Dear Editor,
HERE they come again from the People’s Progressive Party/Civic). This time, it is Gail Teixeira, a chief spokesperson, who in a letter dated October 8, 2017, via the Stabroek News, is levelling the usual accusation of ethnic discrimination against the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change(APNU+AFC).
This is in relation to the coalition government having to terminate the contracts/employment of persons for reasons already publicised.
This line by the political opposition is not surprising, since it has been continuously peddled as a sympathy-garnering gambit, with the aim of inflaming ethnic tension.
But it is false and riddled with deception as only the PPP/C can be.
Roll back the years to 1992, when the PPP/C returned to office – recall what they did? They terminated the services of numerous African, high-ranking and middle-level personnel in many parts of the Public Service. Clement Rohee, the newly appointed Foreign Minister at the time, visited every overseas Guyana mission and threw out many a career diplomat.
I am certain that the cases of Arnon Adams, who was simply side-lined at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, by being given a desk; and the late former Ambassador to Washington, Dr. Cedric Grant, and subsequently Foreign Affairs Advisor to the late President Desmond Hoyte, will be recalled as examples. It took a High Court action by the former, so as to receive his benefits; so vindictive were those people in Robb Street!
This particular action resulted in the destruction of what was once one of the Third World’s most respectable foreign services, with its institutional memory becoming obliterated. During this time, Guyana was noted for its sterling contributions as head of many United Nations committees etc.
Some years ago, in a sworn statement before the High Court, Roger Luncheon made the shocking statement that there were not any qualified Africans to fill diplomatic postings! That was how racist the PPP/C had been, and still is.
I should also add the gradual heaving out of the permanent secretaries. By 1994,more than 90% of them had been replaced! How about that for institutional memory, Ms. Teixeira?

Now, now, what about the Indigenous Community Support Officers? Terminated by whom? This is another BIG PPP/C LIE that must be torn to pieces.
It was already decided by the PPP/C, before they lost the 2015 national elections, that the services of all the Community Support Officers would end. I stand to be corrected, by saying that they never informed the CSOs of that decision. In reality, the latter were being paid a stipend of $30000 monthly, but were doing political work for the PPP/C party.
Editor, you will agree with me that such was a flagrant misuse of taxpayers’ hard earned money, apart from a waste of a category of precious human capital – young people.
Today, most of these young people, who as former CSOs were unskilled, have been engaged in skills training endeavours with a view to making them employable, or self- employed. This is a major component of the Hinterland Education Youth Service(HEYS) which also pays a grant to these trainees.

Any new administration that would have taken office with inherited, scores of staff, employed to create mischief, such as writing letters and using the Facebook component to abuse opponents of the former government, in addition to being secreted on payrolls throughout the public service; and staff whose willingness to serve in the new dispensation doubtful, is within its right to determine their retention, or not.
In fact, it is well known that many of these persons, because of their close affiliation to the defeated PPP/C, tendered their resignations within a short while. They decided that they were not going to serve, or work, with the new government
Whose fault is that?

There are still many known supporters of the former PPP/C administration, who are still in sensitive portfolios. That they are still there is because of the decision of the President that he and government are wholly concerned with their professional service and not political affiliation. This is how wise and magnanimous our new government is.
Not the PPP/C. In 1992, as outlined above, there were many Africans who had indicated their willingness to continue serving their country. Ms. Teixeira should be reminded – THEY WERE GIVEN MARCHING ORDERS because of the perception that they were People’s National Congress(PNC) members.

Finally, there is this belief that reeks of bullyism, from the PPP/C, that no action of any kind, irrespective of what proven offence had been committed, should be taken against any Indo-Guyanese, particularly those with party connections. In every case where Indo-Guyanese have been charged and placed before the court, there have been loud protests. This is the mindset of Bharat Jagdeo and party colleagues, inclusive of Madame Gail Teixeira. No wonder, the revelations of the audit reports.
But this was the PPP/C that for 23 years presided over a criminal state.
Sincerely yours
Cindy Evans