The Opposition’s race-baiting agenda exposed

Oct 30, 2022 Letters

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Dear Editor,

A few weeks ago, I had cause to publicly confront the APNU + AFC with the truth and expose their vicious crusade to incite racial hostility in our communities.

Therefore, it is not surprising that the response from the PNC camp flowed with great adhocracy, drawing on a few forgotten individuals to engage in ad hominem attacks instead of addressing the truth of Government’s programmes and policies I have outlined.

The responses provide ample proof that the PNC and their agents are engaged in a systemic race-based campaign to derail our democracy and curtail Government’s transformational agenda.

The respondents cannot be engaged in any serious way.

Firstly, Senior Minister with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, has already publicly pronounced on Nigel Hinds’ personal agenda and exposed the reason for his contrived attacks against Government. I do believe he is seeking to erase his comical political blunders of the past at the expense of destroying our democracy.

Secondly, Mr. Hamilton Green also raised questions about my character through the letter pages.

Lastly, Mr. Sherwood Lowe needed two letters to muster his overall miniscule response.

Before my retirement as a Brigadier and Chief-of-Staff in October 2016, I have held appointments at all levels of the Guyana Defence Force, an Organization made up of predominately Afro-Guyanese.

Over my 36 years of military service, I have counselled many young men and women, preparing them for leadership positions not just in the military, but wherever life takes them.

It bears repeating that as an Afro-Guyanese, I am proud of the pathway to prosperity for all Guyanese under the ‘One Guyana’ framework and the leadership of President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali.

Nonetheless, the Opposition wants to shift the conversation to the messenger as they are confronted with the truth. The leaders of the APNU + AFC are well known to cower when faced with the truth.

One would recall this same unscrupulous group fed their supporters a steady dose of lies about possessing Statements of Polls (SOPs) to prove that the party had won the 2020 elections. The SOPs are still to be produced.

The APNU + AFC wants to shift the conversation so that they can continue to fan the flames of division using sociopaths to fuel their message.

With the truth out in the open, the APNU + AFC wants to shift the conversation whereby seeking to downplay the Government’s engagement with Afro-Guyanese leaders and communities, many of whom are seeing high level ministerial engagements for the first time.

By shifting the conversation, the APNU + AFC is hoping that Guyanese will ignore the infrastructural works taking place in Afro-Guyanese communities across the country and the award of contracts to Afro-Guyanese.

As I have previously outlined there are opportunities equally available to Afro-Guyanese and other ethnic groups through the policies and interventions of the PPP/C Government.

Our Government’s plans of prosperity include every single Guyanese. Our President, myself and all Ministers of Government have been working in all communities across the country, including the Opposition strongholds.

More citizens from these communities have been benefiting more under our Government than when the APNU + AFC Coalition was in office.

People have been benefiting from roads, development and upgrade of sports facilities, university scholarships, while our local artistes are being given the opportunities and support that they’ve never had before by performing regularly at many Government events.

All these initiatives benefit Afro-Guyanese, Indo-Guyanese, Chinese-Guyanese, Amerindian-Guyanese, Portuguese-Guyanese, European-Guyanese and Mixed-Guyanese.

There is a massive housing drive taking place. Our Government has already distributed over 11,000 house lots. Roughly 50 percent of the allotments went to Afro-Guyanese; 41 percent to Indo-Guyanese; and just over 7 percent to mixed-race.

I appeal to Guyanese not to become entrapped by the perversion of an Opposition that is increasingly becoming more isolated, losing significant grounds in communities. Race-baiting politics is their only response which we all must continue to reject.

Under the PPP/C there will be harmony and unity among our people, and this seems to hurt the Opposition as it goes against their vision and agenda to have a united Guyana.

I will continue to resist and expose the PNC’s ridiculous claims with every fibre of my being by presenting the truth about Government’s many initiatives in infrastructure, education, health and other sectors that are creating bountiful opportunities for all Guyanese.

President Ali and our Cabinet Ministers will continue to deliver to the people and our focus will remain towards developing our country and doing what’s best for our people.

Respectfully,

Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Anthony Phillips

Prime Minister of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana

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