Dear Editor,
A question that is often asked of Heads of State late in their first term in office is, “Mr. President, how would you like to be remembered?” But even if this question is never asked, I am sure it goes through the mind of every political leader before he demits office.
As a historian, President Granger must be aware that he has a unique opportunity to do great things for the country he now leads. His legacy could be anything he wants it to be. But if David Granger ever aspires to be a great President, he has to be a man of integrity; fair and just; a true visionary with the wisdom and courage to do what is necessary to heal a nation divided by race and ethnicity. He should be concerned about his legacy now, and not wait until his final year in office. He has to be bold enough to lead from the front and not allow others in the APNU or AFC to define his legacy. Since May, Minister of State Joseph Harmon has been the face of the Administration, while a significant amount of the President’s time is taken up travelling. Whatever is done by his Administration even in his absence, reflects directly on his ability to lead and to control the hardliners in his Cabinet. Since May, the “Fresh Approach” practised by his Administration has caused a slowdown in the economy and a spike in the unemployment rate. The President cannot hide in the background and allow his Ministers to indiscriminately fire thousands who are perceived to be supporters of the PPP/C and expect Amna Ally to succeed as Ministry of Social Cohesion. Similarly, the Government cannot “transform the economy” and create jobs when thousands of families are suffering from the loss of income inflicted by an Administration that appears to practice intolerance and lacks compassion.
How can the President justify giving over $1 billion in electricity subsidies to his stronghold in Linden while taking away the electricity and water subsidies from the elderly.
And the President cannot, if he is indeed serious, appoint Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo to head a delegation charged with the responsibility of conducting meaningful dialogue with the People’s Progressive Party in hopes of reaching consensus on national unity. In a press statement, the PPP made it clear that, “it will not participate in such talks if Nagamootoo leads the team.”
Editor, national unity is too important an issue to be entrusted to someone with an axe to grind with the PPP. President Granger must lead from the front to ensure these talks are conducted in good faith, and is perceived by all to be a genuine attempt to heal the nation. Moses Nagamootoo and Khemraj Ramjattan should not be part of any negotiating team to meet with the PPP/C if meaningful results are expected. These two former PPP stalwarts may be assets in waging a battle against the PPP, but the bitter, contemptuous relationship they’ve had with that Party’s leadership in recent years, should automatically disqualify them from being part of any negotiating team charged with brokering a peace agreement with the PPP.
For the sake of all Guyanese, I would like to see progress continue. But I see a dangerous, almost sinister pattern developing with this Administration: Whenever they’re unable to properly manage the economy; or to reduce the out-of-control crime rate; or to keep their campaign promises made to the electorate, they blame it all on the PPP/C. For example:
- A 20% salary increase was promised to the joint forces, but they were given the same 5% that the APNU+AFC had previously deemed grossly inadequate while in opposition. Instead of admitting to being over generous on the campaign trail, the APNU+AFC Government blames the PPP/C for “mismanaging” the nation’s resources making it impossible for the Administration to fulfill its campaign promise. Not true!
- The “$10,000 “Because We Care” Education Cash Grant that was given to every child in the public school system was heartlessly discontinued by the APNU+AFC Government, again blaming the PPP/C for initiating the project as a “campaign gimmick.” Again, not true!
- The political witch hunt which continues as thousands lose their jobs since the APNU+AFC took office, is justified as getting rid of persons doing political work for the PPP/C on the government’s payroll. The few individuals I know from this lot, were all fired because of their association with the PPP/C.
- Berbicians were promised that the APNU+AFC Government will eventually reduce the fare to cross the Berbice Bridge to $500. This will not happen.
The measly $300 reduction in toll, dropping it from $2200 to $1900 for cars and buses announced by the Administration is yet to take effect, and the $36 million subsidy which will be given to the Berbice Bridge Company will be paid by taxpayers, many of whom may never have seen the Berbice Bridge. Commuters traveling in those buses and cars will never benefit from this minuscule toll reduction. But as always, the former PPP/C Administration is blamed for allowing private investors to have controlling interest of the bridge, making it impossible for the Administration to force a reduction in the toll to facilitate the APNU+AFC campaign promise. I certainly welcome and support a reduction in the toll that would provide real relief to commuters of Regions 5 and 6, but Government must find a way to do so without jeopardizing the investments made by the private investors, and without eroding private sector confidence in Guyana. The APNU+AFC knew they could not deliver on this promise, but they were desperate to win votes in the PPP stronghold.
- Old Age Pensioners were promised a significant increase in benefits, but here again, the $3,875 increase they will receive will have to be used to pay their electricity and water bills. Electricity and water subsidies that were given by the former PPP/C Government, are now discontinued by the APNU+AFC, that claims the subsidies were selectively given.
- The promised phased reduction of the Value Added Tax -VAT is another campaign promise that was broken by the new APNU+AFC Government, citing the “bankrupted economy” left by the PPP/C as the reason for not reducing the VAT.
With all the broken promises made by the APNU+AFC, why should anyone believe that this Government is really committed to, “Establish and entrench an inclusionary democracy through the appointment of a Government of National Unity…” as is written on page 10 of the 2015 APNU+AFC Manifesto?
The fact that Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo is appointed to head the team that is expected to bring this to fruition, is “clearly a non-starter and will end up dead in the water.”
Sending a warrior to do a diplomat’s job can only result in failure. If David Granger is really serious about “inclusionary democracy” touted in his manifesto, he has to find the time to lead this delegation himself, and send a strong message to the 200,000+ Guyanese who did not give him their votes, that he is truly committed to, “The implementation of a sustained programme for the healing, reconciliation and social integration of the nation.”
Yours faithfully,
Harry Gill, MP
