Dear Editor,
Every sportsman, athlete, leader or politician must know his/her ability and when it is time to leave the scene. If they do not, then their judgement is poor. However, I would like to commend one of our elderly politicians, who in my view has had a great and successful career. For more than 12 years, the PPP/C government led by Bharrat Jagdeo has criticized, frustrated, and demoralized the Mayor. In fact, they have done everything on earth to discredit Mayor Hamilton Green, but they have failed. They have even lambasted the city council for being incompetent and inefficient. The propaganda aimed at Mayor Green and the city council by the PPP was uncalled for. The good news is that Mayor Green has survived the ridicule and spiteful attacks levelled against him.
Only five months after a change of government, the same Mayor and the same city council from which the PPP withheld funds are demonstrating that they can make life for city dwellers a very refreshing experience once again. Drains, canals and waterways which were buried under several feet of garbage are now being cleared after being ignored for more than a decade and a half by the former administration. Members of the city council have restored dignity and respect to our departed loved ones with a massive clean-up campaign of that small Bourda cemetery and the larger Le Repentir cemetery. Named after Joseph Bourda, the Bourda cemetery was a jungle in the heart of the city, equidistant between the parliament and the Office of the President. It is now being cleared of the bushes and is on its way to being rehabilitated. It is the only plantation cemetery in the city where some slaves were buried, and may be considered a national monument.
Le Repentir Cemetery could have been the home for Tarzan, Jane and their elephants, and the residents of Pradoville (One) or Pradoville (Two) would have been absolutely unconcerned. At long last, it is now being cleaned and the final resting place of our relatives and friends can be treasured. The Merriman Mall and other recreational parks which had been a dumping ground for all kinds of household appliances and car parts, are now being restored. Not to mention the Botanical Gardens and a number of heritage buildings. The undertaking of these massive projects by the city council will transform Georgetown from the garbage city it now is back to the Garden City it once was.
Despite the withholding of money from the city and the vindictiveness and political narrow-mindedness displayed by the PPP/C for the past 15 years, Mayor Hamilton Green and the city council have proven to be resilient, disciplined and focused. Mr Jagdeo and the PPP were sadly mistaken in thinking they could damage the political career of Mayor Hamilton Green. Mayor Green has been through the grind and has proven that he will not be defeated in this lifetime. He has outfought Jagdeo, Ganga Persaud, Whittaker and Sooba. He is indeed a solid old man.
We applaud the city council, the APNU+AFC government and the citizens who have sacrificed and continue to sacrifice their time and effort to make Georgetown livable again. The next local government elections are likely to bring about a change of elected officials, but as a people, we must publicly thank the Mayor and commend him for his courage and strength to stand up to the attacks. He has shown all Guyanese how not to buckle under pressure but to thrive with it. He has done his job and has served the nation well; now it is up to us to follow in his footsteps.
Yours faithfully,
Aubrey Retemyer
