Dear Editor,
ON A recent “In Perspective” television programme — held on Sunday, 3rd April, 2016 on LRTVS Channel 10 and hosted by PPP/C MP Zulfikar Mustapha — a lot of misleading information was given to the public by the guest, Dr. Luncheon.Dr. Luncheon seems to be disoriented on what is taking place in Guyana; and, moreover, he seems to be losing his memory about what took place under his corrupted watch and that of his government. He seems to forget that what is taking place now under this new regime is a transformational change — from bad and worse to good and accountable.

He seems to forget that this almost ten-month-old government has, on a daily basis, to deal with what the PPP had done in the past 23 years as a government.

Dr Luncheon informed his viewers that this APNU+AFC government seems to be unaccountable for what they are doing. He blamed the state of the sugar and rice industries on the government, but failed to tell Berbicians that the PPP had created the crisis in the industries. He failed to say that the PPP-appointed GuySuCo CEO had, in May 2015, announced that the industry would be closed, and that he and the PPP had lied to the people when they were campaigning for the 2015 elections by telling the people that the sugar industry has a bright future.

Dr. Luncheon needs to remember that the rice industry started to decay under the PPP. Some persons were getting the right prices for their produce, while some were underpaid. He failed to tell the people the amount of money the RPA had borrowed towards giving the rice farmers, but the farmers never received a cent of it.

Dr. Luncheon needs a memory stick to recount the things the PPP did to stifle the farmers, so that they can be the followers of the PPP. Dr. Luncheon failed to tell the people that he, a pensioner, was still hired by the PPP government, and that the PPP had many secret local and foreign deals with investors.

He failed to say that the PPP had promised Berbice an airport since in the days of Dr. Jagan, but it never became reality. He failed to say that his government had neglected Berbice, especially the youths, and had placed all the investors and employment in other regions.

It seems like Dr Luncheon is in election campaign mode, but he needs to remember that everything, all the secret deals, are coming to light, and people are now getting to understand what had taken place during the 23-year-rule of the corrupt PPP. People are getting the bitter taste of what the PPP had done to Guyana, and are calling for them to be held accountable for selling out Guyana.

He mentioned the forensic audits and said government has failed to make the findings public. Well, Dr. Luncheon, you will soon know about those audits, especially those done at places like Guyoil, NICIL, Public Service Ministry, MMA/ADA and a host of other places. Soon those things will be revealed, and maybe you forget that things take time. Don’t rush the government to do things, and then when things go bad you will blame the government.

Dr. Luncheon needs to understand that everything in this country was destroyed by the PPP, and it will take time to rebuild with a lean and clean administration; and this government is working towards that.

Moreover, I heard the host of the programme saying that this government is unaccountable for its employment practices, but I have questions for the host: Under the PPP, what were you employed as at OP? Why were you travelling every day to OP from the Corentyne Coast, with tax payers’ dollars paying your bridge toll, driver, fuel, meals, etc, but you only appear on PPP press conferences?.

People understand that the Government has a lot to do, and it is in office for only almost ten months now. People understand that what the Government is doing is to clean up the mess that the PPP left. People understand that it will take time to get Guyana back to its real stage. Guyana will move positively forward under this APNU+AFC government.

And here is a little advice for Dr. Luncheon: you need to rest yourself at this age, your memory is going.

Abel Seetaram
APNU+AFC
Regional Councillor
Region 5