Dear Editor,
The release of names who are paid high salaries by OP brought up a name which is well known in local circles in Lethem as the ‘caretaker’ of Freedom House – Desmond Kissoon. Until the release of this gentleman’s name as an employee of OP it was assumed that his role in Lethem was as caretaker/head of the Freedom House in Lethem, as that is where he is almost always seen. Likewise it was assumed that it was the PPP/C who paid his salary not hard-earned taxpayer dollars. Now that Mr Kissoon’s name has been released as receiving a super salary from OP, the government owes the residents an explanation as to what exactly Mr Kisson’s job description in the region is.
Mr Kisson’s appointment is not the only one raising eyebrows in the region, as a few months ago his wife, another Freedom House ‘caretaker,‘ took up an appointment as an employee of the Ministry of Housing in Lethem. Within weeks of her appointment she was already in the headlines because of protest against her by residents of Lethem who felt that she was not dealing with land applications in an impartial manner; no big surprise taking into consideration her mode of appointment and obvious lack of experience and qualification in the relevant field. This vacancy was not even advertised locally.
A few months earlier the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs advertised a vacancy for the position of Community Development Officer (CDO) in the south, south-central and central Rupununi. A number of persons, including young people who studied on the coast and who achieved good CXC grades, applied for these vacancies. No one received a reply and the vacancies were filled with local PPP people. One of the new CDOs openly boasted that he did not have to apply for the job because his political affiliation would have won him the job. He was spot on in his assessment.
Region 9 voted in favour of the government and expected more tangible rewards. Alas, all that has been done is that the PPP has foisted upon the region political associates from the regional hierarchy who have very little qualification or experience, to individual job vacancies. What can our government tell our young people, many of whom are PPP/C supporters, when there is such blatant political favouritism in relation to a select few while those who made the sacrifice to upgrade themselves have not a sniff of employment through the correct channel?
What about our opposition politicians who promised to hold the government more accountable? Despite all their promises the government continues to operate with impunity in advancing their political favour. Even in Lethem the opposition initially made a lot of noises threatening to curb the power of the government and the Regional administration. But as throughout the rest of the country, they have been mostly talk and precious little action.
After the last elections there was genuine thought that there would have been political change and the government would have operated more transparently while the opposition would have been able to exert more pressure on the government. However, when the ‘caretaker‘ of the Lethem Freedom House appears as an OP advisor and the local opposition make not one iota of objection, then it shows just how far we are away from even getting a glimpse of more political transparency in our country.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address provided)
