ON the first day of this new year, I read all of the messages from the political parties. But what stood out for me was the message from Brigadier David Granger, Leader of the APNU. Mr Granger’s message was focused on 2014 being the ‘Year for Workers’. And he spoke of the challenges workers faced in 2013 and his wish that in 2014, “we all work together towards providing a good life for all Guyanese.”

As I reflected on Mr Granger’s words, as a public servant myself, I could relate to some of the challenges that workers face, such as the need for better labour relations, better remuneration, more jobs, better working conditions, and improved social services.
No doubt, these were the very issues Mr Granger and his coalition of parties in the APNU campaigned on in 2011, and were successful, for the first time in our country’s history, to secure a combined Opposition majority in the House.
As a non-political person, I was concerned about how this would work, and whether the combined Opposition (APNU and AFC) would be able to put aside the political baggage of the PNC era, and political bitterness on the part of the AFC, to work with the government to “put Guyana first” and to really “champion workers’ rights”.
Sadly, after two years of watching the charade in Parliament, and the rhetoric from the Opposition politicians, I am very disillusioned about Guyana’s future. I ask myself, “Has the APNU and AFC done enough to work with the government to provide a good life for all Guyanese, and to champion workers’ rights? In my view, the answer to this question is a disappointing “No.” I cannot help but ask Mr Granger the following questions:
How can you talk about creating job opportunities for Guyanese when you and your party vote down projects such as the Amaila Hydro Project that will create employment for Guyanese?
How can you talk about improving the social services for Guyanese when you and your party vote down projects such as the Specialty Hospital, hinterland airstrips, and improving the Timehri International Airport?
How can you talk about caring for workers’ rights when you and your party deliberately and vindictively cut budgets of key Government entities such as NCN and GINA? Spare a thought for those employees and their families, Mr Granger. Did you think of what kind of Christmas they would have had? Don’t you think some of them may have been your supporters as well, or is it because they work for the government makes them all anti-Opposition and pro-PPP?
How can you talk about working for a good life for all Guyanese when you and your party are subtly sending political messages to public servants in ministries and agencies to frustrate the implementation of government projects that would benefit all Guyanese?
Mr Granger, for two successive years we have seen you, as Opposition Leader, spearhead the cutting of Guyana’s budget. This is unprecedented in our country, as we have been accustomed to the Opposition lobbying for the government to allocate more funds to development initiatives. We are approaching the 2014 Budget: Will it be a repeat of the cuts?
Remember, Mr Granger, this one-seat majority has placed tremendous responsibility on you. Your actions, and not the government’s alone, determines if our country moves forward, or if we bring undue hardship to the Guyanese people. You have been part of a party, the PNC, that took our country backward. Will history be repeating itself? Mr Granger, you and your party will be judged not by the magnanimous speeches you made at the beginning of this year, but by your actions thereafter. Only time will tell; the ball is in your court.

CHRISTOPHER PERSAUD