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As a concerned patriot, it is now apparent that our beloved country is on a slippery slide into the valley of decadence, corruption and injustice. For many citizens, this is worrisome as we observe another Emancipation anniversary.
This descent is aided and abetted by a skilful well funded propaganda apparatus commanded by our government. Many of us admire the noble work being done by many courageous men, women and their organizations.
Among those is the OGGN, and consistent with the government’s plan to fool the people, one of the Government’s principal protagonists, Joel Bhagwandin has now turned his attention to attacking the OGGN by posing a number of puerile questions.
For me, at this stage of trouble, I urge Guyanese to deal with the message from the likes of the Oil and Gas Governance Network (OGGN) and not be distracted by the likes of Mr. Bhagwandin about the purported credibility of the messenger.
It is this very gentleman who is yet to explain or provide evidence when earlier he stated in defense of the Government’s housing programme that 45% of housing lands were allocated to Afro Guyanese and 48% to Indo Guyanese and 7% to the others. I again request this gentleman to provide the base evidence upon which he pontificates.
While he and others use state funded, state controlled media to present a picture of a caring PPP Government, I ask him further to comment on some, not all of the articles and analysis in the independent media, Stabroek news, Kaieteur News and the Village Voice.
Could Mr. Bhagwandin and his ilk dispute the revelations by Glenn Lall on Kaieteur Radio, which refers to the rape of our natural resources, and from my own observation while this is going on it the destruction of flora, fauna and waterways continues unchecked. In the majority of cases beyond repair. Several areas such as the unfair treatment of our Amerindian brothers and sisters at Chinese Landing is simply tragic and reminiscent of the good old imperial days, the mistreatment to our indigenous brothers and sisters .
The wanton use of mercury continues. I recall on a visit to areas in the Potaro-Siparuni areas, I would pause and drink clear black water to quench my thirst. You dare not even put your boots in those streams today. These waterways have been polluted and damaged beyond restoration. Residents can no longer bathe in some creeks and rivers because of unpleasant reactions such as itching of the skin and more. All this is taking place under the watchful eyes of the champion of the earth.
On another matter which points to the warped thinking of our government, I sought clarification with respect to the identity of the sixty truck drivers. The Contractor building the East Coast/ East Bak road recruited at the instance of the Government Ministry.
Did these persons have credible police clearance and other certification about their character? Further was an effort made to recruit drivers from CARICOM Member States and Guyanese in the diaspora? Are the salaries the same as those paid to Guyanese drivers and more importantly, are they bing encouraged to join the Trade Unions representing workers?
Dear Editor, Guyanese journalists and others must demand credible answers from those managing the information propaganda establishment of this government. I said before, the PPP has always been matchless when it comes to the delivery of their side of a story while ignoring the whole truth.
Unfortunately, the good name and work of several police ranks and officers is now being sullied and tarnished by a few whose operations seem to take them out of their expected professionalism and so certain matters are swept under the carpet, such as the insult to a female Police Constable who was described as a black monkey.
They cannot solve the Paper Shorts murder; we are yet to have some explanation why the visa for a senior public officer was revoked and yet to be told what are the Terms Of Reference for the promised enquiry of the Mahdia tragedy., even as our Government feels that a few million dollars is a substitute for the lives and disfigurement of young people who suffered in the Mahdia incident.
Of course, our authorities are so brilliant that they could arrest and charge a citizen for relieving himself in the dark of the night in a secluded area.
Mr. Editor, different strokes for different folks. If you say anything that appears to be uncomfortable for the government, the cybercrime act is swung into full gear.
I end by looking further with bated breath to the country’s greatest tourist making a statement, to commemorate Emancipation Day and to remind him that the Descendants of Manumitted Africans are unlikely to be fooled by sweet phrases while the administration he leads is doing everything to denigrate, destroy and discredit persons and organizations whose only crime is to reveal the truth of our history, seeking forms of reparation and to create conditions where we teach each other about the contributions, each and every group has made to the making of Guyana.
We look forward to a government that has healed the wounds of the past, a government that should put in place systems so that we can all benefit from the abundance of our natural resources that the creator has given us.
We look forward to a government that must not give lip service to equity and justice but truly subscribes to the philosophical underpinnings of justice, equity and may I add decency.
We look forward to a government that is serious about cohesion, co-operation and country. We look forward to a government that will disallow the exploitation of our natural resources where Guyanese should be the primary beneficiaries of our timber, marine resources, gold, diamonds, oil and gas, manganese, etc and a country blessed with no natural disasters.
We look forward to a Government with the nationalistic credentials to do what Forbes Burnham did when he discovered the gold mining company was under-declaring their production. They were given two weeks to pack up and leave. Are our Leaders possessed with that strength of character and interest in all the people of Guyana reminding them of what that Great West Indian Leader, Prime Minister Eric Williams of Trinidad and Tobago when faced with the prospect of unjust and lopsided deals bellowe ‘oil don’t spoil.”
May I say this Gold don’t rust Our Greenheart don’t rot.diamonds don’t turn to glass.
A government that must superintend the distribution of this massive wealth in a way that no child should be deprived of free education, free health care and recreational facilities. A country where we can all joyously celebrate the beating of the drums.
Finally, the world bank has determined that per capita, we are the richest country in the world. A truly caring government would ensure every family benefits from this fact of life.That in simple terms means, address seriously the cost of living dilemma faced by at least seventy odd percent of our people.
Hamilton Green
Elder
