Dear Editor,
GUYANA showered in last week with the man of many cultural outfits, HE President Irfaan Ali, continuing his “meet the people tour” by spending last weekend with the residents of Region Nine, placing a $10M order with Shulinab Village to supply clay bricks to boost the housing development programme in the hinterland, and, announcing the construction of a new nursery school. A National Science Fair Finals and Expo opened at the ACCC, where a UG team, Ultimatus Electicus won the $1M first prize. A second monkeypox case was identified. The NRF, Oversight and Investment Committees to oversee the oil revenues were sworn in. Nineteen-ninety Nobel Peace Prize winner, 91-year-old Mikhail Gorbachev, the last Soviet president, passed away. Guyanese legendary historian, Sister Menezes bade Guyana her final farewell at age 92. Guyana is mourning the death of former Foreign Affairs Minister, 93-year-old Rashleigh Jackson. NBS announced lower interest rates and higher loan ceilings. Amerindian Heritage Month began in all its fervour. Pooran Brothers Inc. is investing $300M in a sand and loam project in Region Three. As our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the deceased ones, Guyana continues the month of celebration with the Indigenous people. Cricket will occupy the minds of many this weekend, but, do stop to take a breath of fresh air and reflect on this week’s quotes:

1)     “We told you that you will benefit from the revenues of this country when some said that you must not be part of it. You will benefit, you will get the delivery of the government,” President Ali told residents in Region Nine. The PPP/C government continues to provide inclusive services equitably and fairly.
2)     “We hope we don’t have to close it and Claudette Singh will do the decent thing and resign….pressure her to resign or face unspecified action.” Mr Norton, (LoO), threatened. Minister Gail Teixeira will not tolerate any bullies, saying, “The only way that “bully boy” Norton and his supporters will understand that Guyanese are decent, respectful people who will not accept such threats, is if they feel their rejection of this cowardly behaviour.”
3)     The AFC party parts company with PNC (again) by applauding the PPP/C party for releasing all data on oil production, stating that, “it’s a step in the right direction.”
4)     The lion-hearted Attorney General has challenged the Coalition. “Call Mingo and call Lowenfield…and ask them to come out publicly and contradict me…” Mr Anil Nandlall roared.
5)     The government is sealing the leaks. “There will be continuous analysis to deal with loopholes and to deal with areas in which people think they can manipulate,” President Ali warned.
6)     “It’s now or never.” No, not Elvis Presley’s song but the exclamation of Grace Cowell, a junior barrister in Britain, threating to go on a barristers’ strike over inadequate pay.
7)     A brow-beatened Norton confessed to the media, “All I would say to you, there will be at some stage shortly…a clear document setting out our position on oil and gas.” The AG said it correctly. The man is in La La Land.
8)     “I always believe if you borrow money, it must be well spent, the nation should see how every dollar is being spent,” business tycoon Glenn Lall reflected, knowing the following: it’s the PPP/C party governing and not the PNC; the IDB is preparing the loan approval (IDB did not deny or decline) – this says a lot, including confidence in the government and qualifying the request; government agencies have active internal audit departments; there is a hawk-eyed Coalition PAC chairman; the nation has its watchdog – the Auditor General.
9)     The ‘Oppressor of Africans’ writer, the car mogul, now has a dealership with ‘ambiguity.’ His advertisement certainly does not promote ‘Afro Guyanese,’ perhaps exposing residents from another continent!
10)      “They would rather pursue a narrative and an agenda that suits [sic] their selfish, narrow, backward and illogical claim…,” President Ali told the Waterfalls. Poor LoO, its “licks like peas.”
11)      Dr King’s ‘I have a dream,’ is inclusive of Dr Ali’s ‘One Guyana,’ but certainly not of Norton’s ‘Emerging apartheid.’
12)      “I believe if everyone looks at road safety seriously, we may wake up with no accidents if each one of us observes the rules of the road,” the Traffic Chief advised. Exercise the five Cs when using the roadways: care, caution, courtesy, common-sense and consideration.
13)      Tacuma Ogunseye does not see any apartheid state and he has no evidence, nor did he intend to present any evidence of such a state in Guyana. What a slap in the face for the Cuffy 250 Committee.  Too few to construe what is true?
14)      ‘We are going to work very hard to make sure that we create that brighter future, not only through ICT but (also) through every possible opportunity that exists in our society, that our young people must be able to grasp at and be able to utilize it to make themselves prosperous,” Minister Kwame Mc Coy told the ICT Summer camp graduates. The hi-tech PPP/C Government is ensuring that the young generation is not left behind in this e-age.
15)      “That will happen very shortly, in a matter of days,” an unsmiling AG warned. Guyanese have to be careful how, where, on what and for whom they sign any document! Election is no joke or push over.
16)      “Don’t put it at my door-step, or my political party or government,” advised Mr. Anil Nandlall. Rigging an election was taken for granted. The PNC is finding out that, the wrong way is the hard way, finally!
17)      “We will perfect the law, build capacity and amend the targets accordingly, as we go along,” the Vice-President posited. The VP is slowly but certainly ironing out the rough edges.
