The AFC IS ON THE MOVE!

Feb 07, 2010 AFC Column, Features / Columnists

The AFC is pleased to report that it has forced President Jagdeo to hold a recent Cabinet outreach in the Berbice area to play “catch-up” to the AFC as we traverse the length and breadth of the country winning the hearts and minds of the Guyanese people. The objective of the AFC’s regional visits is to mobilize its growing membership and disillusioned PPP/C and PNC/R supporters to take back control of their communities and the country from corrupt and vindictive PPP officials.
For the month of January AFC activists, and its principals, have visited sections of Regions Nos. 2, 3, 5, 6, 9 & 10 and, as of last Sunday, began spreading its ‘Agenda for Change’ to residents in Diamond, Region No. 4. We encourage Guyanese to be hopeful because change is coming to this land.
PPP/C CAUSING MULTIPLE CRISES IN BEDROCK INDUSTRIES
One only has to scan the performance of the bedrock industries of Guyana to realise that PPP/C ineptitude and mismanagement are causing crisis after crisis to erupt from one industry to another. Over the past months we have had severe dislocations in the sugar, bauxite, and rice industries.
The most recent instance was manifested by the presence of 4,000 people taking to the streets in Bartica to protest the Jagdeo regime’s arrogant and misguided handling of the most precious resource in the mining sector – the people.
After 18 years of handling power, the PPP has been unable to grapple with these major industries to ensure their modernisation, viability and profitability.
Guyana belongs to all Guyanese with or without the funds from Norway under the LCDS. We need to make mining more environmentally and economically sustainable. Meaningful consultations should begin immediately to address the genuine concerns of the miners and the thousands who depend on the industry for their livelihood.
The take it or leave it attitude of the Jagdeo Administration is being rejected as was witnessed in Bartica. The AFC stands in solidarity with the workers of Guyana.
muzzlING THOSE who possess high quality credentials
The AFC views the continuing ad hominem attacks on Dr. Janette Bulkan by senior Government officials, as a serious development.
The orchestrated letters by the Commissioner of Forest, officials from TAAMOG and letter writers like P. Edwards to scandalously pour scorn questioning Ms Bulkan’s patriotism, has a dangerous and deliberate purpose behind it all.
So, too, was the pressure brought to bear on the obviously timorous souls at the World Bank to terminate her services as a Technical Adviser.
The purpose is clearly intended to muzzle Guyanese in the Diaspora who possess high quality credentials and who are critical of the Government of Guyana by attempting to drive fear in their minds that serious repercussions will follow if they are critical of the Jagdeo Administration. The AFC warns that this chilling intent will do Guyana no good.
GOVERNMENT PROCEEDING WITH HOPE CANAL AGAINST SOLID ADVICE
For some inexplicable reason the government is proceeding with its idea of constructing the 2.5 km long Hope Canal to ostensibly ease the pressure on the East Demerara Water Conservancy in times of excessive rainfall when the conservancy is prone to overtopping and the present relief into the Mahaica River has led, in the recent past, to flooding in the Mahaica and Mahaicony areas.
It is well known that the residents and famers of Mahaica suffer from the deluge of flood waters on an almost annual basis and that their suffering and losses are tremendous.
We empathise with them and wish to advise them that they are being fooled by the government into believing that their relief has to come through the construction of this canal which will have the impact of displacing many farmers and residents at Hope, East Coast Demerara.
Additionally, the estimated cost of G$3.6B cannot be justified, taking into account other options which are less disruptive to the environment and communities.
These other options, which include the dredging of the mouth of the Mahaica River and the upgrading of the Land of Canaan Sluice on the East Bank of Demerara are being ignored by the government and come highly recommended by the local association of professional engineers and Guyanese engineers resident abroad.
The AFC can think of no rational explanation for the saddling of tax payers with this G$3.6B bill.
We challenge the Minister of Agriculture to accept, and act on, the professional and sound advice given to halt the proposed project and to save billions of scarce dollars, by dredging the Mahaica River and enhancing the drainage capacity through the Land of Canaan facility.