WRITING for myself as an executive member of The United Force (TUF), I must thank the former leader for his leadership, work and achievements as Chief Executive of TUF. I know that his name for some is sour grapes for working as a minister of the PPP/C Government. I would like to say that I was one of the executive members who supported him taking up a ministerial position as a golden opportunity. The big question is …WHY? One must never forget that the PPP/C strongly advanced socialism in Guyana as the way forward. Taking into consideration my age and having lived through the 60s, the PPP’s many ideas were put forward then toward the state-controlling powers – for example, the belief of state property and not private ownership. Guyana, still being a colonial country, governed by the British, the PPP could not have absolute power over our lives.
The PPP and PNC were well-known socialists by pronouncement. So as an executive member, I fully supported Mr. Nadir accepting the ministerial portfolio. The day when he took the oath of office and I was asked to comment I said: “Mr. Nadir should always remember who he represents, where he came from and to serve his country.” After I voted for him to accept the ministerial position in the PPP/C Government, he was asked to foster Guyana’s way to development is through the free enterprise capitalist system – the way TUF sees it and to try his utmost to convince the cabinet it is the only way forward and not socialism.
One must never forget that his first position in the government was Minister of Trade. This was the ideal ministry to get the TUF idea of free enterprise across. To date, we are not influenced by socialism. Do [you] not think that it was Mr. Nadir’s input that the PPP/C sees as the way to go?
I would say thanks to Mr. Nadir for taking up the challenge, to get across the TUF free enterprise/capitalist system into the PPP/C government’s focus. Thanks again, Mr. Nadir! Your influence might be why the government has gone free enterprise. You could not fight the battle for the TUF if you were outside of the cabinet. You had to be amongst them to speak and represent the system you believe in. Capitalists’ thoughts always look at investment for long-term gains. Mr. Nadir, to me, was the TUF’s investment in Guyana’s future and I must say thank you to the PPP/C’s wisdom to go free market/capitalist rather than the socialist path they had preached in the 60s!