Dear Editor,
I read with equal measures of dispassion and consternation, MP Annette Ferguson’s November 13, 2024 letter in Stabroek News, titled “President Ali’s conduct towards these professionals was distasteful”. Though replete with granular details which I have no brief with, I take exception to her comment that: “Mr. Ali’s actions towards professionals were distasteful and obnoxious”. Hmmm… At this point, I was nonplussed by her ranting, yes, ranting, and delved into the Webster Dictionary for clarity. Contextually speaking, the Webster Dictionary reveals that professionalism is: conducting oneself with responsibility, integrity, accountability, and excellence, with the ability to communicate unambiguously and effectively. Were/are the “professionals” really conducting themselves as professionals?
The public saw a bunch of so called professionals, both in the private and public sectors, displaying amateurish noncompliance/ Laissez-faire attitudes being read the riot act by the President. Patience may have been exhausted and the President did emphatically declare that he visited many of these sites and concluded, thusly. What was apparent was the total breakdown of communication and dereliction of responsibility on all fronts. Is that really President Ali, being obnoxious, Ms. Ferguson?
Calling a meeting at 5:30 AM is unacceptable, Ms. Ferguson? I do not believe this was extemporaneously done. Assuming adequate notice was communicated, I cannot contemplate anyone, who had/has a vested financial interest not present on time. Their absences were more than thunderous! Apparently, you are an urban dweller, far removed from the countryside where sugar workers/ rice farmers/ others, invariably leave home in the wee hours of the morning, inclement weather notwithstanding, to eke out a living. Contrast that paradigm, Ms. Ferguson, with the fat cat contractors, awarded contract(s) then sitting on their laurels, smiling, collecting hard earned taxpayers’ dollars, and completely ignoring their contract completion date. Not a pretty scenario to cogitate on, eh, Ms. Ferguson? The Opposition is supposed to be the watchdog and hold the government’s toes to the fire not eviscerate for the sake of evisceration. Constructive criticism should be optimized.
Additionally, and more-so, the upper echelon public sector employees are paid fat salaries, to ensure the return of investment of the Guyanese taxpayers’ dollars. Sadly, they were non-committal in their revealed action, displaying dereliction of duty and when raked over the coals by the President, you, Ms. Ferguson, consider the President’s action to be distasteful? Should President Ali expostulate with the recalcitrants? Perhaps, your optics are overflowing with emotion rather than objectivity Ms. Ferguson. Stay focused. I, Jonathan Subrian, am into nation building and applauded the President for this incisive and decisive action. A display of cerebral and testicular fortitude, indeed! Understand, Ms. Ferguson, every single cent spent from the public purse, whether to pay contractors, public servants and even your salary, Ms. Ferguson, belongs to Guyanese taxpayers and Guyana’s patrimony. The buck stops with the President.
An unfulfilled/ delayed/ cost overrun/ public contractual obligation, paid with taxpayers’ dollars, suffers all Guyanese regardless of race, colour, political affiliation et., save and except for the recipients of the contracts. There is no one upmanship or partisan politics here. Propagandizing this event, Ms. Ferguson, is disingenuous and lacks decorum. When any sitting government, unswervingly, commit to the upliftment of all Guyanese, I applaud. If there is a dilution of commitment, I berate. Today, I applaud and await the outcome of President Ali’s revelation and recommended action/ reprimand.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Subrian Esq.