KN spearheading a full front attack on government

Jan 05, 2023 Letters

Dear Editor,

Your editorial in Tuesday’s Kaieteur News titled “President Ali on Al Jazeera” speaks volumes about your dissatisfaction with this Government and I hear what you are saying but may I please be permitted to make a few comments which I suspect will be of little comfort but which I will nevertheless make.

It seems to me, a Guyanese from the outside looking in, that there is no patience being shown towards this Government that has only returned to power just two short years now and has during this short time, done more for Guyanese than their predecessors did between 2015 and 2020.

In my research of Kaieteur News Editorials between 2015 to 2020, I find no criticism of the regime that was in power, no finger pointing and accusation of corruption and thievery. Yet, since August 2020, this newspaper has been spearheading a full frontal attack on this Government, calling them every evil name under the sun and totally dissatisfied with everything this Government has tried to do for Guyanese and the Guyana Economy.

In my past comments to previous editorials, I have asked that your journalists embark on investigative journalism (like we see here in the West) to expose the corruption and thievery you claim to be happening. So far, I have seen no evidence of investigative journalism nor a shred of evidence showing where, when and how the thievery and corruption are taking place, yet, you continue to make such outlandish accusations.

What is most ironic is the Government between 2015 and 2020 with whom you had no problems, we are now seeing the evidence of corruption and thievery that took place when they were at the helm and which even to this day, you are not even remotely interested in publishing.

What is most perplexing is the expectation that this Government will perform miracles and I suspect that even if that was possible it would not be enough.

I was born and raised in the colony of British Guiana and then suffered under 28 years of PNC dictatorial rule. I challenge you to show me where Guyanese of that time were given a single dollar of relief payout by the Governments of the day. Show me where we got free world class health care with free medication, Education grants or grants of any kind from the colonial government or the PNC Government.

What we now see in Guyana is the current Guyanese population are being fed a diet of entitlement and unreasonable expectations. They are being told that they do not need to work and that they are entitled to much more than they are currently getting. This is what they are being fed, day in and day out in Kaieteur News and social media despite the fact that Guyana has only been an oil producer for about 3 years and it is greatly indebted to Exxon for the umpteen billions of $$$ U.S. spent on oil exploration and production which now has to be paid back.

Editor, if I were to give you the task of making health care in Guyana world class, do you think you can do it in two years, considering the level of health care in 2020 when the current Government came to power?

Do you think, you would have eradicated poverty in Guyana by now had you been put in charge in July 2020? Would you have raised the standard of living of all Guyanese so that everyone is happy and no one wants for anything?

I would certainly like to hear back from you on these questions.

Best regards,

Dennis Balgobin

EDITOR’S NOTE:

Mr. Balgobin,

Thanks for taking the time to give your feedback. As a rule, responses are not offered to comments by readers. In your instance, we will make a brief exception. It seems that you have done your tracking on editorials going back to 2015. Nevertheless, please appreciate that this newspaper has been criticised for being pro-PPP when it speaks out against wrongs of the other parties, especially the PNC. Similarly, when the PPP is called to book, KN is condemned as being pro-PNC. We can’t win, but this is not a popularity contest, so we just keep plugging away.

You mentioned that the present government is only back for two years, which is so; but it was there for 23 years before, and a close examination of its policies, personnel, and practices indicate that there has been the same continuum of visions and operations. On another note, there has never been any oil money before, and at the levels being received into the NRF. Therefore, the government is not doing Guyanese any favours, but is in such a handsome position that it can do way better. Relative to corruption, we are surprised that the names: Marriott, Sanata, Skeldon, GPC, and so forth don’t ring any bells for you. Further, look at our oil sector, and the secrets with reports, and how our government dodges transparency. We could go on, but enough said.

In closing, we say this: to be here is to get a feel for the real truths, and watch how leaders squirm, evade, and play games. The Opposition has a role, and it has done less than it should which we have said. It has to hold the government accountable. On the other hand, the government is where everything is, so this is where the focus resides, including editorials.

Once again, thanks and best wishes.