Dear Editor,
I take note of a letter published in your newspaper dated October 31 2023 and penned by Region 6’s APNU representative Kirk Fraser. The letter in question “Regional Engineer was badly treated by the President” took aim at the Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha in one section. Mr. Fraser stated that he was browsing Facebook and “recognised the President had a visit to Region 6”, I must say that it took him quite a while to be made aware of such an important visit where residents were given the opportunity to interact with their President and Ministers including the Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha who often visits, something Mr. Fraser can’t boast about when they were in government. In fact, Noel Holder who served as Agriculture Minister under the failed APNU administration was a rare sight when it came to dealing with issues on the ground, meeting with farmers and providing the necessary resources/assistance to the agriculture sector in Berbice and by extension, the country. Come to think of it, the man never even visited Mara during his tenure, a total shame. Agriculture during that period was dying a slow and painful death.
This brings me to respond to his absurd question of why President Ali didn’t “deal with the Minister of Agriculture” during that visit where residents raised an issue about a tubing that was not fitted correctly in the village of Germania, East Bank Berbice, causing heavy siltation. At the time, the President was upbraiding engineer Bishan Dalip and the REO Narindra Persaud for not addressing the issue despite complaints, which I believe was the right thing to do considering they are being paid to provide a service to the people. I fail to see why the Minister Zulfikar Mustapha should have also been thrown under the bus for that. Must he micromanage and execute the engineer and REO’s job while also conducting his duties as the Minister? I am aware that Mr. Fraser is an educator but if he should neglect his duties as he is being paid to do must we blame or chastise Minister Manickchand for Mr. Fraser’s inadequacies? I think not! It’s the same principle that is applied in the matter he raised in his letter.
Residents in the community took the opportunity to praise the works of the National Drainage & Irrigation Authority and Minister Mustapha during that meeting for the current works that are ongoing in the communities on the East Bank. That particular issue Mr. Fraser is referring to should have been handled by the engineers and the REO properly since the complaints were made to the RDC on multiple occasions as the resident stated. Mr. Fraser also asked another bizarre question, “would this canal help the people who are perceived to be opposition supporters?” It is baffling to think that such a question was even asked when Mustapha on multiple occasions made it pellucid that his ministry is there to serve the people of Guyana and not one particular party. In fact, the Minister said that if extension officers and workers conducting the duties of the ministry is singling out persons based on their political affiliations it will be dealt with seriously at his ministry’s level. I have been present at all of his meetings where he has reiterated such, so we must not ask such preposterous questions. All of the communities are being served under the leadership of Zulfikar Mustapha and Mr. Fraser must not stifle the little conscience he has left and deny that. I encourage Mr. Fraser to make better use of his time. I want to also take the time to applaud the Minister of Agriculture for continuously working with farmers to ensure that their lives are made easier. He is a minister who listens, gets the ball rolling and puts agriculture first.
Sincerely,
Fawaz Harry
