The leaders of the new political party, Change Guyana, on Tuesday said they will not be relinquishing their interests in their businesses if elected to serve as members of the National Assembly at the March 2020 General and Regional Elections.
Presidential Candidate of the party which was launched last week, Robert Badal, owns the Pegasus Hotel and is also a major shareholder in Guyana Stockfeeds Inc. while Prime Ministerial Candidate Nigel Hinds is the owner of Nigel Hinds Financial Services.
The businessmen are contesting the upcoming elections and have promised to tackle corruption, however, at a press conference at the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown, they noted that there will be no conflict of interest in them owning their businesses while in office.
“My private interest remains,” Badal told reporters.
“Nigel and I are not here to make money, it’s a personal sacrifice for us and for the people of this country. Our motivation is not money, we have money, we can live comfortable,” Badal said.
Badal argued that someone who manages a business is best suited for political office, noting that he has shown performance, knows how to fix a problem, how to deal with issues, knows how to deal with people and knows how to create wealth and employment.
“We don’t need to come into the political foray but over the years we have seen nobody strong and courageous enough to take a stand in the midst of a continued decline in the economic activity in Guyana,” Badal told the media.
Badal is currently expanding his Pegasus Hotel property.
Badal denied that the launch of Change Guyana was triggered by the Government’s refusal to grant him 50% of the concessions he requested with the construction of the new building.
Meanwhile, Hinds said, “I don’t see the connection [with] conflict of interest.”
He premised his argument on the fact that the current makeup of the National Assembly includes Attorneys-at-law, Engineers and others who have businesses.
The Accountant said he will not be actively involved in his business.
Change Guyana leaders are optimistic that they can win majority votes at the March 02, 2020 general and regional elections.
The businessmen said they will also refuse any offer to join with the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) or the APNU+AFC.
