Tough decisions will have to be made in Guyana

Aug 01, 2009 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
I do accept Ms. Daly’s congratulations (KN & GC 29th July) on my election to the Executive of the AFC. However, I am sorry to disappoint Ms. Daly by saying I am gainfully employed and don’t need remittances to prop up my “failing business”.
Ms. Daly cannot quote anywhere in my writing where I am against remittances (the transfer of money by a foreign worker to his home country) in any manner.
Ms. Daly thinks that by repeating a lie often enough it will be believed, and is now futilely trying to convince the public that the ‘line’ of my writing exhibited hatred and disgust toward remittances. Strong words indeed, and if I am guilty as charged, then why is it so difficult for Ms. Daly to prove her case?
Once again, I will take the opportunity so kindly given by Ms. Daly to re-present the arguments. Presently, remittances to Guyana mainly prop up expenditure (including show-off spending on fancy vehicles, etc.). For remittances to play a more meaningful role our import-export gap needs to be reduced (through economic transformation) and we must make greater efforts toward retaining our skills and knowledge.
Again, for Ms. Daly’s information, the AFC long before anyone else, advocated engaging the Diaspora in a meaningful manner and harnessing remittances. Further, unlike any other political party in Guyana, positions in the AFC Executive are reserved for members of the Diaspora. Given I am an integral part of this, why would I be against it?
Another member of Ms. Daly’s Ghost-writers Club (GC), Kimberly James (KN 26th July), has decided to take on the respected Dr. Bertie Ramcharan (SN 23rd July). This is the very Dr. Ramcharan who was appointed by this government as Chancellor of UG.
I do not fully agree with some of Dr. Ramcharan’s suggestions since Guyana’s ethnic problems, large as they may be, are not as deep as in the former Yugoslavia.
Tough decisions will have to be made in Guyana, and if the leadership periods are too short some leaders may be more concerned about their legacy at the expense of doing what is needed. Such a short rotation period may also result in some persons being given power on a platter – we all know how this can go oh so horribly wrong. That said, it does not mean I am closed to further clarification by the esteemed Dr. Ramcharan.
I laud Dr. Ramcharan’s representation of our Amerindian Peoples and I would be proud indeed to have an Amerindian President.
Ms. James, in similar fashion and language to Ms. Daly, seeks to disparage Dr. Ramcharan and at the same time repeats another of Ms. Daly’s mantras – ALL IS WELL. As such, Ms. James would like us to believe we have no ethnic problems nor does the government engage in tokenism.
Perhaps my understanding of tokenism is wrong, but I cannot think of any other term to describe the eye-pass (disrespect) that our gentlemanly Prime Minister endures. Mr. Sam Hinds is typically sent to quell protests in Linden with nothing to offer. It then takes the President to ride in on the proverbial white horse, clad in shining armour, to dispel the situation with promises and monies. Had the Prime Minister been properly endowed it would not have required the President’s intervention. From time to time also, you would notice reversals of decisions taken by the Prime Minister in the President’s absence in a most high-handed manner.
More recently, there was the reversal of the decision taken by Minister Benn on the Air-Traffic Controllers issue. Wrong or right, there was a more tactful and respectful manner of doing this.
Gerhard Ramsaroop

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