Dear Editor,
As a young child growing up in urban Guyana, I frequently overheard my grandmother referring to some folks having a “constitution like a horse”, an attribute that I concluded was worth aspiring towards. I do not know how many folks of that genre still exist, but I do know that in order to survive in present-day Guyana, in addition to possessing an equine constitution one would also require a fortified cranium. President David Granger was swept into power on a promise to the Guyanese people of hope, revival and purposeful leadership.
During his political campaign he promised all and sundry to be the President that the Guyanese people were waiting for.
He would eradicate nepotism, abuse of power, corruption and anything that was an impediment to good governance and leadership. Also included in these promises, (or were they utterances) were a plethora of reforms.
Now well over a year plus into his presidency, the election thrill is over and the promises have yet to be fulfilled. Every day the newspapers, not to mention the vox populi are replete with accusations of wrongdoing of the same type levelled against the previous government.
The list goes on, with the only change being the names and the games of the players.
The agreements with the Chinese logging company, Baishanlin, the sugar industry, the bond fiasco, the Minister of Public Health’s behaviour, the salary hike for ministers, the PHG administration melee, police corruption, etc, etc. Surely, even to the myopic, these carryings on in such a short time call for some serious accounting on the part of the government.
The people know what is going on but the government needs to be on target with carrying out its promises.
President Granger should give a state of the nation address to the Guyanese public. The administration’s accomplishments in office should be outlined, but above all the President’s agenda should be made clear to the populace at large.
The President is facing a serious credibility challenge, and must demonstrate the ability to address people on the issues which trouble them, and prove that he is truly a man of the people, the man they voted in to cleanse the nation.
Therefore, given the present circumstances, and bolstered by the hope that worse cannot come, the best way out is to hear it from the horse’s mouth; hence we are calling on President Granger to have his say by delivering a state of the nation address without delay.
Yours faithfully,
Yvonne Sam
