The Basic Role of Politicians

Aug 01, 2016 Letters

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Dear Editor;
Recently I came across and read an article in The Economist, The Economist is an English-language weekly newspaper owned by the Economist Group and based in London . . The article was exploring and examining the role and function of Politicians. Upon finishing the article, I paused to “digest” the points contained within the written words, as I reflected, Guyana immediately came to mind. Hence the heading (title) of this article.
Reflecting on the two recent administrations that governed Guyana , the last and the present administrations, have left me in Bewildermentt, baffled, in a state of complete mystification (you see where I’m going with this). as to why Guyana ’s politicians conduct themselves in much the opposite to what that role as a politician dictates.
Guyana does not have politicians who have the counties’ well-being, progress and benefit at heart. Guyana has been blessed with corrupt, selfish and low-vision politicians. I have posted many articles highlighting my thoughts on these matters.  Their words and actions do convey that they just thinking of themselves. Guyana ’s politicians are full of empty promises. As was so evident during the last election campaign. Promises of transparency.  That went out the window. Promises of social cohesion, that went out the window. The promises of reducing the VAT, that also went out the window. The list goes on and on!
The collation was all too happy, having the Jubilee celebration. This provided and acted as a perfect cover. The Durban Park project was a prime example. The project was started by one Minister, and then was YANKED away after incompetence was abound. A new budget was approved (150 million dollars was stated) and finally handed to the appropriate ministry who was able to finish the project in time. Truly, the question is, “how much monies was wasted on the first attempt?  To date, the total expenditure is not known. So much for transparency.
Another “sore point” and I must say, a very contentious one, was the granting of the “self-raise” in pay that was self awarded by the collation. I know that one merits a pay raise when they have been on the job, produced results and have actually created the inflow of hard currency.  We all remember too well the excuses given, that was put forward as they tried to explain the rational behind the pay raise. I do also remember when the negations began for the public sector turn to get their share (of pay raise), they were told not to expect much.
I always remember the former Mayor of NY, Mike Bloomberg who  rejected the $2.7 million worth of salary to which he was entitled (accepting just $1 a year) This was a mayor who did so much for NY city. He did not become mayor to further full his pockets, but to provide the noble service of serving the people who elected him. Another perfect example is John Kerry, the present Secretary of State in the Obama Administration. Kerry did not become Secretary of State to enhance his pockets. He is fulfilling his duty as a politician and doing a very excellent job.  Guyana ’s politicians need to take a page out of Kerry and Bloomberg books. They (Guyana Politicians) have certainly forgotten, or need to be taught that principle. Instead, Guyana’s politicians seems to be of the opinion that God has placed them in the position to grab as much as they possible can, and are very vocal about that fact.
The “call” is out for the Guyanese people to be patient and understanding. This is a very noble call. The average person is “blessed” with that trait at all levels. That virtue of patience and understanding is greatly enhanced when the askee (someone who is asked something) is able to see that their effort is for a noble cause.  How can anyone ask of the Guyanese people to show patience and understanding, when the saw the elected officials helped themselves to that big, fat, hefty 50 % pay raise? How can the nation show patience when they are only being taxes to the max. Lacking any realistic plans, from our elected leaders, that task becomes a very difficult one. It has been a solid year plus since the Coalition came to Governing the country and to date, no plan have been rolled out, giving the people an inclination as to the direction the nation is or will be steered. How can the Guyanese people show that virtue?
Corruptions, a total lack of vision, arrogance, conceit, pride, self-importance, egotism, pompousness, pomposity, imperiousness, power-drunk (see where I’m going),  are all the traits the Guyanese nation has been enduring the past years from their elected officials. How could the nation progress? There is one thing I would like to advocate and that is the process of vetting of politicians. In the USA , every appointed cabinet Minister has to be subjected to a “vetting process”. This process is before the Senate and is called the Confirmation Process. The process digs into each appointed cabinet nominee’s past, including moral character; they are questioned on how they will handle themselves in certain situations.  I do think that Guyana needs such a process to screen our Ministers as they are appointed. Only upon successfully passing this “vetting” process, they are confirmed as ministers. May be then and only then will they be hope for Guyana .
Muhammad Raoof,
USA

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