Incompetent and corrupt leadership has stifled Guyana’s development

Jan 17, 2015 Letters

---

DEAR EDITOR,
In 1992, when the PPP led by Cheddi Jagan defeated the PNC and formed the government, the hopes and aspirations of most Guyanese were that Guyana, with its abundance of natural resources and once considered the bread basket of the Caribbean, would mature into a fully functional and economically developed State that promotes the well-being of all its citizenry and becomes a symbol of hope to the people in the region.
The year 2015 is here and with it comes the reflection that has accompanied each new year. As we reflected on the sad state of affairs in Guyana, it became evident that the Jagdeo/Ramotar regime which came to power in 1999 has cheated the people and robbed Guyana of its development and its natural and financial resources. They have served the people poorly.
However, after 22 years of PPP rule, Guyana’s development can be aptly personified as that of a child experiencing delayed puberty, and those in the regime should be held accountable for the role they have played in stifling Guyana’s dream, and for having used its resources to benefit themselves, relatives and friends.
When one does a comparative study with other Caribbean island nations that embarked on the noble ideal of self-government, as did Guyana, one cannot help but weep when one sees the advancement that has taken place in most of those countries and the backwardness evident in Guyana.
Take for example Barbados. Barbados became an independent state in 1966, the same year as Guyana. Since that time, the leaders of Barbados have worked tirelessly and sacrificed much for the advancement of social and human development of the Barbadian people. Unlike the PPP cabal, they were not selfish and greedy and did not seek to tribalize their citizens for political expediency or covet the country’s resources. In fact, the leaders of Barbados looked at the long-term goal of building a nation by investing heavily in economic and human development ventures and infrastructure. They did not raid the treasury and put their financial interests ahead of those of the people.
Today Barbados is the 51st richest country in the world in terms of Gross Domestic Product per capita, has a well-developed mixed economy, and a moderately high standard of living. It is ranked second in the Americas (after Canada) and 16th globally on Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index.  Whereas, Guyana is the second poorest country in the region after Haiti and is the second most corrupt country in the Caribbean after Haiti and is ranked 137 out of 175 countries on that index. Barbados has a very strong dollar ($1 Barbadian equals US$0.50), literacy rate is ranked close to 100 per cent as formal education at all levels is freely available to all, its public hospitals are first rated and health coverage is universal.  Its roads are free of potholes, blackouts and water shortages are scarce and corruption and crime are at a minimum level. Its prime minister does not make rude and nasty remarks to the people and its ministers do not cuss-down diplomats or use violent threats against the media.
To complement that achievement, in 2010 the United Nations Human Development Index placed Barbados among the world’s developed countries after measuring its performance in areas of health, education, income, and other quality of life indices. These advancements did not come about because of wishful thinking, but by its leaders putting the country and people first and above party and politics.
So what has happened to the Guyana dream? Guyana could have achieved the same level of greatness and economic success as Barbados if it had progressive thinking, intellectual and non-corrupt political leadership. Guyana has a regime that is crooked, vindictive and has divided the country and people along racial lines, oblivious of the reality that a divided country can never achieve economic and human development.
Why is it that the interests of those in the PPP regime always supersede the interests of the country and the people? Why has the regime not done anything substantial to reduce corruption and crime and to improve the living standards?
We are aware that politics has always played a very important role in any society, and there is a time and place when one needs to support the political party to which his/her interest is aligned. But the PPP always seems to put its narrow partisan interests above the well-being of the state and the people, even though the people are faced with so many crises, such as economic hardship, poverty, high unemployment, a failing health care and collapsing educational system, and criminal acts akin to terrorism.
Since independence, Barbados has managed to achieve a very high level of national life. Thus, irrespective of who or which party forms the government, there is a framework to follow. Guyana has no such framework, because the incompetent and unqualified PPP political hacks are not interested in nation-building. They are only interested in fattening their pockets with the taxpayers’ money.
Guyanese have become a threatened species under the PPP regime. They are not threatened by external forces, but by criminals, corruption, job insecurity, poverty, homelessness, incompetent and selfish PPP politicians, years of social and fiscal mismanagement, a devalued currency — that can only be characterized as Monopoly money — and by a covetous cabal who only provide for themselves and friends instead of the populace. If truth be told, Guyana has become a difficult and a dangerous place to live.
For 2015, what Guyana needs is a government that will put national and human development above party politics; not afraid to tackle corruption and crime, irrespective of the cost to self and party. A government with selfless and competent leaders who in their innermost souls, are honest. Leaders who are true to duty, country, and the advancement of the well-being of all the people. Leaders who are moral and will stand up for honesty, justice and freedom of the press, respect for the people and the constitution. Leaders who are not corrupt and will not take bribe, and who are willing to sacrifice political expediency for the good of the country and the people.
Only then can Guyana become like Barbados, the prosperous country we all want and love to see it become. But a change of regime is needed for this to happen.
Asquith Rose,
Chandra Deolall
Dr. Merle Spenser-Marks

---

---