A LEARNING EXPERIENCE

Oct 03, 2015 Editorial, Features / Columnists

On May 18, last, the newly elected APNU+AFC coalition government assumed its duties under circumstances that were more trying than those of its predecessors. The coalition had the responsibility to chart the direction of the nation in a time of economic downturn.
It also had to contain the anxiety of a society that is under siege by a rising crime rate, especially armed robberies, murders and rapes which have now surpassed last year’s. Then there is the upsurge in road carnage and general uncertainty about the sugar, rice, bauxite and gold industries and the future of the country.
Rough times are ahead.
The government began its tenure in office under the cloud of the legal challenge to the election results by the PPP and the threat of an invasion by Venezuela. Fortunately for the people, Guyana has a strong, wise and experienced leadership team in President Granger and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge to navigate the country through this difficult period. They will not surrender a single rivulet or creek; not an inch of soil or a blade of grass to Venezuela.
Admittedly, this kind of leadership did not exist in the former administration to deal with these issues and improve the life of the masses. Far too often, the former government’s work was stymied by puerile behaviour, irrational thinking and posturing, a lack of professional expertise and decorum, not to mention, arrogance, vulgar and abusive behaviour.
Today, the public has had very little reason to change their opinion of the former Jagdeo regime which presided over the bankruptcy of GUYSUCO, NIS, and CLICO, and the collapse of the infrastructure.
The APNU+AFC government has been consistent in providing good governance to the people but its most serious threat is the economy. The government must recruit qualified economists, accountants, and management personnel from the diaspora to nurse the economy back to health.
Despite these problems, the optimism for a bright future for Guyana remains. The APNU+AFC government has been received with national acclaim in its first four months in office because of the change it has brought about.
It has gone the extra mile with the budget to increase salaries and wages for public servants. Old age pensioners and the less fortunate have not been forgotten. However, it cannot take the public’s confidence and trust for granted. If it does not improve the economy, create jobs for the youths, reduce crime, and fix GUYSUCO it will lose the public trust and confidence.
But the government must be commended for setting the tone for national discourse by its language, decorum, quality of ideas, integrity, and by promoting unity.
However, with the sugar and rice industries in crisis and the price for gold and bauxite on the decline, the government does not have the luxury of time to solve the problems. The public will be listening for an indication of its plans to improve the industries, the ailing infrastructures and reduce crime which have negatively impacted the society.
The government has extended an olive branch of sorts to the Opposition to help find solutions to the economy and the high crime rate. It has also invited the opposition to help craft the 2016 budget and solve the border dispute. This is in stark contrast to the Jagdeo/Ramotar administrations which had refused to involve the APNU+ AFC opposition.
Today’s change of the tone of the government and its quest for unity are good for the people who had experienced a bruising and divisive election campaign. If the minority PPP regime had involved the majority opposition in the decision making process, it would have still been in power because the opposition would not have brought a motion of no confidence against it.
This is a learning experience for the APNU+AFC coalition government not to make the same mistake.

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