President David Granger on Friday refused to directly say whether he is interested in being the presidential candidate for the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) at the 2020 General and Regional Elections.
“Who knows?” the Head-of-State said when asked by members of the media at his first press conference for the year.
President Granger was re-elected as Leader of the PNC/R at the Party’s recently concluded Biennial Congress. Traditionally, it is the Party’s Leader who takes up the role as presidential candidate.
When asked if he will accept, if nominated by the APNU, President Granger asserted that: “I will not run away from service.”
“I am a servant of my Party, I am a servant of the partnership and I am a servant of the coalition and my duty is to serve,” the President added.
However, he explained that the presidential candidate for the PNC/R is selected through a democratic process and therefore, he cannot predict the outcome of such a process.
“I have to bear in mind that my elevation to President is as a result of popular support and a democratic process. I will not abandon those processes. Once those processes function, I will observe them,” he outlined.
Meanwhile, responding to the stark difference regarding his engagements with the media when he was Opposition Leader versus now, the Head-of-State says his schedule is too busy to facilitate more regular press conferences.
At the end of the press conference, which lasted an hour, many media workers still had burning questions to ask the President.
President Granger nonetheless expressed a desire to have more frequent engagements with the media but his schedule is just too busy.
“I wouldn’t compare the duties as Leader of the Opposition with the duties of a President. The duties of a President are much more burdensome,” he stated.
Former Presidents Donald Ramotar and Bharrat Jagdeo held press conferences frequently, at least more than once a year.
