Dear Editor
With the state-controlled media in high gear we listened to the very powerfully delivered address by our Head-of-state at the opening of Guy Expo 2025. I have no doubt that President Ali is sincere and means well. However, a fatal flaw of any General or Commander-in-chief is a failure to recognise the competence, or incompetence and proclivities of his subordinates, and his failure to recognise an extant environment.
After listening to his statement about gold smuggling and under declarations, I wondered who are the local and foreign beneficiaries from these deeds, not to mention the irreparable and shameful destruction to our environment. Guyanese have short memories but we must not forget that poisonous cyanide contaminated to Omai River, a tributary of the Essequibo River, and the continuing pollution of the Madia Creek by ongoing gold mining operations.
He then launches a broadside against GuySuCo management, I wonder is this the Guyana all of us know. The old folks remind us the road to hell and ruin is lined with good intentions. Of course, the unforgivable power failure is standard and not surprising for ordinary folks who live in my community.
Gold smuggling and under declaration and the woeful waste in the sugar industry is part of a well known, if not accepted, culture of corruption and cronyism. Unless we have the courage, wisdom and sense of patriotism to appoint persons of competence to manage the gold sector and the sugar industry, the statements made at Guy Expo and else where ring hallow.
Events over the past generation or two suggest that we produce and now have a cadre of top and middle management who cling to corruption and political expediency. In an earlier post I said democracy in our beloved country is now demons mocking like crazy. To satisfy the lofty, and perhaps, well meaning statements of President Ali we need a form of exorcism in entire administrative body.
Yours truly
Hamilton Green
Elder
