Dear Editor,
Long before the elections, the Budget presentation and the subsequent debate, I as a citizen of the country residing in Region Two made an application for a laptop through the Government of Guyana One Laptop per Family programme. I was asked to be present at the Aurora Secondary School on a certain date.
Having done so, I received my laptop which I am entitled to like all other citizens irrespective of political affiliation.
On Wednesday I attended the Regional Democratic Council Meeting being a Councillor representing the Alliance for Change.
At that meeting I mentioned that I was at the Aurora Secondary School to uplift my laptop and while I was there I made an important observation that had to do with some works that were done by a contractor on the playground next to the school, because to the best of knowledge the work was sub-standard and the region did not get value for money. I did not mention anything about the OLPF programme.
But on Sunday, July 15, on the front page of the Guyana Times the headline said that the AFC council commends government’s one laptop per family programme, despite the party chairman’s effort to stymie the project. On page three some comments were carried that were never made by me, neither at the school nor during the RDC meeting in the boardroom.
The truth is that the person who is believed to be the Guyana Times reporter was not at the RDC boardroom at any time during the meeting, and should not be reporting on what was said or discussed there. My understanding is that the reporter was employed by, or is still employed by the Regional Administration in Region 2 and it is also public knowledge that this person currently is also working with the OLPF.
The most important thing I would want to be noted is that the opposition political parties at no time were against the OLPF project, but were very much concerned about how the same was implemented and the way funding was to be approved.
This is not the first time the Times reporter reported things that never took place or were never said. Recently at the swearing-in ceremony of the Neighbourhood Democratic Councillors who were handpicked to serve on the various NDCs in this region, most of whom, if not all, were members or supporters of the PPP, the paper carried a story saying that councillors from the AFC were present to witness the ceremony. The two councillors who represent the party in this region were not even invited.
Yours faithfully,
Archie W Cordis
AFC Councillor,
Region 2
