It’s impossible to please all

Mar 15, 2009 Letters

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Dear Editor,

I refer to Charles Sohan’s letter of 3/12/2009 in the SN.

Mr. Sohan cited ‘a floodgate of criminal activity’ if airfields are built on the Essequibo islands of Leguan and Wakenaam.

I found Mr. Sohan’s case extremely negative. He chose an angle to attack the Government of Guyana plans, with a topic that is very popular with the people of Guyana – crime. I perceive this as a grand opportunity to ‘dig’ fear into people and seek opposition to the plans for these airfields.

For whatever reason he chose this line of attack, it leaves the reader to determine. Mr. Sohan may be or may have been previously associated with infrastructural projects, but I would like to state that he is seriously wrong with his representations in his letter.

First, Government cannot please everyone. Damned is the Government if it does and if it does not. It is virtually impossible to please all. I know Vertouwen personally. It lies at the tip or Leguan Island to the side that is adjacent with Wakenaam Island. I am not sure if the launch service operates from Vertouwen any more. Many years ago, I am sure it was the 1970s and early 1980s that a launch service operated from that point of Leguan Island to Wakenaam Island.

During that same period, much of the courida swamp in that part of Leguan Island was reclaimed from the Essequibo River.

A dam was built close to the water line and the land was drained and allocated to farmers. I recall bountiful crops such as bananas, plantains, cassava, sweet potatoes, yams and other cash crops being planted and reaped from that reclaimed land. Paw paws and coconuts grow extremely well on these islands also.

I used to go to the farms and pastures with my cousins about 30 years ago. As to what the place looks like today, I am unable to say.

However, Mr. Sohan discounts the economic viability of the proposed airfield. He compares it to a white elephant project when Leguan Island is apparently neglected by the Government. He cites river defences and roads among other ‘crumbling’ infrastructure. I have personally not been to Leguan Island in about 20 years and I am unable to speak of the state of the island and its infrastructure.

However, I am very aware that Government recently rebuilt the ferry stelling which allows a lot of agricultural produce and livestock to be transported from Leguan Island. I remember when there was no electricity, running water and only gravel roads on all of Leguan Island. As for telephone service, there was none.

I am unsure of how credible Mr. Sohan’s statements can be when today we have most if not all these amenities on Leguan and Wakenaam Islands.

As to their quality, again, I am unable to say.

Apparently Mr. Sohan does not understand that the proposed airfield can be set up under the operations of a co operative which can charge fees for landings and take-offs and post security or use ‘blocks’ to prevent illegal landings and take-offs.

While all will agree that crime was a bigger and still is a big problem in Guyana, I would say that folks like Mr. Sohan are giving very little credence to the Government of Guyana and security forces for the dramatic and sincere efforts that they have made and are making to arrest the crime rate of Guyana.

These folks deserve the highest praise given the resources and training that they have at this point. Mr. Sohan, people have got to start somewhere. Remember for a moment from whence we came.

As for the comparison with Jamaica, I am unsure which airfield he speaks of, but the comparison is virtually mute. Whatever part of Jamaica he speaks of has no potential that can be compared to our Essequibian Islands.

We are looking at direct export from field to market. We may be dealing with highly perishable products such as meat, milk and seafood. Don’t you think that our overseas and local customers would much prefer to buy the freshest produce available? Who do you think will have the better edge over competitors? We can cater to the hospitality industry of all the Caribbean if we go into industries such as greenhouse farming.

Our islands are ripe for these kinds of industries. Bring the Chinese and let them show us how. Fresh cut flowers are a huge Canadian and Californian industry. The possibilities are endless.

So, I believe that Leguan Island has much potential. If it is true what Mr. Sohan represents, then not only Leguan Island but also most of Guyana need attention in all the areas he has identified and so does Leguan Island, most of all.

However, what some people in our midst fail to realise that Leguan Island is a key rice producing community. Aquaculture and seafood processing is a potentially extremely viable industry on Leguan Island, as is true for Wakenaam and most of the Essequibian Islands.

Perishable crops such as watermelons, cantaloupes, cucumbers, bitter melons (korilla), etc all grow extremely well on Leguan Island. These crops are extremely perishable when transported by land or water. Also, I recall my late ‘Pupa’ used to grow acres of ochroes, bora, tomatoes, and eschallot on Leguan Island. Don’t let us forget dairy and poultry.

Leguan Island produces and used to produce some of the best beef and mutton as well as fresh milk.

When, there is a call from CARICOM and the wider community to produce more food, we are struggling to attain personal vendettas against the government and certain people in our society.

Let’s think Global, folks. When we have Hogg Island that is larger than Barbados, and Hogg Island is such a fertile island, we can use Leguan Island as a prototype and expand our agriculture base to all the other islands and Essequibo to places such as Pomeroon and the North West District.

Mr. Sohan and critics, the possibilities are endless if we can use our heads and put our thoughts to determined efforts. How does any one think the Netherlands emerged from the sea? Follow the story. The Netherlands today is still largely agricultural although it has integrated tertiary and technology industries.

So, I say that the Government should go ahead full speed with planned infrastructural works and do not let critics such as Mr. Sohan impede development. Infrastructure is hardly ever a hindrance. Forget the detractors. If the Government followed critics and detractors, it would have gotten no where. We would be behind 1992.

Airfields on Leguan and Wakenaam as well as Hogg Islands, are worth every penny of the investment. They should also be medium sized airfields with hard surface runways. They should have cold storage, pasteurization plants and pack houses. These can be installed as time goes by.

These airfields should be designed at first as light aircraft airfields with the definite possibilities of expanding them to accommodate aircraft up to the size of the Dougals 3 freighters. If we can do this, we can certainly look to markets in the whole Caribbean, the Southern United States, probably Venezuela and French Guiana, even Brazil.

These airfields in addition to providing civilian air traffic can be an economic boom for Guyana. These islands are in strategic military positions and can be used by Guyana and friendly nations if and when the need arises. Let us hope that this does not become necessary but no one ever knows.

So, Mr. Sohan and critics, sit back, relax and let the Government do its work. Let’s support them. Someday soon, we hope, the river defences, the roads, the telephones, electricity and potable water will all be put in desirable working status if we can build a country that can support itself economically, politically and socially.

We can only do this if we can bring revenue to Guyana and manage it. Bringing it is not all. We have a track record of not making the best use of our revenues. We must stop criticising and offer words, thoughts and deeds of encouragement to the powers that be. We must be civil in disagreement and we must learn to bring and utilise dialogue.

The planet was saved at a bargaining table. It is okay to criticise but it is not okay to impede. I humbly say that I find that you are impeding, Mr. Sohan. Please don’t. Support our country.

Sase Loaknauth

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