Dear Editor,

REGION 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) is once again making the limelight. This time, with Mr. Joseph Harmon’s fantasy for fabrication, the APNU+AFC coalition is trying to undermine the patriotic people of this important region by propagating false information so as to discredit the PPP/C government’s commitment towards nation building with national and impartial inclusivity. A well-deserved and detailed rebuttal towards this clumsy accusation was painstakingly documented in a Mr. Alvin Hamilton’s reply, in the Kaieteur newspaper’s letter column. There is no need for any elaborate reiteration. The reinstallation of the CEO for the Linden Hospital Complex is an inferno with the GPSU after he issued an apology over controversial comments. Region 10 is a subjected arena where miscreants creamed off millions of taxpayers’ sweat, funnelled through the convenience of the Sustainable Livelihood and Entrepreneurial Development (SLED) programme in 2019 for community development projects.

This luxury was enjoyed by the financial comfort offered to accommodate 13 groups registered as co-operative societies before funds were released. A visit in January 2020 by the Labour Minister, Mr. Joseph Hamilton, uncovered what he claimed to be “fraud” and “criminality,” for most of the projects were never established while others were incomplete and in one case, an individual received financing for chicken rearing and, he migrated to the US. The Auditor General’s 2019 report confirmed that the sum of $250 million was disbursed to various regions for the SLED programme, claiming that, “it was difficult to ascertain the reasons for granting approval to the respective beneficiaries.” Many collected money without being registered. Last August, former Sports Director Christopher Jones was arrested and released on $100,000 station bail for simple larceny in relation to several barbershop chairs and other items found in his home. The minister is now reviewing the status of all the co-ops listed and is visiting and assessing those societies registered as far back as 2017.

The SLED initiative was established by the former APNU+AFC coalition government in 2015 and was aimed at creating business and jobs in communities across the country. It would be interesting to know the individuals who have benefitted from this programme. Former President, David Granger, last August addressed a question on the importance of cooperative societies in African culture, while delivering remarks at a virtual Emancipation eve event organised by the international Decade for People of African Descent assembly-Guyana. He said, “Cooperativism was the salvation of village organisations, especially for small and micro enterprises, cooperatives are ideal.” But he also confessed that, “I know that in some co-ops people borrowed money to live, to pay light bills and pay taxes and rent. But that isn’t the purpose of [a] co-operative society.” Now the President knew about the mishandling and mismanagement of funds, so, why did he not take the necessary substantial remedial action to recover or secure taxpayers’ money? The conclusion is obvious and the truth hurts. This is yet another reason why Granger and party were so determined to retain power at all cost!

Despite Region 10 being a hot seat for corruption, President, Dr. Irfaan Ali visited the area earlier this year and announced a plethora of plans, including the construction of 1,000 houses and an “investment zone” to be identified in the region ‘agri’ master plan. The PPP/C remains unbiased and true to bipartisanship while living up to the ideals of equality for all ethnicities and living up to the expectation of making no distinction between class and creed. He said, “I assure you that this government is ready to work with every single Guyanese. I do not concern myself with the politics of any community; I concern myself with the welfare of the people of the communities.” Cooperativism was set up in 1970 by the dictator LFSB and serviced a particular need, directed and dedicated to the affluence of influential favouritism and patronised by the dictates of politics and the dynamics of friendliness for preferred participants, in its original structure.

Lack of accountability and transparency created a doomed and dim future, accompanied by the folding up of many societies and many of them were written off without full disclosure, leaving a trail of gross uncertainties and much speculation. GNCB was sold off in 2002 and GAIBANK was closed in the 1990s. Guyana was once referred to as the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, but partially dropped silently and is simply now called Guyana! The 33 years of the PNC dictatorial administration is certainly castigated with the riddles of moral decomposition, the decline of virtuous accolades and the shameful degradation of honour. Is the cooperative sector being fuelled as an engine of growth for all and sundry, with the new government, while still ambushed by masquerades?

Respectfully,

Jai Lall