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.