Dear Editor,
BHARRAT Jagdeo, at his press conferences, can be likened unto a citizen who uses what should be an important opportunity for bringing important issues to the attention of the nation; instead for the purpose of empty criticisms couched in grudgeful language. This is not to forget the incessant lies, which he shies like mud, hoping that some may stick. But Jagdeo’s lies and other forms of misinformation are daily being exposed for what they are: Criminal distortions.

Here again, one must refer to the recent President David Granger address at the First Annual Youth Empowerment Summit (YES) and Symposium, held at the now fully refurbished and restored Watooka Guest House at Linden. It would seem that Jagdeo has a grudge against the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana speaking at a youth conference on the pristine lawns of the now once again majestic ambience of the lawns and building, which had once been synonymous with the pre-eminent era of the local bauxite industry. Of course, youths of Guyana are most dear to the president’s heart, in his vision for them in a developing country, especially one that is influenced by an oil-and-gas economy.

But back to Watooka, which Jagdeo surmised was spending too much for chandeliers for the guest room of the Prime Minister. Is this an inference that too much money had been spent on a building which had been allowed to fall into neglect and decay during the PPP/C years in governance to be eventually sold off to their friends and cronies at pepper corn prices?

Editor, it is simply a case that the NICIL, under the astute leadership of Colvin Heath-London, has had to spend money to return the Guest House to what it once had been: A showpiece, that has now become a real income earner for the town, because of being able to attract visitors when they come to Linden. In other words, the Watooka Guest House’s once empty rooms are now comfortable for welcoming visitors, like in the glory days of bauxite and even into the period of the former PNC governments, when Heads of State/governments, visited the mining town.

One must therefore beg this question of Jagdeo: What is wrong with the installation of such category of lights, for premier suites in the Guest House? Is it that only his grand palace at Pradoville, should have such glow? One is quite certain, too, that such lightings are not as ostentatious as those of his at Pradoville. It is pertinent to let Jagdeo know that the three Berbice High School students who were awarded the first National Industrial & Commercial Investments Ltd (NICIL) National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) scholarships for 2019 were once again all rewarded by the company for excelling at their Christmas term exams. Additionally, as part of their reward package the three students will be spending the weekend with their parents and siblings at the Watooka Guest House, while touring several places of interest in Region Ten.

Editor, the former PPP/C government has a sordid reputation of both disregard and neglect for symbols of both socio-cultural and historical representations. One must refer to the 1763 Monument that had fallen into such serious disrepair, inclusive of discoloration of the structure, despite pleas to the relevant government authority in the 1990s, to remedy the physical of a national monument that is symbolic of the freedom of all Guyanese, irrespective of race or ethnicity. It took the intervention of Guyanese Kamau Cush and other like-minded from the Diaspora, to restore this symbol of the freedom of man. But, maybe the answer to such willful neglect lie in this question – Was the Cuffy statue a victim of the PPP/C policy of institutionalized racism? If indeed it were, then it is a most tragic y misinterpretation of the 1763 rebellion, and the meaning of the symbolic statue of Cuffy as a monument to the first slave rebellion for freedom in the Americas. In fact, the Monument is not about race or ethnicity – it transcends all colours of men. One may recall, the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan extolling the virtues of this momentous historical event, on a number of occasions, at public meetings, whenever he criticized the role of the IMPERIALISTS.

Watooka has now been restored to its former glory, by NICIL and by extension the coalition government which understands the significance of the preservation of social history and its importance to environmental decency and the spiritual growth and development of communities. Jagdeo should be ashamed of his comments about the cost of chandeliers for Watooka. What he did not do for the Watooka Guest House and the 1763 Monument, others have taken the responsibility for doing so, including the coalition government.

Regards,
Carla Mendonca