– says Opposition criticisms are of some other Guyana

AGRICULTURE Minister and Government front-bencher, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, last evening in the National Assembly, delivered a blistering blow to the combined Opposition’s criticisms and bemoaned what he dubbed a “distorted dispensation” in the House.

He said, “There has been much talk about a new dispensation; that our people spoke and want to see greater cooperation; and in truth I have come to realise that there are different dispensations in this 10th Parliament.
“There is a dispensation of blackmail politics. I see a dispensation where blacklisting is an option for our future. Yes, Mr. Speaker, I am dismayed that there is a dispensation called the scissors politics, which we are so often reminded of.
“Those who remind us of the dispensation of the scissors do so with glee. Truly, here in the 10th Parliament, these are distorted dispensations from the ones people may have conjured up in their minds and in their hopes.”
According to him, the “dispensations” played out in the 10th Parliament are “perversions” of the people’s hopes and aspirations.
“The people’s business has become the victims of horse-trading, blackmail and self-serving interests,” Ramsammy stressed.
He continued, “Our people will decide who is guilty and many of them have already expressed their views. Whom the cap fits will wear it. But such perverted dispensations that we have arrogated to ourselves in the name of our people must be rejected and must not be allowed to be the character of the 10th Parliament of Guyana.
“I refuse to think that this is the best we can do. I refuse to think that this is even an option. I refuse to think that we are unable to shift gears and adopt a new imperative: the imperative to accelerate development, to foster an environment of cooperation and harmony, to lift the social welfare standards of our people and for our country.”
The Agriculture Minister added that when there is something legislations must do for the country and for the Guyanese people, there must be no conditions set for doing so.
He said, “We must every time chose to do that thing that is good for Guyana, without hesitation and without a pre-requisite.
“Take for example, the Walter Rodney COI. It is the right thing to do. There has been too much procrastination. We must get on with the COI. We must not use the occasion as another battlefield in pursuing our polarized ambitions.
SOME OTHER GUYANA
The Agriculture Minister questioned, referencing the speeches of the Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs), if the same Guyana is what is being talked about, or if it is some other Guyana.
He said, “I listened attentively and forlornly to all the speeches and were I to go with the story of Guyana that emanates out of these halls, I would think we are speaking of two very different countries.
“When I listen to my colleagues, I hear of a country that is not developing, that is going nowhere, a country that provides no opportunity for success, a country of hopelessness.
“I hear that the construction boom and the economic growth are driven by the drug trade, built with drug money, according to the Honourable Member Desmond Trotman.
“I hear of a country without teachers and other professionals because they have all migrated, at least all the good ones, and only the bad ones are left. “
He acknowledged the challenges, but pointed out that many of these are not unique to Guyana.
“We would be fooling ourselves if I said we didn’t have any problem,” the Minster said.
However, he underscored the fact the Guyana is a proud nation, a country that is resilient and a country that has the capacity to overcome our adversities.
“While I see a country confronting problems, I also see a country boldly moving forward in the right direction, moving in a trajectory of development,” the Minister said, “We in the PPP/C have always recognised these challenges and we have responded. We recognise vast room for improvement, for expansion and for new approaches in our interventions. The 2014 Budget underlines this reality. The bigger budget every year is a constant upgrading of our responses, as our resources allow us.”
Ramsammy outlined several of the successes Guyana has recorded over the last two decades, more so in the last few years.
He said, “I see a Guyana that is growing, that is emerging as a country that offers us all better lives, more opportunities, that is developing its infrastructure. I see a bustling country where we are trying to take better care of our children and our elderly, where people live in freedom….no matter what you (Opposition MPs) say.
“I see a country that has recorded eight straight years of growth. Never since adult suffrage in 1953 has Guyana been able to sustain this long period of uninterrupted growth.”
The Minister reasoned that something must be addressed correctly, in this regard.
“We must be doing something extraordinary because no country in CARICOM or in the Americas has sustained such a long period of uninterrupted positive growth. This is a fact, like us or not. Can’t we acknowledge this as a proud achievement?” he asked.
Ramsammy welcomed the demands for more and better, but stressed that ignoring the successes recorded is not right.
He made it clear that the 2014 Budget Estimates seek to ensure a better Guyana and better lives for all’, building on “direct impacts” of previous and ongoing interventions.”
The Minister said, “The 2014 budget estimates are presented at a time when we have clear choices in front of us. The stark choices before us are either to: promote the welfare and peaceful development of Guyana, or stall our development through misguided actions and obstructionism.
“These are two different and very distinct pathways before us. The PPP/C (People’s Progressive Party/ Civic) embraces the mandate of peaceful development, of progress and prosperity. Peace, progress and prosperity is our destiny.
“Too often in the last 28 months or so, Mr. Speaker, there seems confusion about the choices before us. Some of us think that our mandate in this House is to flex muscles and to score political points, to misrepresent and misinform, even if our country is harmed and our people’s welfare is jeopardised. When we risk international blacklisting, for instance, we place our country in harm’s way.”
Ramsammy made it clear that as legislators, MPs must protect and promote the interests of the Guyanese people and of our country, promote and accelerate national development, not some times, but every time.

(By Vanessa Narine)