Let’s not lose corn and husk

Jun 23, 2019 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,

It’s amazing to see what the layman would consider two government entities, who should be working in the interest of the people undertaking government functions engage in a public argument. What, if anything, this situation goes far beyond the temperament of two factions “fighting for the same good” supposedly.
Firstly, GuySuCo will be economically viable and that is the President’s commitment, though this will still have some welfare costs that the country must shoulder. This commitment is vehemently pursued by Mr. Heath-London, who clearly has the interest of the beneficiaries at heart. Why else would he be so concerned with the manner in which GuySuCo spends monies disbursed NICIL and which NICIL obtain from a $30 Billion syndicated bond? Why else would he seek out the assistance of PricewaterhouseCoopers who have investors waiting to advance the economic agenda of GuySuCo, subject to information emanating from GuySuCo?
NICIL under Mr. Heath-London has recognised the opportunities of business and expediency to bring relief to the small man wherever it can. For example, in Linden house lots for land that laid there for years have finally been given out under his tenure. Watooka Guest House is under restoration to the benefit of all Guyanese including all government officials (incumbent and opposition) and the highest standards so much so that the current American Ambassador of the United States of America to Guyana visited and even recognized Linden’s potential as a heritage town for tourism. This suggestion has brought to the fore the need to have Ms. Benjamin-Fauconier relocate the factory she intends to construct at another location in Linden. In fact, the news would make it seem as though NICIL is putting her and Linden out of opportunities, when in fact Mr. Heath-London is trying to optimize by accommodating her at another location and advancing the heritage town concept for tourism. Kwakwani residents, who for years had no economic empowerment, are now for the first time getting their land ownership documents that they can be used in the banking system for economic leverage. It is also important to note that all these initiatives languished under the former head Mr. James, and only recently got traction.
We can go on to mention that Mr. Heath-London has made accessible senior staff compound to all, for instance the Skeldon Heritage Resort that community residents enjoy. Not to mention the use of this facility for conferences, and other facilities never before available in this area. There is now too the Berbice Inn in New Amsterdam, and the Rose Hall Guest House, never before accessible by the ordinary man in Guyana unless authorized or sheltered by ‘a big one’. NICIL has been effective to the extent that the PPP is unhappy that some needs of the Coomaka residents have been met by NICIL.
What is wrong with these biases that seem to be getting so personal and unprofessional that it looks beyond the substance of what is being done and fought for; that ignores the gains made and the evidence of stakeholders’ benefits. From the information circulating one would quickly rush to assume that Mr. Heath-London has not done anything that is commendable and in the interest of the Guyanese people, when in truth this is far from fact. Please let’s not loose corn and husk.

Regards,
George Williams

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