Dear Editor
AFTER reading Earl Hamilton’s letter dated February 11, 2020 in the Chronicle regarding Shuman, two things stand out: firstly, the writer is obviously tendentious in his opinion; secondly –and more importantly– he has obviously not read the Liberal and Justice Party’s (LJP) manifesto that spells out, in detail, the LJP’s National Plans for Inclusive Development of Guyana, short-term and long-term.

Though the APNU+AFC coalition has done some fragmented work in the hinterland since 2015, the measures have been nothing more than “Band-Aid Solutions” – and too little too late; hinterland development requires a holistic approach with a well thought out and integrated national plan for inclusive development based on the LJP’s proposed “The Quad-Helix Model that breaks down the traditional silos between government, industry, academia, and civil society, bringing these multidisciplinary professionals’ viewpoints together in an environment that promotes team work, collaboration and the sharing of ideas.” The LJP manifesto contains short-term and long-term goals to achieve prosperity for all Guyanese. The LJP manifesto (page 8) states: Urgent Tasks, initiatives imperative to: IMPROVE SAFETY & SECURITY OF OUR NATION; BUILD INFRASTRUCTURE; PROVIDE POWER, WATER AND SANITATION SERVICES TO GUYANESE; EMPOWER YOUTH; and REFORM REGIONAL FISCAL CAPACITY – they are LONG OVERDUE.” How it would be accomplished follows in the manifesto in detail. Hinterland and other regions cannot implement their development plans without the “REGIONAL FISCAL CAPACITY REFORMS” (page-16) that would provide the required resources – don’t expect the regions to develop on HANDOUTS. Guyana extends beyond Georgetown.

With a track record of PPP/C and PNC-APNU-AFC of using racial rhetoric for vote garnering/manipulation spanning five decades, it is arduous to comprehend that Earl Hamilton is accusing Shuman of “garnering votes with ethnic identification.” Please don’t insult the intelligence of Guyanese. Racist rhetoric has been the hallmark of the two political leviathans for the last 53 years; it turns off voters and is not going to work this time — grow up.

Regards
Dr Nazim Baluch