Dear Editor,
Kindly permit me space in your letter column to publish this missive on a matter that I believe is deserving of national reflection.
The small community of Tiger Bay has existed for many years. As a former student attending high school in the Cummingsburg area, I often passed this community while journeying to my mother’s workplace in Kingston. I also had schoolmates residing in Tiger Bay. What has remained with me—both then and now—is the strong sense of socialisation and community displayed by the residents.
While I acknowledge and appreciate any administration acting in the interest of its citizens, I am still unable to comprehend what motivated the Ali Administration to stage the activities that unfolded last weekend.
The PPP/C held political office for twenty-three consecutive years prior to May 2015. During that period, opportunities existed to address the harsh conditions under which our brothers and sisters in Tiger Bay lived. Although some residents reportedly received house lots, many faced significant barriers in accessing financing due to stringent eligibility criteria imposed by banks and financial institutions (see: Inter-American Development Bank, Housing Finance Challenges in the Caribbean, 2018). Has the government, whether then or now, intervened to rectify these systemic constraints?
The Coalition Government, during its relatively short tenure, sought to provide some measure of support. However, with first oil achieved in 2019, many of the intended developmental programmes could not mature fully, as the 2020 General and Regional Elections were imminent.
Despite not returning to office, the PPP/C has since benefitted from the full inflows of Guyana’s petroleum revenues from 2020 onwards. Yet, little has been done to address the immediate needs of our most vulnerable communities. While over GY$100 billion was reportedly injected into the housing sector, large segments of our population; across urban, peri-urban, and rural areas, continue to live in squalor and under unsanitary conditions (UN-Habitat, World Cities Report, 2022). Tiger Bay, Albouystown, and Agricola stand as visible examples of areas still grappling with entrenched poverty.
We continue to hear of roads, bridges, and cash grants. But what has been the real transformative impact of these policies on the lives and living conditions of ordinary citizens? This question remains unanswered.
Over the weekend, residents of Tiger Bay were promised that their community would be converted into a “model community,” retrofitted with playgrounds and improved facilities. However, several questions arise:
- Is there a feasibility study or blueprint outlining what this model community will entail?
- Where will the proposed playground be located?
If the existing buildings being used as homes are privately owned, how will redevelopment proceed?
Additionally, residents were treated to a celebratory event, presumably funded through taxpayer resources and private sponsorship. Yet, once the music stopped and the lights dimmed, what followed? Likely, residents returned to their daily realities, still uncertain about the future.
In reflecting on the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), several are immediately relevant to communities such as Tiger Bay—namely SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) (United Nations, Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, 2015).
Given current trajectories, I am not optimistic that Guyana will achieve all 17 SDGs by 2030, much less those most applicable to heavily disadvantaged communities, despite the nation’s unprecedented oil revenues.
I must also raise a concern regarding the visit by Minister Priya Manickchand prior to the President’s engagement. A widely circulated photograph showed the Minister posing with children who were half-dressed. Many Guyanese expressed concern, and I agree with their sentiments. Leaders must exercise responsibility in their conduct, particularly in moments that will inevitably be photographed, publicised, and politically interpreted. If such a visit were planned under my leadership, I would have ensured that an advisor or team lead engaged parents beforehand to ensure the children were respectfully and properly attired. I trust that the Minister will reflect on the feedback shared and strive for better judgment in the future.
I conclude with the familiar proverb: “A promise is a comfort to a fool.” The residents of Tiger Bay have received numerous promises from President Ali since his first visit in 2020. Will they be made to believe yet another? Time will tell. By God’s grace, I will remain vigilant and observe whether these commitments materialize in tangible improvements.
It is time for leaders to cease making unkept promises for political mileage and instead take decisive, impactful action to uplift the lives of those in our most underserved communities.
Yours truly,
Annette Ferguson
