Change is coming, we can feel it moving across Guyana!

Feb 13, 2011 AFC Column, Features / Columnists

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Change is coming, we can feel it moving across Guyana! These were the sentiments felt by many Executive members and supporters of the Alliance For Change, and the many persons who attended the launch of our Action Plan on the University of Guyana campus, in Berbice, Linden and finally in Essequibo over the last week.
At each location the air was filled with excitement and comfort as Guyanese of all walks of life from across the country came out to “feel” the wind of change, to share their disappointment at what Guyana has become today, but even more importantly to be infused with “hope”, a rare commodity today.
Several shared the same stories, stories of victimisation, of the abuses of power by officials, of corruption in their communities…stories of a Guyana that gives much to those in power and little to those without.
Then there were those who stood up to be counted…that is also a rare commodity today; those who are demanding a better life not just for themselves, but more importantly, for their children.
And then there were many who were just curious, still committed to the old broken parties, and others who just wanted to hear something different and feel that a new Guyana is not far off.
This was how the Alliance For Change began its drive to reclaim Guyana from decades of economic, political and social underdevelopment. The Party’s Action Plan which is specially crafted and designed to achieve this end was introduced to the nation.
The activities commenced at the Ocean View International Hotel on the 29th of January 2011. At this initial launch, hundreds of party members and supporters interacted with Candidates and Executives with the objective of charting a course of change for Guyana. Prime Ministerial Candidate Mrs. Sheila Holder who addressed this gathering noted:
“Today, change is at hand for the socio/economic and political landscape of the country with our party’s Action Plan (AP) for Government, which outlines the general thrust of how our party intends to put this country on the road to becoming the Singapore of the Caribbean.
I encourage you to read it carefully to better understand how different we are as a political party. In this document, we offer you a fair understanding of our guiding political principle – liberal democracy.
More importantly, this Action Plan explains how our programmes and style of governance seek genuine partnerships with all Guyanese to take this country to a higher level of governance.”
On February 3, the campaign and Action Plan was taken to the University of Guyana. At this meeting, students and academic staff were able to discuss serious issues with the Presidential and Prime Ministerial candidates on the AFC’s vision and plan for Guyana.
Presidential Candidate Khemraj Ramjattan took the opportunity to highlight the centrality of the University of Guyana to the developmental of the country.
He noted that the most important resource in the development journey is the human resource, thus the university is entrusted with an indispensible mandate of providing trained personnel needed to achieve Guyana’s development needs.
He along with Mrs. Holder and Party Leader Raphael Trotman highlighted the urgency of sourcing sufficient funding for UG, so as to enable it to more effectively fulfill its mandate and upgrade to 21st century trends.
On February 4, the party reached out to Skeldon, Berbice, with its message of change. Here, Mr. Ramjattan spoke at length on ethnic harmony crime and industrialisation.
He emphasized the need for conducting ethnic impact audits as a tangible mechanism to ensure that there is equality and justice for all. He again took the opportunity to underscore that our society needs to be relieved of all aspects and levels of fear.
He added that when all, regardless of ethnicity, are involved, astounding success can be the only outcome.
Dr. Rishee Thakur, of the Department of Government and International Affairs at UG’s Berbice Campus, chaired the programme.
On February 5, the Campaign and Action Plan was launched in Linden. There, Party Leader Raphael Trotman recommitted the party to pursuing and advocating the concerns of Lindeners.
He said that the Action Plan contains specific strategies for the economic and social advancement of Region 10 which he briefed the audience on.
He added that the AFC has maintained a special relationship with Linden and that with the launch the party reinforced its commitment to win Region 10.
Mr. Ramjattan who gave the keynote address at the Linden meeting spoke about the travesty of justice Russian-owned Rusal has inflicted upon bauxite workers, with the arbitrary and illegal derecognition of a legitimate trade union as well as the irresponsible dismissal of workers.
He underscored the importance of a Development Bank (as described in the Action Plan) to the ignition of a vibrant economy.
He said that such a Bank will be mandated with the capitalisation of new industries that will generate jobs. He pointed out that the example of the American Stimulus Package as enunciated by Ben Bernanke, Timothy Geithner and Barack Obama himself, makes clear that access to affordable credit and capital has to be treated as a fundamental component for Guyana’s development.
Mr. Ramjattan also added that only such initiatives will encourage the burgeoning of that entrepreneurial spirit and class that will effect Guyana’s economic growth.
Finally our campaign and Action Plan was taken to Richmond, Essequibo Coast. This was also well attended by members and supporters from as far as Charity, and as inland as Lima Sands and the Onderneming Sand Pit.
Mr. Trotman told the Essequibo audience that the AFC fully understands the hardships endured on a daily basis and is committed and ready to provide the leadership that will bring change to the county.
He said that he has full confidence in the capacity of the Prime Ministerial and Presidential Candidate of the AFC to provide the high level of leadership that is required.
Mr. Ramjattan articulated the AFC’s strategy as contained in the Action Plan for the ailing rice sector which was well received by the many rice farmers in attendance.
He also posited the party’s vision for Bartica becoming a hub of high class jewellery production, as well as its comprehensive policy on the mining sector.
He reiterated the AFC’s thrust for facilitating capital injection as part of an industrial policy for Essequibo adding that the region, with the aid of such a policy, ought to get into such initiatives as Agro-processing and other value-added ventures.
He posited that such change in policy-making would encourage the thousands of UG graduates who ventured to Georgetown to secure an education, to return to the Essequibo Coast.
The audience populated with many frustrated rice farmers asked numerous questions and sought guidance from our Candidates and Executives on the state and future of that industry.
The hosting of this series of successful launches constitutes the beginning of a process that will bring change to Guyana with the AFC emerging victorious at the upcoming General Elections.
The AFC urges all like-minded stakeholders to come on board its alliance for a new Guyana. The Party believes that when all shoulders are put the wheel, it will indeed be possible to traverse the arduous road that leads to our political, economic and social revival.

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