The PPP’s claim that it has done more for Buxton than the PNC ever did during its time in office drew an indirect response yesterday from PNCR leader Robert Corbin, who said Buxtonians best know what had been done.
Corbin’s comment followed a press release from the ruling party on Tuesday in which it stated that Buxton had experienced many gains in the building up of its infrastructure since the PPP took office in 1992. According to the PPP, more roads, schools and health clinics were made available to the people of that village than during the whole period of PNC rule.
“The people of Buxton can answer that question very clearly because they (PPP) suggest that Buxton is a village that was depressed all along … the image being projected is a mendicant village, as if they have suddenly awakened because of the intervention of the PPP,” Corbin said at a press briefing yesterday.
Reading a prepared statement, he accused the PPP/C of “ostrich like behaviour” for seeking to measure its performance against what his party did.
The exchange between the parties stems from utterances that followed President Bharrat Jagdeo’s first visit to Buxton last week, during which he promised residents assistance with agriculture, education and access to low interest loans for single parents. Jagdeo also pledged to help with the restoration of Tipperary Hall, a historic meeting place in the community.
Corbin stated that while the rebuilding of the Hall was welcomed, it “will not compensate for the eye pass and mayhem which this government failed to effectively and professionally address”— a reference to the reign of criminals who had made the community their base from 2002 to 2006.
At the August 18 community meeting, one Buxtonian asked the president whether there was a long term development plan for the village and Jagdeo responded that Buxton’s “aspirations” were tied to those of the nation. “Although you have your own anthem Buxton is part of Guyana too. So your long-term development aspirations are the same as everyone else’s. When I speak about giving 90,000 computers to the poorest families, it means poorest families everywhere, including Buxton. When I speak about connectivity to families, I mean everywhere, including Buxton.”
However, Corbin said this was not good enough and recalled that his party under then Leader of the Opposition Hugh Desmond Hoyte had proposed a special development plan for all the East Coast Demerara villages since they shared common challenges with Buxton, such as ensuring proper drainage. He added that when Hoyte proposed that $100M be spent to maximise the use of agricultural lands in the community he was accused of “holding the nation to ransom.” According to Corbin, the president’s statement “is another revelation of the great interest they have in the people there.”