ONE is bound to become angry, when an assessment of David Granger’s statement: “the nation’s post independence gains are yet to be calculated” which was made during the PNCR’s Independence celebrations held at the Square of the Revolution on the eve of Independence this year. The PNCR presidential candidate must be ‘out of his mind’ and totally ‘insane’ to actually ‘even flash’ that idea.
First, one of the great achievements is that of getting rid of the PNC. For almost three decades the PNC bludgeoned the lovely land of Guyana. Here is a short litany: limited food (no sardines, apples, potatoes, split peas, flour), lengthy queues for the basics (in such limited supply these were)-cooking oil, fuel (gasoline, kerosene), slavery re-enacted at Hope Estate, kick-down-the-door banditry, mass migration, coerced support for the PNC, farcical elections ‘ad infiniitum’. This ‘getting rid’ of a ‘despotic regime’ is indeed a fabulous achievement. And thanks to the PPP and the rest who supported valiantly.
So for some positives: a better living environment, investment in people as a whole, availability of food, free and fair elections, transparency, building of lasting and appropriate infrastructures, a respect for and an investment in women, calling into accountability erring law enforcers, putting Guyana on the world scene with innovative environmental projects, the LCDS initiative etc.. (Do you get it Mr. Granger?) Better do!
By the way, this will continue to be so. One can see that PPP/C Presidential Candidate, Donald Ramotar, is bent on continuing the work of development started by Dr. Cheddi Jagan and which was reinforced by Mr. Bharat Jagdeo. Guyana had plummeted a long way towards the abyss. It was rescued, and now it is moving ever upwards. Thanks to the PPP-so post independence Guyana, since 1992, has been wonderful: not pre 1992-the PNC era.