COVID Cash, secondary city, mayoral re-elections, and dangerous driving dismissal

Dec 13, 2020 Features / Columnists, The GHK Lall Column

>>>Encouraging Events, Disturbing Developments<<<

By GHK Lall

Kaieteur News – Since we are now deep into December and Christmas, I cast around for those positives that encourage. The going is tough, but I come up with a few. Almost close to the end of the year, it is the turn of the relatively vast and populous Region Four families to be on the receiving end of the PPP government initiated COVID-19 cash stimulus. Christmas is here in the form of that much-needed cash for strapped families. It would make a difference, for $25,000 is big money for poor, struggling families. I am encouraged that the PPP government made this happen. I am so encouraged by this, that I will not speak to funding or any fooling around with the billions of dollars involved. That is for another time, since this is Christmas time. I do remind the distributors, though, that Freedom House and Congress Place are not multi-occupancy apartment buildings; they do not have hundreds of families’ resident there, not one. So, please do not stop there and share out COVID Christmas cheer. That would be most discouraging.
The announcement of a planned ‘Secondary City’ by President Ali along the highway is an encouraging moment. Georgetown could do with this overdue transferal of people and establishments, and the congestions that both bring. Citizens, both full-time residents and part-time presences, would welcome the ease, the diversification, the option. A truly magnificent city could be built on those far hills. But it is going to be costly, and requires careful and astute handling. This must not be another expensive pork barrel project, another testimony to our greed and rapacity, since a ton of money is going to be required and involved. We have developed a global reputation for sticky fingers and greasy palms. I would be most encouraged to write and laud us putting those same fingers and palms to work and erect a monument to Guyanese values.
I am encouraged that Pandit Ubraj Narine and Mr. Alfred Mentore have both been re-elected to another term as Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Georgetown, respectively. They did solid work, despite many institutional and financial handicaps, all inherited, all stubbornly tricky and resistant to change. I am encouraged that there were no whispers or slurs about underhanded practices in their first term. The expectation is that they will still do better, deliver much more. Of course, money is the man needed the most, and it is in severe short supply. It would be more than encouraging to observe and actually experience the Irfaan Ali government partner with His Lordship and team to make Georgetown a place over which we all can be proud. Some financial help is most urgent, would be most welcomed. Of course, there must be accountability and oversight. The responsible minister has made the right sounds pointing towards assistance and partnership. He must deliver. Because when the minister does, the mayor must deliver, too. He has room to work, time to operate, and opportunity to make good. He must, regardless what it takes, even if sacred cows must be sacrificed.
It’s Christmas, so I really don’t want to deliver what disturbed mightily. I speak of that high-profile dangerous driving dismissal. If the entire judiciary pretends at this drunken wisdom, then I may be the only sober one around. As for the police and its damned and jammed equipment, it is shocking that these kinds of egregious oversights never seem to occur when the poor and powerless are involved. I am so disturbed and disgusted that I choke. I reserve myself to this: though it is the long holiday season, don’t drink and drive. At least, not staggering, falling down, spitting, leaking drunk (the tapes at that famed city bar would help).What a spectacle! What a disturbing farce all around. It is encouraging that the DPP has appealed and put this matter back before the courts. Let’s see what happens next.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

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