The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government announced its intent to visit Buxton, on the East Coast of Demerara, on Monday, July 4th. In the flyer circulating, the visit will be made by an eight-member ministerial team led by Prime Minister Mark Phillips. The meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. at the Buxton Community Centre Ground.
Observers view the visit as unsual and probably a response to public condemnation of the Government’s treatment of different Guyanese. The public pointed out that whilst President Irfaan Ali and team were quick to visit Mon Repos on Tuesday June 28th after a protest went awry, resulting in damage and loss of property and injuries to some in the market area, the government continues to ignore the plight and concerns of other Guyanese.
Attention was drawn to the fact Mon Repos is a stronghold of the PPP/C and East Indian dominated, but villages like Buxton which are the strongholds of the A Partnership For National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) and predominantly African continue to be ignored and marginalised.
Buxton is an economically depressed community and attention to alleviative the social and economic problems of the villagers continue to be ignored. In a 2002 Agreement signed by Leader of the Opposition Desmond Hoyte and President Bharrat Jagdeo, Buxton was named among the Depressed Communities identified for urgent attention.
Other than the rebuilding of the Tipperary Hall under supervision of then Empowerment Advisor, Odinga Lumumba, nothing of significance was done by government to address the concerns of Buxtonians, partner with the local government authority, community leaders and citizens in any empowerment activity.
Last Friday when Prime Minister Phillips met the people of Golden Grove at the Cove and John centre, he said “As an African Guyanese in the PPP/C leadership, I think it’s important to speak out on issues that concern all of our people.” His reported attention was to the mayhem in Mon Respos that marred an otherwise peaceful protest by villagers on the East Coast along several villages, seeking justice for the shooting to death of Ounidon Bacchus, allegedly by policeman Kristoff DeNobrega.
Dr. David Hinds, political scientist and Buxtonian, responding to the Prime Minister’s statement observed that “The Prime Minister now wants to make claims to his African-ness, but where was he all the time and why doesn’t he tell his government to treat Black people with respect? When he does that and we see it happening, then and only then he can talk about African-ness. You cannot treat people like second class citizens, ignore their cries and pains for justice, then want to tell them to be quiet. He who feels it knows.”
Observers are saying they hope the visit is not another talk shop, cheap politicking, government officials going there for a photo opportunity or to talk down to villagers, but a meeting that would treat Buxotian with respect and result in real and meaningful change to lives and in the community. As one said, “Buxtonians are too Guyanese, pay taxes, and are eqaully deserving to benefit from the state’s resources.”
