Is our Georgetown really doomed?
Very often it is much easier to be negatively critical than it is to be complimentary towards a rival, competitor or opposition.
With some frequency, it takes much less effort for a political opposition – with structured support from fake “neutral” commentators and a few editorial surrogates – to criticise than to offer early advice or to be of responsible executive status. (I’m all for necessary constructive criticism in the interest of success for the national well-being. Rather than sustained negative assessments merely for partisan political benefit.)
All the above is just my intro for brief commentary on Guyana’s hosting of the 2022 Agri-Investment Forum and Exhibition a few days ago.
Good Lord! Frankly speaking the “usual critical suspects” in one national print-medium are not giving the deliberations a chance. Already for the pessimists it is to be Talk-Shop failure!
Whatever some critics believe I don’t see myself as an Irfaan Ali fan. But I do believe I verily assess, that he came of age independently, during that CARICOM days-long vital forum. His mentor and advisers stayed in the background and – to me – the young President handled himself and Guyana’s food-security leadership rather competently.
The deliberations, the exhibitions, the inter-and intra-collaborations to meet certain food – security – and survival goals in three years’ times are now up for practical positive achievement. Apart from the critical scrutiny.
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Rowley, task-forces, memoranda – seemingly sincere
From my layman’s perspective, the 3/5-day meaningful mingling and agreement and task-force action plans cannot all evolve in non-productive nothingness in coming weeks.
Trinidad’s Prime Minister Rowley, after pulling out his election recount staff and predicting that the then Brigadier-President’s 2020 tactics “won’t end well” has now become a virtual Honorary Guyanese citizen.
From touring the Kaieteur Park and Falls to meeting Brazilians businessmen in the vast Rupununi, P.M. Rowley must have surely inspired his Jamaican, Bajan and smaller-island counterparts that Guyana’s young leadership and food-security potential are productively awesome. Just look at the practical agreements Guyana now has with Trinidad, Antigua and Barbados. Once oil rich to now oil-rich!
To those who say “we heard it all before”, I can only respond that given current global realities, failure is not an option. Just check today’s food supplies. And prices!
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Bringing back Burnham: Rhetoric and reality
If it is accurate that the National Library “sabotaged” a planned tribute to LFS Burnham earlier this very week, I add my vehement condemnation to that lowly unnecessary act.
As a former member of Burnham’s political creation – a vehicle for his ultimate power – the PNC Party- I admired his non-repressive national policies. I was actually a political fan who embraced his vision for real independence. Alas, his methods were to later turn me off. Along with thousands who voted with their feet of migration.
However, as the recent CARICOM Agri-Forum took hold under the PPP incumbents, I spared smiles as I beheld bold efforts to supplant the Forum’s Declarations with Burnham’s imagery and vocabulary extolling the objectives any national leader should.
Sure, Forbes’ mastery of language; his crisp yearly sound-byte themes; his excellence of rhetoric; his eloquent delivery all are memorable. But did feed/clothe/house actually deliver? He certainly tried but where were we upon his farewell in August 1985? Global forces were against him? His own let him down?
I was sorry for his failures; proud of his achievements but his words/articulation were not unique to him only. Today’s leaders need not find brand new words. Objective reality remains the same. (Whose “failures” are those?)
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Can Georgetown be “saved”?
Even as I tire over this issue I venture a few sentences once more. Perhaps it’s because as a youthful Georgetown resident (1950’s to 1970’s), I knew what a Garden City our capital was.
Up front, allow me to clarify that my repeated lamentation here does not seek to indict the current Georgetown city government for the status of aesthetic and practical disgrace our capital’s “status” now dubiously “enjoys”.
No, the results of maladministration neglect and lack of inter-sector co-operation go back decades. Characterized by what we refer to as “politics”.
The question is – if you are still proud to be Guyanese – how can our capital be restored? Or just be re-made?
I cut to the chase to repeat 5 suggestions
Acquire years-long unused sites in the city to relocate obstructionist vendors; there is a regulation that allows acquisition by the state and the vendors will still maintain livelihoods.
City Hall may grant reasonable rebates to stores and companies specially selected for clean- ups and loan of equipment and transportation;
After a three-month Public Education (intense) exercise, enforce and prosecute entities and citizens identified as degrading the city’s infrastructure and assets.
The Government must provide the city with garbage trucks via an arrangement whereby the city will repay over a given period.
Some patriotic company should partner the Georgetown Municipality to acquire about 500 parking machines/meters. They can share the takings until the City can take over completely. With even minimum affordable hourly fees, the council could reap millions.
What are your suggestions to save Georgetown?
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Two to ponder…
1) Repeat! The President “seemed his own man” during the Agri-forum.
2) What “independence?” Name one nation that does not depend on others for “something”. Ho-ho-ho.
`Til Next week
