Juan Edghill drops out of PPPC prime ministerial race

Last Updated on Friday, 3 January 2020, 20:26 by Writer

Staunch People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) supporter, Juan Edghill, on Friday dropped out of the campaign race to become that party’s prime ministerial candidate.

Edghill, in a letter to PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo, said he was ending his bid to pave the way for a consensus candidate.

The other nominees are said to be University of Guyana lecturer, Hugh Todd and former Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, retired Brigadier Mark Phillips.

Following is the text of Edghill’s letter to Jagdeo:

26 Durban Street, Lodge, Georgetown. Tel: 592-225-3020, 624-5701
Email:bishopjedghill@gmail.com

Bharrat Jagdeo
General Secretary
People’s Progressive Party/ Civic
Freedom House
Robb St. Georgetown
3rd January, 2020

Greetings,

I consider it a great honour to have been nominated a possible candidate for the PPP/C’s Prime Ministerial position in the March 2020 elections. The support and words of encouragement from leaders and members within the party has been extremely heartening.

My position of interest was publicly articulated that I am interested – willing and able to serve in that capacity. Notwithstanding, the popular views expressed by persons known and unknown to me, and the embrace by our activists and comrades throughout the country and in the Diaspora, subsequent to the commencement of this process, I engaged in deeper personal reflection and prayerful consideration. I wish to state the following.

• My preference is for a consensus candidate to emerge from this process.
• The bigger picture of an electoral victory for the PPP/C trumps personal ambition and desires.
• After a relentless and difficult struggle against this Granger-led regime, ensuring there are no encumbrances to Victory and the preservation of unity among our supporters is paramount.

As such, I write to formally inform and request of you, that I believe it is of strategic value that I no longer be considered for the party’s Prime Ministerial candidacy at this time. Please be assured of my continuous commitment and dedication to the cause of restoring Democracy, ensuring Transformation and a New-Wave of Prosperity grounded on principles of Good Governance, Transparency and Accountability. I remain a committed member of this team that will achieve this for Guyana and all Guyanese.

Please convey my highest regards to our Presidential Candidate Dr. Irfaan Ali and all the members of the party’s leadership.

Yours sincerely,
Bishop Juan A. Edghill