Guyanese have witnessed the institutions of nation-building being uncaringly eroded

Aug 27, 2013 Letters

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Dear Editor,
Since coming to power in 1992, the PPP regime has made no significant progress in bringing Guyana any closer to realizing the vision of a truly developing country. The hallmarks of the PPP regime are now shrouded in divisiveness and discord of incredible proportions: stymied in the politics of naked propaganda and distortions and unbridled selfish ambition by its leaders. They have not fulfilled their promises to end power blackouts, provide adequate potable water to the citizens, end corruption and crimes and improve the lives of the poor. Amalia is perhaps their temporary savior but it has fallen by the wayside.
Instead of taking advantage of the goodwill offered to the PPP in 1992 by the people after a disastrous period of PNC rule, Guyanese have witnessed the institutions of nation-building being dispassionately and uncaringly eroded, made unpalatably dysfunctional and being recklessly and willfully destroyed by unadulterated political dishonesty, propaganda, widespread greed, massive corruption, unashamed deceit and downright abandonment of the poor and the working class—the foundational base of PPP support.
The outcome of the recent concluded PPP Congress which was regrettably and shamefully laced with unprecedented levels of vituperation and openly declared attacks on the opposition may disrupt the political status quo for a while. It will also continue the gridlock between the opposition and the government How long that impact will be sustained is anybody’s guess. But what is very clear to us is that the minority President has created the present gridlock by not assenting to the two bills passed by Parliament and by his refusal to establish the Procurement Commission—the two most vexing problems for the opposition.
It is true however, that as a nation, Guyana has lost its way under this selfish and uncaring PPP cabal and is drifting hopelessly in murky and treacherous waters. There has never been a more compelling need for the majority political opposition to take drastic action and put the nation back on track. The opposition must use its majority in Parliament to interrogate the government to make sure that the taxpayers’ money is spent wisely and the country’s resources are used to benefit everyone and not just a selected few of PPP supporters.
As a political party, the PPP is morally bankrupt and legitimately too endowed in corrupt practices to take the lead in putting the nation back on track. More than that, the PPP, by its own failures, due largely to unending corrupt practices over the past twelve years is intellectually dishonest. The PPP still remains the most institutionally unstable, insensitive and corrupt political entity in Guyana.
Instead, the cabal has embarked on a mission to make the rich, richer and the poor, poorer as evident in the palaces in Pradoville 1 and 2 and at Lenora. They have not only oppressed the poor and the working class but have also created a new type of bondage—a bondage of silence, where citizens are afraid to speak out about corruption and nepotism in the government for fear of victimization.
The minority PPP regime is currently immersed in a battle with the majority opposition over the flawed Amalia Falls Hydro Project which most of the local accountants and economists claimed will cost the taxpayers about US$2 billion.  One of the reasons for this flawed and expensive project is that the PPP did not use the cadre of qualified intellectuals, professionals and technocrats to do due diligence on such an expensive and flawed project. Instead, they have relied on one man, Winston Brassington to do all their bidding.
Added to this is the fact that the PPP thought that it would have won a majority of votes in the last election and then ram down the throats of Guyanese all the secret deals signed by Jagdeo—Amalia Falls, the Specialty Hospital and the construction of the new airport—all crucial to the development of Guyana but not at any cost to the taxpayers. But they were disappointed with the election results and are now bullying the opposition into supporting the project. The PPP, at its own peril, seems to have ignored and or abandoned the idea of establishing the Procurement Commission to bring accountability and transparency to the procurement process. They have abandoned the principle of good governance.
Finally, we believe that Guyana will never move forward without the full participation and involvement of the country’s young citizens. Their energies must be genuinely harnessed, embraced and nurtured to develop the passion and the level of commitment required to develop the country. But so far the PPP cabal has ignored the youths of Guyana as if they do not exist.
Dr. Asquith Rose and Harish S. Singh.

 

 

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