Dear Editor,
EVERY weekend I would speak with my aunt, most times for hours, much to the “annoyance” of my biological cousin but more like my little sister. She would argue, and most times in vain, that I’m denying her lactating time. Mind you, she is in her 20s. As usual, last week we had our marathon talk and during our discourse, she reminded me of my Saturday responsibility of doing grocery shopping at Bourda Market.

After our chat that reminder had me reflecting. Reflecting on the headaches my aunt must have had on Friday nights trying to stretch the limited money available. If it were up to us five rumbustious boys to decide, the oldest not older than 12yrs, we would have spent the money on sodas, cakes and sweets. The fact is, with our developing cerebral system, we saw those as needs when they clearly were not.

My aunt the house economist, judge, jury and executioner all compartmentalised in a five-foot frame, had to determine monetary allocations of limited resources on areas that had the greatest need. That would essentially mean, much to our annoyance, that some of our favourite areas would be left unfulfilled.

I went through this introductory preamble because of the new trend by the PPP propaganda machinery in having persons coercively speak ill of the APNU+AFC government because of discontentment which may be very induced. Mind you, my aim today is not to deny them that basic human right of choosing a political party of their choice, rather, I am humbly attempting to guide them to information that the PPP would rather they remain ignorant of. Concurrently, I would attempt to provide further information to the undecided voters that will hopefully inform their decision-making in choosing a political party of their choice. In an attempt to provide this objective evidence to the readers, I independently undertook research to establish what projects the coalition government has completed for the year 2019.

Firstly, to those persons who feel disregarded, unattended to or overlooked, I humbly wish to make two points with the genuine intention of assuaging, but in no way trivialising your disquietude. Please be reminded that no government has unlimited resources. Every government is constrained by a budget that covers a financial year. The government has to determine, not dissimilar to what you do when you receive your wages, where are the areas of greatest need.

For example, they may determine that having roads and potable water in the hinterland are critical. They may determine that Bartica needs electricity; hence an electricity plant. They may determine that too many mothers and babies are dying in Berbice; hence they have to invest in healthcare in Berbice. Because resources are limited they will need to focus on those areas of greatest need. It is not that your needs are not important, but there are those with more urgent needs that have to be addressed. Once those urgent needs are addressed, the government will then go down the list of needs and will ultimately get to your need. Unfortunately, building new roads,  new hospitals, new bridges etc., can take years because of the processes involved. As a result, it is virtually impossible to complete all projects in four years. Also, these projects are intricately linked with jobs; hence, it is also impossible to create all the jobs in four years.

Mr Editor, I do humbly beg your indulgence. My research has turned up at least 100 projects the government has completed in 2019. My aim is to write one letter a week to highlight 20 of these projects. I hope to complete all 100 before the elections. To the reader, I humbly ask that you go through the list, assuming my letters are published. If your needs were unaddressed, then please examine what was done. If you feel your needs were more urgent that what was done, then I humbly suggest you make an appointment to see the relevant minister for answers since effectively, you are their employers with powers to higher and fire.

Please permit me to itemise the first 20 projects for the year 2019. Please note these are not in chronological order of completion of the projects. Because of space limitations, I cannot elaborate on each project but information about each project is available online and the relevant ministries.
1. New Kaituma Ambulance
2. Modern bridge for Moruca ($100M)
3. Major road work in Port Kaituma ($155M)
4. Massive upgrades to Bemichi Airstrip ($69M)
5. New Kumaran Bridge
6. Electricity System for Waramuri ($12M)
7. Kwebanna cassava-processing factory ($26M)
8. Land leases distributed in Matthews Ridge
9. Modern primary school for Wauna ($10M)
10. Mining Lottery in Port Kaituma
11. Power Plant at Anna Regina($1.8B)
12. Upgrade of Anna Regina Post Office ($12M)
13. Radio Essequibo 95.5FM ($12M)
14. Wakapau walkway ($19M)
15. New Cotton Field and Mainstay Lake Nursery Schools (20.4M)
16. Sexual Offence Court opened in Suddie (17M)
17. ‘David G’ boat engine for lower Pomeroon (4.3M)
18. Wakapau Welcome Walkway ($1M)
19. New Abram Zuil Secondary ($594.9M)
20. Brand new Supenaam stelling  ($125M)
To the reader, please remember an election should be based on the political party’s record. The fact that the PPP is not talking about their 23 years in office and only trying to hoodwink you, the electorate by focusing on areas that this government will cover with time as explained above, would indicate one thing and one thing only: they, like the most of Guyana, are ashamed of their record.

Regards
Dr. Mark Devonish