Citizens must ask themselves certain important and serious questions about the Local Government Elections. The answers to those questions must guide how they vote on Monday, June 12. One such question is: why does the governing party- the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C)- so badly wants to control the city of Georgetown?
Even the casual onlooker would have noticed that, the government is ‘pulling out all the stops’ [using every means possible] to win the City of Georgetown at the upcoming local polls, on Monday. For example, they have been rolling out massive road and drainage, works, in communities that did not even, in a miniscule way, hold their interest, or attention prior to the announcement of local government elections. However, in an interesting bid to win hearts, minds, and votes, they have been freely giving grants of money, and other gifts to residents, particularly, those residing in the Southern section of the city.
These money and gifts they are handing out do not belong to the PPP/C but to all the people of Guyana. The PPP/C is distributing part of citizens’ resources to them in their big to get their vote How shameful! They assume Guyanese are daft not to notice the government makes heavy weather of these basic, normal activities at its press conferences, and other meetings. In fact, those actions by the government are not only funny but also gross insult to a people- Guyanese- who have pride and intelligence.
Another thing, the works that governmental agents and ministries are doing in communities are nothing special; it is part of government’s portfolio to make communities safe and livable for its citizens. These works are nothing extraordinary; they are basic; elementary things of governance. They have been spending billions in the city but have given the council money that can be considered a mere bagatelle. In addition, they have refused to give the requisite approval to allow the council to generate additional revenues to provide vital municipal services.
What is incredibly worrying is that, for all the billions of dollars the PPP/C is spending in drainage works the city still floods. On Thursday 8th June, after heavy rains, the city was under water. In the indecent haste to embarrass the council the government has been doing civil works including drainage works without consulting or even informing the competent authorities (the City Council), that has institutional knowledge about city drainage, and other allied facilities.
It would have been much better for government to pay its taxes and allow the council to do its work. But they are not interested in real sustainable development of the city. Otherwise, they would have been coordinating with the council to get optimum benefits from the money they have been spending in different sections. The PPP/C says, ‘give me control of the city and we will restore it.’ It stands to reason that if they do not get control of the capital they would continue to allow it to rot. It is similar to holding residents of Georgetown to ransom.
The real message of the PPP/C is: give us (PPP/C) control and we will fix it or continue to live in an untidy, unhealthy and safe city. This is not only an indicator of bad governance but also part of a wider sinister plan to dominate every aspect, every sector, every area of our nation. Add to that the fact, that the government has either not appointed certain constitutional and statutory commissions or, due to its deliberate actions, weakened existing ones and the intention and intentionality of the government would become clear.
On Monday, 12th June 2023, we must collectively deny the PPP/C ‘s political ambition to dominate and control all of Guyana. Do not vote for them.
