by Nicole Telford
The People’s Progressive Party CIVIC (PPP/C) Government was fingered with allegations of corruption, nepotism, racism, criminal activities, lack of morals, underhand deals, and favoritism, along with encouraging unqualified personnel to perform tasks at the New Amsterdam Hospital for citizens in Berbice. These reports were made by farmers, market vendors, nurses, contractors, councilors teachers, and tradesmen who attended a town hall meeting, at the Mayor and City Council of New Amsterdam on Wednesday, November 15th, 2023.
The reports were laid before the visiting delegation from the United States (U.S.) here on a fact-finding Mission. The delegation included a senator, state representatives, education officials, and business owners.
Dr. Dee Dawkins-Haigler, the spokesperson for the visiting delegation, urged the audience to speak freely, noting that the delegation is “autonomous, independent, and unbiased” and not affiliated with any local political parties. “We are here to gather information to better understand if there is indeed any discrimination in the country,” she stated. She said the delegation has received numerous responses and allegations regarding discrimination and racism in Guyana and opened the town hall to persons wishing to air their grievances.
One audience member said she is a business owner and that the PPP/C government officials had encouraged persons who were small business owners in Berbice to apply for government cash grants. She said she applied for her brother’s business but the cash grants were dispensed without any perceived supporter of the Opposition APNU/AFC receiving the $200.000, and when she enquired most of the PPP/C Indian Guyanese supporters and a few African Guyanese PPP/C supporters received the grants. The woman said she also enquired from a friend who told her it was PPP/C money and she then asked for a raise of $500 from the woman and was thankful to receive $1000.00.
APAAN JAAT- race for race the (support your own kind)
An African Guyanese teacher, Mehalai McAlmont said councilors from within the New Amsterdam Mayor and Town Council that are PPP/C Councillors, and those that have switched from the Opposition APNU/AFC to PPP/C are receiving contracts for ongoing drainage and irrigation works and other contracts, but she who has a registered business and has applied for contracts on numerous occasions is yet to be awarded a contract.
Asked by the visiting delegation how she determined that those receiving contracts were PPP/C supporters, McAlmont said they were PPP/C councilors. She said it is discriminatory of the government and charges that it is racism mixed with party affiliation, noting that if one shifts over to the PPP/C they will receive some small contracts.
Elaborating further, the teacher said she cannot subscribe to the Government’s ‘one Guyana’ slogan since she is not being given equal opportunity by the government. She notes that it is upsetting since once you are of a particular political persuasion in Guyana the PPP/C labels you and mistreat you.
G.A. Hardaway, Tennessee House of Representative, asked the teacher, are there any instances where party officials or elected officials stated that you will get this if you give loyalty to the Party? The audience erupted with shouts of yes, yes, yes but the teacher explained that they (PPP/C) would not do it on a platform like a town hall she is participating in but “if you go to a bottom house meeting, they like bottom house meetings and they tell you “APAAN JAAT- race for race they teach those things under the bottom house.”
You would see it in videos during election time but they would not tell you these things at a public forum because they know there are cameras around, she said. Many at the Town Hall Meeting said they were approached by PPP/C officials with offers to switch parties to receive contracts and cash grants.
Hospital environment troubling
An African Guyanese nurse with 32 years of service, who said she was scared to lose her Job for being at the Town hall, noted that she had to visit to air several grievances. She said it was her lunch break and she decided to stand up for herself and other nurses under pressure from the administration.
Her complaint was one of concern, she said the discrimination at the Berbice Hospital is so rampant that nurses have left the institution for greener pastures in London and further afield. She said that as a result of former President David Granger stopping by and checking on her, from time to time when he was in office, the matron was victimized to the point where working in the hospital was difficult for her so she left without her resignation benefits.
Political persuasion and ethnicity are the difference in how you are treated at work, a job we love and give time to said the nurse. The nurse said President Irfaan Ali, when in opposition, had stated that when they (PPP/C) returned to power they would give public servants double salary but when they had approached PPP/C member Jennifer Westford her words were that ‘he seh dat on the platform he never tell alyuh when’ and so we continue to suffer.
The nurse said employees who are not trained as nurses are operating as nurses at the New Amsterdam Hospital, performing PCAs. The nurses said they are political persons from all over, taken on by the Government as the ten-day workers who are being allowed to perform functions that trained nurses are not allowed to do. She noted the lack of confidentiality within the system burdens the hospital staff as well.
‘East Indians being discriminated against’
An Indian Guyanese audience member said, “Let not the African Guyanese feel that they alone are being sidelined by the PPP because the East Indians that support the APNU also have been sidelined.” He said the majority of the persons in Region Six are East Indians, urging that “ y’all need to get out of New Amsterdam and see what’s going on in other parts of Region Six. According to him, the very people who supported the PPP/C are being suppressed because all the (PPP) is concerned with is Friends, Family, and favorites.
Going further the farmer pointed out there are “foot soldiers of the PPP/C who approach him daily saying that they have been sidelined by the PPP because they are not family of the hierarchy of the dictatorship of the PPP.”
‘PPP gov’t is one-sided, only cares for its own’
The audience member said the PPP does not care about the citizens of the country, all they want to do is dance and party while the poor people of this country are suffering.
Addressing fear in society the farmer told the delegation East Indians of Region Six won’t come forward to stand up and confront the PPP because they are businessmen, rice farmers, and cattle farmers who are scared because of victimization.
He told the U.S. delegation the PPP government is a one-sided government that only cares for its own, supports its own, and enriches its own when others who support the other party are sidelined suppressed, marginalized, victimized, and pushed aside because of the PPP personal agenda. the audience member said unless we stand together and get the International Community to support us we will go down the road where violence will thrive in this country.
Several other persons made presentations and delivered documentation of discrimination to the visiting delegation. The group’s leader, Dawkins-Haigler, assured the audience upon completion of their report, documents would be delivered to the United States Congress and the White House, among other institutions.
