You all know that it’s almost a personal “policy” not to join roaring debates on current national issues, as I prefer to defer to those with superior qualifications and experience. Even intellect.
But since I actually voted – for the one-year incumbents – after twenty-three years, I’ve decided to join the assessments, the audits, of the Granger administration. Most briefly, as I’ll limit my report card to four (4) areas of “ behaviour” and service. I do so as an old “PNC supporter” and public service professional as well as being a current watcher with minimum insider knowledge.
Firstly, David A. Granger himself – not from whence he came but from where he is now and where, how he plans to go. My feel is that he appropriated the leadership of the People’s National Congress (PNC). With about ninety-percent (90%) approval and goodwill from its leadership and followers. I still have hope based on his military discipline, orderliness and intellectual capacities. Personally and Frankly Speaking, I’m working on detecting his vision as national leader and potential statesman.
Days after May 2015, he impressed me early on with his address to the United Nations when Maduro threatened with his nonsense claims. Not much of a polished orator, Granger instead delivers down-to-earth wisdom in terms of his own recommendations and remedies. Gradually his vision for his Guyana seems to be emerging.
He has been indicating his pillars for national development and the concept of “cohesion” which he seems to have personally fashioned. He talks of: “renewable energy” for his “green blueprint”; “environmental security, enterprise and employment”. His cohesion also attracts the co-concepts of “political inclusivity”, “integration” and “local involvement.” Of course he is on record as acknowledging that good health, health-care, education and security from crime are also the life-blood of any successful national “system.”
Does he need a few more months? Before being dismissed as flattering to deceive? I vote for having some more faith and hope in him. I, however, am watching his use of Guyana’s historicity. For me, the promotion of historical pride should (still) not give one person the authority to change names of places. Name new places! Meanwhile let’s see how the PNC leader manages the personalities and performances of those the Cummingburg Accord, the AFC and the elections handed to him.
The Cabinet, the Comrades
No space here for any indepth-analysis and individual report cards. Rather, this would be a good period to re-shuffle some portfolios. We know the key ministers who should be constant.
Would a new minister of public security really vanquish the burgeoning crime cycle? Hardly! But new robust policies and specific programmes could. What about getting the PNC “comrades” from the villages, the “communities”, the ghettos to rejuvenate new-look community policing groups? How about encouraging those other stake-holders to assist in the acquisition of scores of new surveillance cameras? Do all the former GDF and police officers related to the cabinet sit to fashion specific anti-crime strategies? Not obvious! I say again comrades, “profile” the villages! Raid the pool halls, the concerts and the backdams for the guns!
Improve services – humanely
Thirdly, government entities that serve the people from the most humble working-class citizen to the millionaire businessman or minister – must hurriedly outfit themselves with trained polite government servants.
I am aware of the need for macro-projects and massive investments but over the past year there has been no significant improvement in service to citizens. The utilities, the banks, the ministerial departments, licence offices, police stations, some corporation’s outlets all still make customers and citizens feel as if they are the servants asking favours. So I appeal. Government: in this second year of your opportunity, improve service – drastically!
Cases not made yet?
Fourthly – Readers of this consistent man-in-the-street column would know that, like the WPA–Think Tank Dr David Hinds, I am impatient with respect to no charges or prosecutions against the kleptocrats of pre-2015 being laid.
Is it manpower? Not enough minds to bring successful cases against the executive thieves you yourself identified? What’s holding up really giving legislative/legal teeth to SARU and SOCU? Frankly Speaking the credibility of Dr Clive Thomas, of Minister/Vice-President Ramjattan, of PM/VP Nagamootoo and of the eminent auditors is now at stake. For after all the allegations and the findings, if no one is prosecuted all those thieves will laugh at, and mock you! Corruption supporters will triumph!
So after the Jubilee Jump Up, I’ll look for action on this front. Or I will lose faith! Further I write not.
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Parenting? Cohesion?
Just two slight observations on two issues that should attract much more serious, continuous attention.
To be genuine parents is to be “empowered” with empathy derived from young parents’ own experience with their own parents, hopefully as part of a stable family. It is to be equipped with parenting skills of patience, knowledge of your children’s needs at all their life-stages, basic house-hold acumen, reasonable economic comfort and, most of all counselling skills assisted by daddy-mommy presence and maybe a faith-based responsibility and influence.
Just a cursory examination of those minimum requisites outlined above would reveal that there is a dangerous deficiency in real parenting among the under-forties in our society. Absent fathers produce the female single-parent phenomenon. The poor young female teachers, as well as cosmetic “pastors” can’t inspire the youth. Just listen to the “parents” and “grand-parents” of young accused after heinous crimes.
Let’s take another look at two concepts: Family-planning and responsible parenthood.
Discuss…
And this new mantra; “cohesion”. What is it? Sticking together” the dictionary defines? What does headmistress/PNC stalwart/Cohesion Minister Amna mean? I suspect “social” really means racial or ethnic. But I’ll return to this. After I’m more educated.
Ponder, seriously…
.1) I suspect that inter-group cohesion could spring from more interaction, understanding of behaviours and customs, tolerance and just peaceful co-existence. Love and oneness take longer.
.2) Lincoln seems to be right again: the cabinet received increases without any job evaluation so will the first set of substantial increases for other public servants have to await performance evaluation?
.3) Is it compulsory, necessary, that I display, celebrate my (specific) racial, ethnic cultural heritage to be recognised or respected???
.4) One important sociological aspect of the 2016 American presidential elections: If Donald Trump becomes president, people say it’ll be the first time a white billionaire will move into public housing vacated by a black family.
.5) And two: if Hillary Clinton wins it’ll be the first time two presidents will work, live and sleep in the same house.
’Til next week!
