I really believe that the sad reality in Guyana today is that if an issue does not impugn the integrity of a government minister, then those that claim to be media practitioners do not employ their “limited” investigative journalistic skills to ferret out whatever might be the facts of a particular matter. By the same token if a situation cannot  at first glance be exploited by politicians on either side of the political divide, then their putative constituents can go hang for all they care. A few if the investigations will bring into focus even peripherally those with whom they identify then a “hands off” mindset kicks in.
I have been writing about the situation in the Paradise Multi Purpose Cooperative Society (PMCS) which controls the affairs of the Paradise Housing Scheme since 2011, but with the exception of a March 2012 visit by Minister of Labour and Cooperatives, Hon. Nanda Gopaul who promised to commission and indeed ordered an audit of the Society’s affairs; supporting letters by other concerned and vocal Guyanese; and a two-part interview carried by Sunday Kaieteur of April 29 and May 6, 2012, there has been not one peep from any parliamentarian, interest group, or media representative on the concerns expressed on these matters.  As a matter of fact, the Chief Cooperatives Development Officer, Mr. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar who has been intimately involved in the running of the Society’s affairs since December 15, 2003 is showing a marked reluctance to get the audit up and running, using a variety of excuses.  In other words, he is expected to determine when the audit is done and who conducts it when he has been involved in managing the Society.  This is a clear conflict of interest that Mr. Abdul-Jabbar has in six of the eight years that he has been in control is also reporting to himself in his capacity of CCDO.
I have included the Order 56 (2) made by the former CCDO Mr. Clive Nurse and the mandate of that supposed interim committee. Mr. Abdul-Jabbar has not seen it fit to introduce any development initiative for the benefit of the residents of the housing scheme.  I have remarked ad infinitum that there is need for a community recreational centre but Mr. Abdul-Jabbar’s response has been that the other residents may not desire such a community space.  Now where on earth will our children go to interact with each other?  Where do we adults and our youths go to discuss community development interventions?  There are just about four hundred occupied house lots in a community of some nine hundred house lots.  The remainder consists of empty lots and of unfinished structures with trees growing inside which provide spaces for hostile surveillance and havens for cattle rustlers to use as slaughter houses.
The simple truth is that the committee has been engaged in wholesale selling and transfers of Society’s house lots with no intention of looking at other aspects of what a multipurpose cooperative is all about. What reason can the CCDO offer for his refusal to advertise in the media for persons who were allotted house lots over 10 years ago to come forward and express continued interest in constructing their homes?  Why are residents still being held to ransom by being told that they must pay off for their Titles before they can access potable water which they have to go to the office of the CCDO to pay for?  This does not happen in any other part of this country; so why Paradise? If that is not a clear indication of an abuse of public office I am not sure what is.  At the instance of a few well-meaning individuals I circulated copies of pictures, various pieces of correspondence and a petition (herein attached) expressing loss of confidence in Mr. Abdul-Jabbar and a request that he be made to recuse himself or be removed from intimate involvement in the affairs of the PMCS to certain people (they know themselves), but as I said before, unless there is a clear and unmistakable link between a government minister(s) or opposition parliamentarian and allegations of overt/covert acts of corruption it is business as usual.  Why are we continuing to ignore misfeasance by lower level public officials because of some perceived commonality of identity?  Invariably, it is this perception which enables and perpetuates the type of injustice which now pervades our community. The petition also requested that an inquiry be held to examine twenty-eight (28) points with a view to resolving several burning issues not least of which is the state of the Society’s finances and other assets disposable or otherwise.
His Excellency speaks of communities being hubs of economic development but that memo seems not to have reached the desk of the CCDO.  The reluctance on the part of Mr. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and his cohort to entertain divergent views and their stranglehold on the Paradise Multi Purpose Cooperative Society, speak volumes about his nearly nine-year stewardship without an audit, annual general meeting or elections of suitably qualified office bearers with at least a modicum of knowledge of cooperative principles and practices.  But as I mentioned at the outset maybe our situation at first glance may not appear volatile enough for general interest. I pray that all those stakeholders who are prone to mouthing platitudes of community cohesiveness, development and the right to self-determination will stand up to be counted.  Martin Luther King got it right when he said, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter.”
I am openly appealing to President Donald Ramotar to intercede and help us create an environment in Paradise Housing Scheme, which lets us speak so that we may live to realise our fullest potential.