Dear Editor,
I read with a great sense of enthusiasm the letter published in Stabroek News dated October 1, bearing the caption, ‘PPP besmirched Ministry of Public Infrastructure,’ which was written by the Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson. The letter in its entirety served its purpose, because the general public is now informed of the manner in which the PPP gains cheap political points. It is an inherent feature of the PPP to misrepresent the facts for its own political gain, and that is why I firmly endorse that the best way to deal with public misperception is to deal with it directly.
Notwithstanding the above, what I admire the most in the letter is the first sentence where the Minister referred to improving the lives of Guyanese. I therefore wish to assist the Minister in his effort to improve the lives of Guyanese by imploring that in his effort to bring about change Article 13 of the Guyana Constitution must be upheld.
Article 13 states that, “The principal objective of the political system of the state is to establish an inclusionary democracy by providing increasing opportunities for the participation of citizens, and their organisations in the management and decision making processes of the state, with particular emphasis on those areas of decision making that directly affect their well-being.”
This recommendation comes against the backdrop of a recent dilemma that occurred on the beautiful island of Wakenaam and had to do with rice farmers. I will not expound on it for the Minister is quite au fait with the issue. What I would say however is that the issue originated under the PPP government.
Yours faithfully,
Ganesh Mahipaul
