Dear Editor,
IT IS a crying shame that members of the Opposition party, the PPP, are saying they want to represent the people of Guyana, especially those who voted for the party at the last elections.

President David Granger visited Region 5 on Friday, January 15, 2016 to commission two school buses that were donated for the children of Region 5 by community-minded businessmen across Guyana and afar. I repeat, the children of Region 5; not the APNU+AFC supporters’ children, but all the children of the region.

His Excellency was warmly welcomed to the region by hundreds of persons from all races and political parties. There were several ministers that also graced the function with their presence. As H.E has said, almost his entire Cabinet was present. The entire region welcomed all with open hearts. But the most astonishing thing is that the PPP Regional Chairman stayed away from the function.

In fact, I was told that he was warned not to attend the commissioning, because the people and children of Region 5 will be benefiting from this. The regional chairman has shown blatant disregard for his office as Regional Chairman; he is not chairman for the PPP, but for all of Region 5, and he needs to understand that and stop his nonsense of being PPP Regional Chairman alone.

The Regional Chairman spends most of his working hours at Freedom House in Bath Settlement, taking advice from someone that hardly knows anything, and only knows how to cut hair. The vehicle that the chairman was given is to do regional work, not PPP work; and as a regional councillor, if this is to continue, I, along with other councillors, will ask for his fuel to be cut. He is hardly in the office when the day comes, but can be found at Freedom House.

This chairman has shown that he doesn’t care about the people of Region 5; that all he cares for is the work of the PPP to stymie development in the region. He is a young man, and took an oath to serve the people of the region, no matter what race, religion or political background, but it seems like he lied when taking that oath.

We, the people of Region 5, are happy that those buses were given to the children of the region; we welcome the buses with open hearts, and would like to thank all the donors who made it possible; and we will ensure that our children make full use of it.

We would also like to assure all that the buses will carry all kinds of children — be they Indian, African, Amerindian, Chinese, etc. Be they from PPP, APNU and AFC, Christian, Hindu or Muslim. All the children are going to benefit from this.

I call on the PPP to please teach Region 5 Chairman some protocol — that he must respect the Head of State and Government at all times. The PPP needs to put people who are educated to properly advise this young man. It is time for us to work together for the benefit of our people and region.
Together we can make the difference in making Guyana a better place, where all can be united and not separated. Unity is the key, and this Government wants all to be united and work together, so that there can be a better life for all.

Come on, Regional Chairman, be a chairman for the region, not the PPP. If you have an agenda to not make this region look good and move forward, then you need to stop that agenda now, because you will not succeed at all. Be yourself, and if you need better advice, then I am willing to give it; and moreover, all of the APNU+AFC councillors are willing to give you advice so that we can move Region 5 forward.

Let’s continue to work for Region 5, so that our people can have a better life under this APNU+AFC government.

ABEL SEETARAM