NEC agrees … the decades of neglect must end!

May 06, 2018 AFC Column, Features / Columnists

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The Alliance For Change held its second quarterly National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting for this year at the Georgetown Club on Tuesday May 1st, the same day that thousands of workers across the Country were celebrating/observing Labour Day 2018. An AFC representative from the Eastern Caribbean nation of Grenada also attended as a representative of overseas delegates.
NEC members from all around the Country examined a broad spectrum of issues, from preparations for Local Government Elections (LGE) to the recent horrific pirate attack. This one, not unlike some others, has shocked the nation to the core. Our already small population is now minus more productive citizens because of greed and whatever else that caused this tragedy. The AFC sends our deepest condolences to the families of every victim.
At the meeting, a report from the Public Security Ministry addressed recent work done to reduce the frequency of pirate attacks. The report specified the collaborative work already done by several ministries, agencies and the fishermen’s co-op societies to end piracy and the accompanying murders.
Members said that the hardworking fisher folk in Berbice and Essequibo have lost way too many children and relatives, money and equipment to piracy, and recalled that piracy actually became rampant some 15 years ago under the PPP regime. It is now up to this Government to put an end to it.
The NEC also used this meeting to examine the progress the Coalition has made since the 2015 General and Regional Elections, as well as the pervading suspicions of pharmaceutical racketeering in the health sector – in the distribution of pharmaceuticals to hospitals and regional health centres, high dispensing rate of certain medicines, drug shortages, and the continuation of the old practice of referring patients to private clinics, pharmacies and hospitals.
The party acknowledges that this is a very complex issue and some indicators point to malfeasance by certain staff with close ties to the political opposition. The NEC took the opportunity to commend the high quality of work done by Minister of Public Health, Hon. Volda Lawrence, and pledged to continue to support every effort of the Public Health Ministry to “clean up” the Health Care delivery system by removing systemic and personnel deficiencies and irregularities. This is to ensure that every public medical facility remains sufficiently stocked with pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, trained personnel and working equipment.
So, as we move towards constitutionally required LGEs tentatively scheduled for November, members last week laid out the AFC’s approach to the polls, and the steps immediately following. To ensure that every AFC member, affiliate and working group is fully apprised of the decisions taken last week, we present the highlights of the discussions:
Executive Member and one of our lead electoral experts, David Patterson, laid out past poll results recorded in the various Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and municipalities, and made strategic recommendations for the upcoming polls.
Leader Raphael Trotman reported that he was in receipt of a response from the leadership of Coalition partner APNU to the AFC’s letter dated February 26th, which had outlined several matters, including our combined participation in the next LGE. The NEC deliberated and then mandated the Leader to respond in a prescribed manner. The AFC will issue a more detailed statement on this matter when the parties arrive at a definitive position.
Several members reported that the party’s support continues to be strong at the grassroots level, and that farmers, particularly rice farmers in Region Six, are pleased with the work the AFC is doing as part of Government to ensure that their sector continues to expand.
NEC Chairman, Khemraj Ramjattan, also reported that rice farmers are satisfied with the current price for their paddy. Residents in Region Six, he said, are pleased with the massive infrastructural works and upgrades which are ongoing in the region, most notably the recently installed street lights on the Corentyne Highway, which has improved road safety and general security.
He reiterated that the AFC is part of a Coalition government that is intent on fixing structural and services defects throughout the country whether the people and communities (especially in Region Six) are traditional supporters of other political parties. “That is of no concern to us,” he stated. The AFC is determined to improve the quality of life for every Guyanese, whether they live in Region 6, 5, 10 or 3, or in the Hinterland. The decades of neglect must end.
Two other key items also formed part of the day’s agenda, one linked to overseas groups and how they operate, and the other involving the libel case brought against the Party Chairman.
The Committee discussed the process by which Diaspora Groups are recognized, accredited and held accountable, and asked that a detailed proposal for future action be presented to them at the next NEC meeting scheduled for June 23, 2018. The Chairman also reported that the judgment was recently handed down in the case of libel which had been brought against him, along with DTV Channel 8 in New Amsterdam, by the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU). He reported that the judgement was in their (defendants’) favour.
The AFC reaffirmed that the Coalition Government is strong and cohesive, and it remains focussed on everything that has to be done in every single productive and service sector to better the quality of life for all Guyanese.

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