the ruling Conservative party of Canada. He has academic qualifications in the areas of communication, film and television production with experience in the field of reporting.Party heads say that Healing The Nation Theocracy Party, believes it can rally the support of Guyanese at the upcoming May 11 polls by “opening their eyes to the poverty we are experiencing…to open your eyes to the reality of our situation, and to assist in marshaling the masses and place them on solid ground.”“We are in the midst of a country on the verge of melting down and the powers that be sit on their ‘racial/ethnic mix formula’ and do nothing except think of a coalition in the form of ‘jockeying for position’ instead of giving the nation a vision.”The organization said that one of their main selling points is the legalization of marijuana, which the political opposition said would be open for discussion. The new contenders believe that the current crop of politicians have great difficulty in providing practical solutions to the vast number of difficulties that are facing Guyanese. In its “Vision 2020” agenda for change, Healing the Nation Theocracy Party says that it recognizes that “power must be put back into the hands of the people and not leave the development of this country in the hands of a few money-grabbing ‘so and so’s’ and their cronies. It’s time for us to shake off this mental inertia that has for so long kept us in the dark.”The HTNT party aims to “create wealth by transforming the nature of the economy toachieve growth, accelerated poverty reduction and the protection of the vulnerable and excluded by providing proper jobs and employment opportunities through the resurrected “co-operative movement”.“What is clear, is that a generation of racists and ideologist individuals, under the disguise of political parties and saviours, has dismantled the idea of equal rights, justice, peace and security in Guyana.”The party’s leaders say that along with other political parties contesting the May 11 elections, they have entered full campaign mode following the dissolution of the 10th Parliament last Saturday. It was noted too, that the recently-formed APNU-AFC coalition is not the only party that is optimistic.“Healing the Nation Theocracy Party will be penetrating the markets to lure indecisive voters.”The Prime Ministerial candidate noted that,Wholesale China Jerseys, “some 130,000 persons did not vote at the last elections in 2011, because they were not presented with a party that represented real change. We are targeting that set of non-voters”, he stated.Ras Saul, who in October 2010 ran to be a Councilor on the Toronto City Council, believes that many of that grouping (who did not vote) are Rastafarians, who believe their rights are not being represented by the existing political parties. “We want to bring our community into the frame, because the other parties do not represent our interests,” Ras Saul stated.“Rastafari is also a philosophy grounded in the teaching of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I and Marcus Garvey, and a faith-based way of life. It promotes one love and unity across all communities,” Ras Saul continued.He noted that the HTNT party has been receiving an overwhelming response, with more attention expected as soon as their campaign intensifies.“HTNT’s strategy mainly includes reaching out to particular communities that will most likely sympathize to our condition and beliefs. The legalization of marijuana is part of the party’s eradication of poverty and equal rights and justice platform,” Saul said in conclusion. |
