Dear Editor,
I wish to deal with the following issues raised in the print media over the weekend. Initially let me say that at the rate of misinformation either caused by lack of knowledge or a deliberate attempt to deceive the present generation, one can spend entire days answering some of these letters or statements. I should respond only to two issues raised by Freddie Kissoon, who has both the intellectual capacity and research capability to deal with some of the unfair criticism levelled against him and others.
The two issues I referred to are the response by Dr Randy Persaud (‘The problem of the PPP is not one of hegemony’ SN, 4.5.08), the PPP and their quest for hegemony. Freddie Kissoon on this issue is absolutely correct and perhaps Dr Persaud, Dr Misir and others who dispute this obvious process of hegemony, or the philosophy of total control by the PPP Jagdeo administration, can join some of us in a public debate anywhere, any time, maybe on NCN to discuss this question. I have for some time contended, that all of the actions of government lead towards hegemony or total control of life.
The other issue was the reply by Ganesh Singh in the media on the question of vehicle parking in the city (‘Businesses erecting new buildings in the city do not provide adequate parking’ SN, 3.5.08). The fact is that when Professor Akbar Khan completed his report of the Government Development Plan for Georgetown 2001-2010, an important recommendation, which I totally support, was that in future all developers in the business district of Georgetown should be required to provide minimum parking for their customers and employees. When the cabinet discussed this matter in spite of my advocacy to retain this recommendation a minister supported by the President argued that such a requirement would constitute a disincentive to the business community.
This position therefore constitutes instructions to the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) which authority must approve land use. M&CC has no control of this authority, which comes under the Ministry of Housing.
Ganesh Singh therefore is barking up the wrong tree, and it is government obtuseness which will cause more congestion and confusion in the city, and perhaps result in the stupidity which a minister was supporting involving the parking of minibuses and hire cars at the Longden area in front of an international hotel and other businesses, therefore denying them parking for their customers.
As always my contention is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth – it is yet another instance of the state frustrating the effort by the duly elected Mayor and City Council to make the city a place we can all be proud of. As in the other instance the time has come for public debate so that citizens can recognize the truth.
In the meantime the Ganesh Singhs continue their campaign – more of a crusade – to blame all the ills in the city on the Mayor and City Council.
Yours faithfully,
Hamilton Green, JP
Mayor
