CONTRARY to the views of some, President David Granger said the social cohesion round-table discussions were not rushed, but some chose to pretend that they were not aware what social cohesion meant.Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle and the Stabroek News after the weekly programme ‘Public Interest’ at the Ministry of the Presidency, the President said all were invited to participate at the forum.
The occasion, he said, was aimed at bringing Guyanese together to discuss issues that affect them, from marginality to inequality.
The People’s Progressively Party/Civic (PPP/C) did not attend the opening of the discussion held last Thursday at the Arthur Chung International Conference Centre, criticising it as “mere window dressing”.
But the President said the round-table was an excellent opportunity to discuss barriers to social cohesion and solutions for the way forward, but the PPP decided to stay away.
“They were certainly asked and they made a choice. There is no point sniping at the outcome…we put some issues on the table on social cohesion to reduce inequality. Once you have unequal relationships you have job domination, discrimination and the whole idea is to reduce these problems by providing better access to public services,” the Head of State explained.
Granger related that the forum was attended by persons both near and far who came with their knowledge, research and advice on how to make Guyana a cohesive society.
NOT HEALTHY
The divisions, he said, are not healthy for Guyana.
“Forty-nine years after Independence, we still have ethnic division, class division…all we are saying is that we cannot proceed into the future with all of these divisions and we need to have a formula; we need to have progress…people want to come together and we have to find a way around these road blocks to get people to talk to one another,” the President emphasised.
And on that point, he noted that crime, suicide, poor treatment of women and children, trafficking-in-persons and many other problems are human in nature, as they did not come about by bad roads or stellings.
“It is about attitude and respect that we have for one another,” he said, contending that most of the negativity is entrenched in the political system.
The President said Guyana cannot move forward if there is going to be conflict.
“So, social cohesion is not a staged ministry,” President Granger said, pointing out that Guyana should have had such a ministry a long time ago.
PROPER TREATMENT
“What matters is intelligence. The way you see one another, whether we have access to education, whether when you go to the public service and you are treated properly and respectfully, that is the society I am trying to build,” the President said.
A two-day roundtable discussion themed ‘Social Cohesion for Lasting Unity and Peace’ held last Thursday was part of a national effort to garner the input from stakeholders to formulate a five-year strategic plan to tackle social cohesion.
The event, financed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the British High Commission, was organised by the Ministry of Social Cohesion to get the views of citizens to enhance togetherness at both the community and national levels.
President Granger told the forum at the Arthur Chung International Conference Centre which included groups from a wide cross-section of society, that his administration will be placing attention on reducing extreme poverty; eliminating gender and geographic inequalities; fostering greater participation of political parties in national development; creating opportunities for fair employment and safety in the hinterland; and ensuring equal access to education.
“Cohesiveness cannot be nurtured in an unequal environment,” the President had said.

By Tajeram Mohabir