We need to free our country from this incompetence

Dec 28, 2010 Letters

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Dear Editor,
Now that the New Year is upon us, it is customary to make those New Year resolutions that we sometimes find difficult to bring to fruition.
Some of the more common resolutions that people make on New Year’s Eve (or as we say in Guyana… Old Year’s Night), include a desire to: Stop smoking; save some money; give up drinking; be a better husband/wife; get better grades in school; or simply to get a job.
This year, I invite all patriotic Guyanese with a burning desire for a better quality of life for themselves, children and grandchildren, to join me in making the following resolution: “I solemnly resolve to help alleviate the sufferings of my people, by working within the law to put an end to this PPP/C dictatorial regime in 2011”.
Unlike some, this resolution should be very easy to fulfill. It requires no personal sacrifice; no year-long effort to break a bad habit; just one day in the year is all you need; a day to round up all your friends and relatives and take them with you to vote, to exercise your franchise and responsibility, as a citizen; one day to have the courage to do the right thing…to cast your vote for the opposition party of your choice.
The PPP/C has now been in power for 19 years. Admittedly, they inherited an economy that was badly broken and heavily in debt.
Although I believe Forbes Burnham to be a man of great vision…a man before his time; he was under tremendous pressure from the American and British governments to change his socialist policies and trading partners, as they did not want to deal with another Cuba on the strategic South America coastland.
The PPP were not supportive of the Burnham Administration either, and caused major disruptions to development in their capacity as the main opposition.
But by then, the people wanted a change, and most Guyanese, myself included, were very supportive of the PPP in 1992, the year the PPP victory effectively ended 28 years of PNC rule.
When Bharrat Jagdeo ascended to the Presidency on August 11, 1999, I wished him well, and prayed for him to succeed; we all wanted him to succeed.
I thought then, that as an economist and former Finance Minister, he would restore the economy and do great things for Guyana. I was wrong. He squandered all the goodwill and dreams of a nation. As President, Bharrat Jagdeo failed miserably.
He is an elitist who gives the impression that he cares for the struggling working class, but favours the rich and powerful.
His administration uses taxpayers’ money as if it is their private bank account, with very little or no accountability. It would be interesting to know the net worth of President Jagdeo now, compared to his net worth in 1999, but who’s gonna do the math?
I guess that’s another reason he seems reluctant to pass the Freedom of Information Act.
During 19 years of the PPP/C regime, Guyanese suffered more than any other period in history.
The folly, corruption and mismanagement of the PPP/C government, make the Burnham Administration look like altar boys.
Guyana is still heavily in debt, although most of the previous debts have been forgiven by foreign governments; corruption is now a way of life in Guyana; Guyanese live in constant fear of being killed or robbed by armed vicious bandits who have no respect for human life; they live in constant fear of being mugged on the street of their hard-earned money…even the banks are no longer safe haven to keep your money now; contractors and friends of the administration are benefitting immensely from government contracts, although some are grossly incompetent, producing shoddy work at best.
The projects that the Jagdeo Administration brags about are projects all governments are obligated to undertake.
Even the Berbice River Bridge is no major achievement when one considers the cost and the tremendous money in tolls commuters are burdened with, for a two-lane bridge that looks like ‘an accident waiting to happen’.
The murder rate has increased under the PPP/C; violent crime is out of control; more young people are using drugs and alcohol; taxes are unbearably high; the unemployment rate is so high that the government is too embarrassed to publish the figure; workers are grossly underpaid; the City of Georgetown is dirty and infested with derelict buildings; more people are homeless, and more are living in tent cities.
This is totally disgraceful and unacceptable for a government that was elected to improve the economy and wellbeing of the Guyanese people.
They’ve had 19 years to do this, yet after all this time they still blame the PNC for all of their failures.
Nineteen years is a long time to do nothing, but as we approach the countdown to Election Day, you can expect to see a flurry of projects promoted by the government for immediate implementation.
This is an old election-year gimmick that I urge my fellow Guyanese not to fall for again. The PPP/C do not deserve another chance, another term, another vote…Guyanese deserve must better.
This country has more natural resources than the entire Caribbean Islands combined, yet our people live in poverty and are treated with scorn when traveling to places like Trinidad and Barbados.
We need a change. We can no longer do nothing and hope that change will come; we need to be proactive.
It is encouraging to see more PPP/C supporters openly critical of their government and the state of affairs that exist here, and I support the call by Speaker of the National Assembly Ralph Ramkarran for the free and fair selection of the PPP/C Presidential Candidate by secret ballot.
I also salute the brave efforts of Kaieteur News columnist Freddie Kissoon, social activist Mark Benschop and Christopher Ram for having the courage to fight injustice and to stand up for what they believe to be right. Guyanese are crying out for change; but we cannot leave it to just a few brave individuals.
Come Election Day, we need to be responsible and to do the right thing; for ourselves and future generations to come. We need to free our country from this incompetence.
Harry Gill

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