Govt. is taking Guyana and its value for granted

Aug 27, 2018 Letters

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Dear Editor,
On August 23, Demerara Waves published an article titled, “Guyana will not nationalise American companies: US – Guyana relations of “high geo-strategic value.” The title paraphrased the assurance of the current Minister of Natural Resources to the group of visiting US Congressmen. So Guyana’s Oil and Gas industry is already an instrument of foreign policy.
The Minister, bereft of a political ideology or personal philosophy, apparently could not provide an alternate assurance. It is no wonder that trolls on social media are expressing concern about the PNCR being an ‘ex-military party’ with two former Chiefs of Staff of the GDF now added to the party’s Executive Committee, and Mr. Van West Charles finding no more use for the AFC.
The question that I wish to ask is where do they think they are going? Are the people of this country invisible, irrelevant or asleep? Far from it. I am reminded of the List of Candidates that the PPP/C put up for the 2015 Elections. What did they think they were doing?
The Government of Guyana is making a huge mistake by relying too much on the “geo-strategic value” of US-Guyana relations at the onset of our Oil and Gas negotiations. This militarisation of our politics and government may find favour with US interests, but this is not in the interest of the People of Guyana.
The military has a specific role and that does not include Governance. The People of Guyana, in the absence of genuine democracy and lack of open communication from the Government, must pay attention to how the dots are connecting. We must do more than just express our demand for an entirely civilian political culture and government. We must work for it.
The People of Pakistan have lost decades and 50,000 lives by being what Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Imran Khan, described as being a ‘client-state, a hired gun’ of the US Government. After decades of suffering, Mr. Imran Khan has now articulated the lesson learned by the people of Pakistan that there can be no military solution to the so-called ‘war on terror.’
In Guyana, we are already pursuing diplomatic solutions to our border conflicts. Military solutions are always the last resort. We must guard against being pushed in a direction that is counter to our philosophy, our history, our culture, our instincts and our collective wisdom.
The Government of Guyana is not capable of articulating an alternative paradigm for our Oil and Gas industry. If they were, they would have done it already. We do not nationalise or confiscate private industries and private property because it is theft. It is unjust and unconstitutional. These are our principles and we are grounded in principles, otherwise life falls apart.
Efficient Oil and Gas industry requires minimal Government interference and a reliance instead on professionalism. This has to become embedded in our culture for future peace and prosperity. On the contrary, the Government is pushing for the use of Oil and Gas industry as an instrument of foreign policy. Can we see the path of destruction ahead?
This Government, with an overreliance on ex-military, has already negatively impacted the Guyana Public Service and the attempts at modernisation have been called ‘a joke’. They have utilised command and control management strategies and marginalised knowledgeable independent minded professionals, weakening the Guyana Public Service.
How can we take the ‘word’ of such individuals that they will not ‘nationalise’ industries? How many of the people trying to HEAL Guyana are on the fringes of society? Viewed by the administration as not “fit and proper?’ How many of us have gotten close enough to the AFC Leadership in Government and allowed them to reveal themselves, only to find out that they are short on idealism and big on opportunism?
How many of us died inside when scandal after scandal broke about corruption in the Health and other Sectors? Are these the people that we are going to leave to administer our nation now that we are blessed with a boon of Oil and Gas?
Nations do not develop by opportunists in administration. The Mahathir Mohammads of the world are focused on human and national development. We have a Government in office who can play deference politics with US Congressmen but cannot even articulate a strategy for constructively utilising Oil and Gas related revenues.
What about social security and compassionate government? How many Guyanese children are malnourished, half-starved of basic needs on a day to day basis? How many parents are suffering mental health issues? Chopping up each other and committing suicide. Adults need support too.
What about luring back those teachers who went to Botswana and elsewhere to develop other nations? What about Governance to significantly improve the lives of the Amerindian communities? What about CREDIT for all those people on the fringes of the business community? The list of human development possibilities is endless. And yes, there is also need for infrastructural development works.
The time has come for those who wish to HEAL Guyana to come center stage. It is now or never. The time for healing has past. We are now focused on the future. We are grateful for all that the current administration has tried to do for this nation. However, their best is just not good enough for an Oil and Gas producing nation.
In the inspiring words of a colleague, “We can do much better.” Leadership for the future demands unshakeable faith in the Guyanese people and the Guyanese dream.
Sincerely,
Sandra Khan

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