Dear Editor,
A response to some of the fallacies and half truths contained in your letter columns `The PPP has spent billions in Linden over the past 18 years’ SN Sept 30, 2010 over the signature of RDC – Region 10 Councillor Andrew Forsythe is sorely needed, since it seems that we live in two different communities known by the same names, Linden and Region 10,
Mr. Forsythe and many others of his persuasion have a myopic and distorted understanding of one of the critical roles of governance in the lives of residents, which simply is to make the lives and circumstances of our residents that much better from year to year. In this I am referring to the fact that some nearsighted people tend to relate the development enjoyed under a particular administration as a boon or a favour, not realizing that it is our right, under any government to enjoy circumstances better than what had obtained before.
However, in speaking to specifics, Mr. Forsythe chose to relate that at 1992, the bauxite industry had some 2000 workers, and that under the PNC the alumina plant was closed without the workers receiving any real benefits. What he has conveniently left out is that in 2010 under the PPP/C, the bauxite industry at Linden employs only about 500 workers. Amnesia is probably also responsible for the lack of mention of the PPP/C presiding over the single gravest act of destruction of workers’ rights in Guyana’s history when they dismantled the Bauxite Industry Pension Plan. It is also this period of retrenchment which saw 2000 persons losing their jobs with only about 500 being re-employed, which is responsible for this ‘great development’ alluded to by Mr. Forsythe, the current glut of hire cars and buses on the roads of Linden.
Many of our residents, with nowhere else to turn, were forced to invest their severance pay and refund of their pension plan contributions from the bauxite industry in the transportation sector; the result a miserable sort of barter economy with no new money circulating in Linden, and everyone trying to sell everyone else something, while the car dealers in Georgetown had a merry time giving out vehicles and collecting them back for resale when their loans came due in this impoverished economy. This is a fact for the people of Linden.
Another strange utterance from Mr. Forsythe was that then Junior Finance Minister Jagdeo ‘brought a team to Linden to explore ways of creating jobs’, linking this with the establishment of LEAP. By now it is common knowledge that it was under the PNC administration and evolving out of the SYSMIN loan to the bauxite industry, a study was carried out to determine means of revitalizing the economy of the ‘mining town’ of Linden in light of the poor fortunes of the bauxite industry worldwide, and to identify alternative economic endeavours for the town and its residents. Be that as it may however, this PPP/C administration presided over the execution of the LEAP work programmes, and while significant sums were indeed expended, one needs to answer the question as to whether there are tangible benefits that could be identified to account for the 12.5 million Euros that were disbursed through this programme.
Suffice it to say that the major stakeholders in this entity were unified in their call for the continuation of several aspects of this programme, since its objectives had clearly not been fulfilled at the completion of the programme.
Mr. Forsythe also needs to explain why, as a member of the Board of Directors of the successor LEAP programme the Linden Enterprise Network (LEN), this entity has been dormant for months and there has been no move towards executing the work of this entity to make available loans to residents of Linden and Region 10. Additionally, I can clearly recall that the President had made a commitment that the US$5M subsidy paid into the accounts of the bauxite industry prior to its privatization would have been made available to the R.D.C. Region 10 in addition to their budgetary allocation, to lift this area out of the ‘economically impoverished’ designation allocated to it by the administration and opposition alike. To date, we have not seen a cent of this money.
My fellow Lindener Mr. Forsythe has also chosen to boldly place the figures for expenditure under the Region’s budget from 1992 to 2008. What escapes his pen however, is the fact that he is on record in the minutes of this same Council, berating our Regional Administration for the numerous instances of substandard work we have identified over the years as well as pointing out the fact that our taxpayers are not receiving value for these millions the PPP/C government has expended in Region 10. Indeed, our erstwhile Councillor needs to explain why, with a Regional Administration headed by an officer who is only hired and fired by the President, he has not used his influence as a member of the PPP/C to ensure accountability for the substandard works done and the continued retention of those contractors who provide same.
This litany of misdirection continued with mention of an ambulance being presented to Kwakwani by the Prime Minister ‘a few days ago’ when it is on record that in 2008 the RDC requested of the government the provision of an ambulance for Kwakwani under its capital programme as reported by the RDC in its television programme. Even though capital expenditures by law are supposed to follow their explicit descriptions, this ambulance never arrived at Kwakwani, nor did another- ambulance purchased subsequently, despite two years of directives by the RDC to the Regional Administration to ensure same is done. It took an accident, ironically involving the mechanic who had performed repairs on the decrepit ambulance available to the people of Kwakwani, and a subsequent protest by the residents of Kwakwani which was fully endorsed by the RDC by way of representation to the Office of the President, for the people of this community to finally receive in September of 2010 what the RDC had made representation for in 2007 as part of its budgetary submission for 2008.
On the issue of 400 persons being employed to clean clogged drains and parapets, I submit that if the government would accede to the plans of the Mayor & Town Council of Linden, or empower this entity as it should be with the requisite finances, the overheads of administrating this type of programme in this community would become, and is, an unnecessary expenditure.
A multi-million dollar road network was put down in Amelia’s Ward under the PPP/C Administration, inclusive of “sand drains” and culverts; this in terrain that primary school children are taught is ‘hilly, sand and clay’. The result, massive erosion, the contractors being forced to dig up all of the concrete culverts placed there and the wiping out of nearly 60% of the roads built just 6 years ago, with streets 12 feet wide now less than 6 feet at their widest area and massive potholing. The evidence is there on the ground for all of Linden to see.
It is perhaps noteworthy that it took the onset of the election season for this major sum of $300M to be allocated for roads in Linden, and the passage of nearly 18 years before significant work was slated for this sector. However, road networks between Linden and Kwakwani and to the areas south to Mabura and Brazil are neglected and continue to be cut off yearly.
It would be interesting to note the result of any effort by Mr. Forsythe to list the names and employment capabilities of any of the companies attracted to invest in Region 10 by the ‘daily’ efforts of the Prime Minister and others, apart from the Call Centre, which has had its fair share of mishaps and workers compensation issues under various managements.
Mr. Forsythe, under the PPP/C, Lindeners continue to clamour for the provision of house lots. However, under the PNC administration, residents were fortunate enough to be given not just a house lot, but keys to a home in well-planned housing schemes such as Wisroc, and I recall that you were one of the beneficiaries of this commendable developmental initiative.
This compilation of half truths by Mr. Forsythe closes by expressing confidence in the PPP/C winning the elections of 2011, but since it is evident from the information provided above that he may indeed be speaking of another Linden and Region 10 somewhere else, maybe he is referring to elections in a country other than Guyana as well since the people of these communities live these realities every day, and they hold the final say at the polls.
Yours faithfully,
Mortimer Mingo
Regional Chairman
Region #10
