Dear Editor
IT now appears as though former President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has become the paragon of all virtues but, the old adage is true that the evil that men do live with them. Last week as I listened to Mr Jagdeo in his truculent style debating the 2019 budget in the parliament, it occurred to me that one can easily form the view that the former President and his government have a good track record of transparency and accountability. He could find nothing good about the APNU+AFC budget for 2019.

However, what I was disappointed about was the apparent inability of the government ministers to speak to numerous incidents of corruption and unethical dealings of the PPP/C during its time in office. Public communication seems to be a very serious challenge for the government; the PPP/C is very good at propaganda and putting out fake news (the fact that the leader of the opposition is getting more media coverage than the government says a lot about public affairs under this government). But one only has to read the history of Guyana to know the evils the PPP/C brought upon this nation and how terribly people suffered under that regime.

They (PPP/C) must never be allowed to take the reins of power ever again in this country. The death squads, narco-trafficking, sole-sourcing, awarding of mega contracts to family and friends, distribution of broadcast licences to friends (many of these broadcast facilities are being used to spread PPP/C propaganda on a 24-hour basis) and a litany of other known transgressions spread across the governance report card of the PPP/C. Many mothers are still praying, crying and following the treacherous bloody trail of the death squad to find their sons. The trauma of it all remains in the psyche of many villages.
I was also very disappointed with the coalition’s lack of fervour in the face of Jagdeo’s comments about the government being visionless, to use that opportunity to promote President Granger’s vision for all Guyana.

Now, suddenly Bharrat Jagdeo has become so virtuous, so truthful, so honest. So much so that he believes he has the right to lecture this government on transparency and accountability; how funny. But this is the very President whose government gave one billion dollars (1 billion dollars) for a special Restoration Programme to the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development and has nothing to show for it. Some time ago, it was reported in local media, that five hundred million dollars (G$500M) was allocated to Georgetown, but there was nothing to show for it.

Was there an audit of that allocation? If so, what were the findings? The entire capital was regularly inundated with floodwaters after five minutes of rain; the city was overrun by garbage and its attendant public health risks and hazards; poor drainage; impassable roads and a city centre that was unimaginably dirty. In fact, it was reported during that time that one PPP minister of local government wished for some outbreak (epidemic) to have an excuse to remove the then Green council because Mr. Hamilton Green had the temerity to stand up to the wrongs of the PPP/C.

Maybe that was one of the objectives they sought to achieve when they allowed the city to be buried in garbage. Mr. Green consistently spoke about how the PPP/C stifled the life out of the council and tied its hands in different ways from making progress. I can remember that in numerous radio and television broadcasts, former Mayor Green repeatedly lamented the fact that no economic idea he or his council proposed saw the light of day by the then government. Whether it was the waste-to-energy plant or the lotto project to raise money for the city, it was swiftly shot down by the government.

And who can forget the days when the council was locked out of its chambers, humiliated and rendered ineffective? There were cries to relocate the capital. Decent and right-thinking Guyanese were simply too embarrassed to talk about the city and to welcome visitors from overseas. It was as though the city was left to decay and rot by the powers that be. All of its systems had become defective with no light of improvement on the horizon.

Then in 2015, after the APNU+AFC government took office, as one of his first tasks, His Excellency President David Granger led by example, gave leadership and started a massive drive to clean up Georgetown beginning with the Independence Arch on Brickdam. This was followed on by the city council, some businessmen and ordinary people. There were hype and anticipation about a restored Georgetown. Neither Dr. Jagdeo nor his ministers ever showed such leadership. In fact, the former President and his ministers walked the streets of Georgetown and elsewhere, apparently oblivious to the fact that it had become a garbage city. We were forced to dwell in garbage.

Then late 2015 early 2016, Georgetown became the talk of all Guyanese as well as members of the diaspora. People were amazed at the transformation and gave much adulation and commendation to central government and the council. Photographs of different parts of Georgetown were sent mostly visa mobile phones/social media across the city and overseas. People were astonished and delighted that the city could have been turned around so drastically and beautifully. So with very limited resources, the authorities managed to reverse negative trends and restore respectability to the city. Georgetowners and their children were able to enjoy their parks and recreational facilities.

Garbage was brought under control, canals were cleared and flowing, parapets and roadsides were regularly cleaned, municipal buildings like the Kitty Market and the City Engineer’s Building were repaired. This is just one example of this government’s commitment to improving the quality of life for all Guyanese. There are many more examples of commitment on the part of this government to give the good life to all.

But Guyanese must remember that the APNU+AFC government is dealing with over 23 years of neglect in all sectors of our society. And although there is great anticipation and expectation of a better life for all, it must be said that it will take time and very hard work by the government to make the kind of difference we long to see in our society. All of us must give the government an opportunity to deliver on promises by being patient, understanding and willing to work together to build a better Guyana. For me, the 2019 budget is an indication of great things to come. Indeed, we are on the threshold of a major economic breakthrough and all of us should want to be a part of it.

Regards
Malone Smeulders