Dear Editor,
“The one characteristic more essential than any other is foresight. It should be the growing nation with a future which takes the long look ahead.” Those words, attributed to the 26th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, are applicable to Guyana’s desired trajectory. Prudent leadership is necessary to take the country to greater heights. There cannot be reluctance to act when action would be simple and effective.
History has proven that leaders and their advisers who lack foresight invariably steer their nations into nothingness. I decline to suggest that Guyana was ever close to that state of oblivion, and I boldly predict that such a future would be inconceivable with our current fortunes and the relative practicality of our present leaders. Having said that, it is important to clearly delineate the distinction between leaders with awareness, and those who have aspirations, but lack perception and are inclined to act impetuously.
In late August, President Irfaan Ali, while commissioning the new Schoonord to Crane four-lane highway, announced that commuters will not pay any tolls to cross the new Demerara River Crossing, the Berbice River Bridge (if acquired) or the new Mackenzie-Wismar Bridge. Predictably, a negative response emanated from Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton – the purveyor of all the pessimism that could impede progress. Fortunately, we are not dependent on his judgement. It is tunnel vision on steroids.
There obviously would be differing opinions, but having had sufficient time to assess the pros and cons related to toll-free crossing, Mr. Norton’s interpretation was familiarly simplistic in my humble opinion. He chose to inanely speculate about what the PPP is attempting to achieve. This despite the fact that while in office, he and his cohorts were incapable of producing any evidence of the massive corruption they insisted was widespread.
Here is how Mr. Norton judges the government’s decision: “The PPP has two aims to achieve by suggesting toll-free crossing. First, it is an attempt to create the conditions to pay its friends and favourites large sums of money for their investment in the Berbice River Bridge. Second, it is an attempt to be vindictive against the Mayor and Town Council of Linden. It is well-known that the Wismar to Mackenzie Bridge in Linden earns the council the most revenue. The government is seeking to ensure the council is starved of resources, since the PPP does not give the council adequate subvention.” He is also a mind-reader.
“I don’t think they did any study, and that is why we did not proceed to say that we would make it free. In principle, we have developed a people-centred development strategy, and we have agreed that we will aim to put resources into the hands of the Guyanese people directly and indirectly. Making these bridges and so inexpensive will help, but we do not want to — without a feasibility study, and without actually knowing the cost et cetera for maintenance — wildly just saying we will make it toll-free and it’s not based on any data that is useful.” Mind you, this is without having any knowledge of how the government reached its decision.
Then came the expected promise that more than likely feature in his party’s “first 100-days plan” that very few will read, and rightly so. Mr. Norton pledges: “As the next PNCR/APNU government, we will make all travel in Guyana inexpensive as part of a comprehensive and integrated vision for transportation and movement of people, goods, services and data across the country. Guyanese must be able to travel conveniently and cheaply across the country by different modes of transportation.
No one must be prevented from travelling because of inadequate transportation links, poor services, or the high cost of travel. We will also seek to minimize the cost of internal air flights without jeopardizing the profitability of private operators.”
As I indicated, it’s more of the same from the old playbook. We must ensure that Guyana is a growing nation with a future which takes the long look ahead. There is no other way to maximize our bountiful resources. Decision-making at the highest levels will be critical. We can’t guess our way to prosperity.
As a middle-aged female who has witnessed the country suffer from ill-advised policies in the past, I never cast a cursory glance on my choices. Today and beyond are crucial. The voting booth is a private place where one’s conscience is inclined to take precedence over all else. Quality of life is the primary consideration. What cannot be ignored is the importance of foresight.
Sincerely,
Alicia Barrow