BETWEEN Friday and yesterday, I was present at five events that hold great significance for me, our government and our people.
In these two days, I commissioned three new roads in the rural village of Perth, Mahaicony; three new power plants at Anna Regina, on the Essequibo Coast; launched Health Expo, 2019; saw the purging of the National Assembly of seven MPs with dual citizens; and attended a reception to welcome the new American Ambassador.

BLAST OF ENERGY
I was not sure that I could write My Turn for today’s edition, but I came back from Essequibo all fired up by the blast of energy from the 5.4 MW station that means, in the words of a policewoman who read her poem at the event, “no more blackouts.”
I publicly thanked Minister David Patterson for delivering on his promise that he would end the electricity woes of the people on the Essequibo Coast. I noted that “Cinderella” (by which Essequibo had been known) was given not one, but three bright, shining and dazzling “shoes” in the form of three power plants at the Anna Regina location.

The revolution under our coalition government of providing electricity services has already witnessed a new power station at Canefield, Berbice. The solar farm in Mabaruma, in the north-west district, has given hope that remote communities could get renewable supplies of clean energy. Soon, the Bartica mining town will add solar power to its electricity grid.
In the past four years, under our new government, electricity services nationwide have received a boost, though in peak periods we experience periodical but not sustained blackouts. Supplies have been stabilised, for which the embattled Guyana Power and Light deserves credit.

HEALTHY RELATIONS
On Friday evening, new American Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch, cut through the diplomatic language at her Cummings Lodge yard to share her delight at being in Guyana. She announced that she is committed to promoting healthy relations between her country and Guyana, and to boosting the prosperity of our peoples.

When she introduced her husband as Kevin, whom I was seeing for the first time, my mind raced back some 50 years ago, when I had met a Kevin Lynch in Guyana. I was a teacher in West Berbice, and the burly Kevin introduced himself as a Peace Corps volunteer during a session with strong Guyana rum and unfiltered Lighthouse cigarettes.

I learned that Kevin had served as a marine in Vietnam, though he later became an active anti-war campaigner, as I had been in those years. Many years later, he and his wife Beatrice, then a judge in a New York court, came to our daughter’s wedding. We became life-long friends and comrades, until Kevin’s death on March 8, last.

For me, it is sheer coincidence that I met the spouse of the new Ambassador, and for a while, I was disoriented for words when I heard his name. Though there is no relationship between him and the Kevin I have known, it was enough for me for renewal of the bonds between Guyana and America, and the interaction between Guyanese and Irish culture that my Tamil ancestors had shared, and that I recognised in my relationship with Kevin Lynch.

REAL WEALTH
At the launch of Health Expo 2019, I noted that our health is our real wealth. I reflected on my own medical challenges a year ago, and welcomed the laudable services that have been rolled out by the Ministry of Public Health in the 10 administrative regions. Health Education and Basic Health Screening have featured at the government’s outreaches, in services such as:
Blood Pressure Testing; Blood Glucose Monitoring; Dental inspection; Eye Care hints; Mental Health advice; Testing (HIV), and Counselling in Men’s’ Health; Women’s’ Health and Nutrition & Health Lifestyles/Choices.

The Public Health Ministry has embarked on a “We are at your Door Initiative.” Doctors have been reaching out to employees at the various ministries. This exercise helps to sensitise employees about their health, and to get early diagnosis and treatment, before life-threatening tragedies strike.

In the past four years, public health has been among the major priorities of our government. This can be seen from the annual increase in budgetary allocations to this sector, from $23.2 billion in 2015 to $35.9 billion in 2019.

POWER WITHOUT LIMITATION
On Friday also, Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland, reaffirmed that the government remains in power without limitation, when he addressed the House during its first sitting since the Court of Appeal overturned the decision of the High Court, and ruled that the vote of no-confidence was invalid.

The opposition boycotted the sitting and, when asked for my comment, I said to the media: the opposition has miscalculated. Treachery is not a political virtue.

It must have been a miscalculation to feel that an absolute majority of all the elected members of parliament was 33, and not 34. It was a miscalculation that the elected national government could be removed by the singular vote of a person who has sworn allegiance to a foreign power, while swearing falsely to be loyal to Guyana. The imposter was replaced, and his fake vote should go with him.

The Speaker declared that as a result of the ruling of the Guyana Court of Appeal, the government has been returned to the same position of authority which it possessed before the no-confidence motion, and continues to exercise its authority to govern the country without limitation.

The Speaker did, however, affirm that one of the effects of the findings of the court is that persons who hold dual citizenship cannot lawfully occupy a seat in the National Assembly. He then announced that seven Members of Parliament – four ministers and three members of the opposition, who held dual citizenship – have resigned from the National Assembly.
These events clearly show renewed health in Guyana’s socio-political and diplomatic life. It is our real wealth that in our dealings at home and in our relations with friends, all is well.