Dear Editor,
A few months ago I made no fuss as I celebrated seven decades in the political hustings. The struggle of Independence, political and economic, remains unfulfilled for many of the ordinary people. The polemic and regurgitation of old overworked myopic history by Harry Hergash as published in sections of the media on Sunday January 7, 2024 titled, “Mr. Green has failed to acknowledge the past objectively and truthfully,” was critical of my analysis of our experiences. He is exercising his right based on information fed to him. Editor, if we are to benefit fully from our recent enormous wealth, all of us must recognise the troubles and successes of the past and understand terms used lavishly by those who write critically. Two current words are democracy and dictatorship. Just look around our world and the main problem has been and remains our interpretation and our application of those two in-essence chameleon terms.
Let me avoid the tedium of referring to letters by those who seek to glorify our present political directorates and damning and denigrating all that went before. For example, this week we heard sweet words and high-sounding praises from the President. The enormous sums of money available to no previous President, make these utterances and promises easy for the present President. However, it is now clear that even if well intentioned, our Head of State seems intoxicated with the bounty available to himself and his party, obviously allowing him to commit a cardinal sin noticeable in all human history. That is, a belief that thou art invested as a Government with all wisdom and therefore with or without the corsage of meaningful consultation delivers statements and actions that affect us all in Guyana.
The Government has all the answers for every aspect of life of ordinary citizens. The result is a noticeable widening of the gap between the haves and the haves not. No doubt the result of a Party in office that has moved away from its founders of building a socialist society rooted in making life better for the working class and to make a small man the real man. My first advice is to put an end to this belief of behaving one set of political leaders were angels and the other as devils. We must concentrate on doing what we all can do to lift the spirit of our people and to ensure that equity and justice prevails. The issue now is that whatever may have occurred from the 50s to today’s date, never before have we been blessed with such enormous resources and with less than a million people, the eradication completely of poverty is not difficult.
Access to primary, preventative and tertiary health care where people don’t die because they can ill afford high fees. Sport, cultural activity, free speech, education and the encouragement and promotion of local democracy where people in the towns, villages and communities are allowed to release the creative energies for their kith and kin and so bequeath to succeeding generations a society of happiness, love and pride. As a former athlete and sport enthusiast, I share completely the views expressed in “Peeping Tom, January 9, KN, titled ‘A bad idea.’” This single example points to the weakness of the Presidency. That is, failing to consult with persons outside of what appears to be a special Party inner circle and that explains why we are today the only Caribbean country yet to secure a gold or silver at the Olympics and must boast that we secured a bronze during the era criticised heavily by the present administration.
Promotion of sport, culture, youth development and education is not about merely opening opportunities for employment for people. It requires the skill and experience of patriots who are available at home and abroad, persons whose interest is to see the Cooperative Republic of Guyana shine brightly now that we have the money available. The Government must jump over the high hurdle they have erected that anyone outside of the Party circle is an enemy to be avoided. For brevity, I note the many millions to be expended, according to President Ali, on the Police/GDF/Prison and Fire Service, but unless the ideas contained in the document ‘Defence in depth’ are put in place, we will not benefit fully from these vast sums. Are they listening?
Next we hear a lot about Food Security but one gets the impression that we have no difficulty spending vast sums to import foreign fruits and vegetables unheard of during the 30s and 40s and under the Food, Clothes and Housing Programme of the 60s and 70s. However, as I dictated this letter, it came to my attention that the President and certain Ministers continue their visits within the Municipality of Georgetown to discuss and determine matters which are the legal and constitutional responsibilities of the Local Government body. A misstep, a mistake and the hallmark of a budding dictatorship.
When in an environment where there is a perception of graft and corruption, the Public Procurement Committee is not given free reign consistent with democracy and decency. When Parliament frustrates the functioning of Committees to deal with the oversight of how monies are allocated and spent, this is inconsistent with the spirit and objective of a viable democracy. When the ruling Party is openly hostile to voices of reasoning and an independent media, we are in the embrace of dictatorship. When we curtail the full revelation of an important financial issue, we are surfing on the waves of dictatorship. When the majority of public servants and pensioners face the trauma of a high cost of living, we unilaterally decide without discussing the increases. The hallmark of an autocrat.
I hope that the Budget 2024 will give at least a tax free twenty five percent increase to all government employees and pensioners to allow them to ride the wave of the increased cost of living and to allow those at the lowest end of the salary structure an opportunity to provide nutritious meals every day for their children at a time when evidence shows many teenagers are stunted intellectually and physically due to poor nutrition – a serious matter. My next bit of advice to His Excellency is to recognise that Guyana’s image is created by our Foreign Service, Diplomats, High Commissioners and Ambassadors. The President, if he is truly interested in Guyana, should appoint persons, not necessarily based on their new found loyalty to the PPP. We need men and women that the host country would respect, not seen as mere rewardees for their political acrobatics. I believe that those of us who write and speak are the authentic guardians of the State. This is in spite of a local and international environment which paints a picture that political power and might is right.
I am an optimist and hope and pray that the powers that be will not fail to make optimal use of our vast natural resources and no natural disasters. Let us consult and paddle together so that we are glorious and not damned, so that we rid ourselves of this impediment where once in office, we arrogate unto ourselves to decide and do all things ignoring the other people. Finally, it will be remiss of me if I fail to complement the President for his oft times reply whenever I write to him. This is a propitious augury.
Sincerely,
Hamilton Green
Elder