18)      “No, I don’t accept that Guyana is powerless,” former Finance Minister, Winston Jordan stressed. Perfectly said. Guyana would not take matters lying down but will investigate and persecute all election riggers.
19)      The Chief Justice concluded, if GECOM is to act outside of those legal provisions, “it would be unconstitutional and, therefore, illegal.” GECOM Chair abides and presides by the law, Norton and company doesn’t.
20)      “We’re going to support you by investing and training, research and development,” President Ali assured Region Nine communities. Here is a government who supports and holds your hands from the cradle to the graveyard.
21)      “We’re going to hire all the graduates from the University of Guyana in Agriculture and the School of Agriculture,” the President informed the nation. The PPP/C Government is guaranteeing that those graduates will find employment and will be productively utilised.
22)      “And we’re going to assign them to communities and Regions so they could help you in the food production system and developing in a scientific way,” Dr. Irfaan Ali guaranteed the farmers. The Government is taking all precautions to satisfy the residents in the hinterland areas and to ensure that, they are not left out but included in the progress and development of the country.
23)      The Head of State said that his Government, “is ready to make all the investment to make your life easier and better.” The PPP/C government is an administrator who cares and wants the best for each Guyanese.
24)      Dr Ramsammy informs us about Dr Cheddie Jagan’s words, “If a President of a country is not safe among his people, he does not deserve to be their President. A President who sees, works, plays, prays and eats with the people, deserves to be their leader. No wonder President Irfaan Ali is the People’s President!
25)      “He [Gorbachev] gave us all freedom – but we don’t know what to do with it,” liberal economist, Russian Grinberg told Russian soldiers. Gorbachev died symbolically when his life’s work for freedom, was effectively destroyed by Putin.
26)      The Leader of the PNC, “rode into the stable of the opposition leadership on the horseback of the promise to be the doyen of the people’s struggles and liberation,” wrote a member. Instead, like a dead fish, “he is rotting from the head!”
27)      “President Ali and his government are more grassroots than the Leader of the PNC,” confessed the PNC stronghold advocate. The PPP/C party is energized and relentless in its work in all of the PNC’s constituencies.
28)      The political analyst continues, “The miserable, failing LoO, lost in La La Land, continues to confabulate deceptively and is sinking his party in disunity and division, surrendering to the people centered PPP/C party.” More key PNC party members are on the verge of resigning due to frustration and exasperation.
29)      “No country can afford to allow corruption to take root in society, not in the public or private sector,” pointed out the Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, Paul Cheong. Corruption was sourced as one of the pernicious reasons why the PNC Party destroyed Guyana over their 33 years of dictatorship, bankrupting the economy, destroying the livelihoods of Guyanese and impoverishing the nation akin to Haiti.
30)      “Eventually, it [corruption] will bring down any society or organisation or persons involved,” Mr. Cheong summed up. The PNC became demented, the AFC lost public support, the WPA is distraught with shame, many executives and officials have distanced themselves from the APNU and AFC parties, and, Coalition members and their families were issued with US visa sanctions.
31)      “Information is power and people make decisions based on information and if they’re given accurate information, they are more able to make decisions with regards to their lives, and what happens,” Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira implied. Under the PPP/C government, Guyana now enjoys freedom of association, movement, speech and the press. There is no fear from any of the law-enforcement agencies for the practice of any legal and legitimate sacrosanct activities. During the days of the Burnham/Granger dictatorship, these rights were controlled, constrained and curtailed. Guyanese privileges were suppressed and became unassailable.
32)      “APNU+AFC is prepared to discuss and support constitutional and statutory amendments,” a battered Norton admitted. A beaten and cornered Leader of the Opposition, after meekly consulting with Cheddie Jagan’s principle, consoled his pleading members by leaning on the shoulder of “critical support.”
33)      A meek Norton cowered fearfully as he painted a brave face to mutter, “There is nothing to be investigated as it relates to my call for the Chairman of GECOM to go.” This does not remove the threat and the police are still saddled with their job.
34)      NY Assembly woman Jenifer Rajkumar said, “No one can ever take away our pride and joy in Little Guyana.” The “Little Guyana” street sign in Richmond Hill was stolen for “monumental memory!”
35)      “Celebrate with confidence that this overnment is with you, for you and by you,” President Ali told the people of Indigenous descent on the occasion of celebrating Amerindian Heritage Month 2022. They are equal partners in the development of the country, deserving equal opportunities so that, they can better their lives with a PPP/C government supporting them all the way.
Sixteen-year-old Anasie Fredericks is smiling after being crowned Region Two Heritage Queen. 600 Lethem residents in Region Nine are smiling with their $1M each to start constructing their homes. Also, some 2,000 part-time jobs will soon become available whereby, each person employed will earn $40,000 monthly. 12 Guyanese are smiling with scholarships to China. 64 Zeelugt residents are smiling with land titles. four football youth players are smiling with scholarships to Jamaica. Leguan residents are smiling with their $58M road upgrading along with Region Two residents with a $500M road upgrades. US Army General Laura Richardson, Commander of SOUTHCOM, is smiling as she landed in Guyana. Region Seven flood victims are smiling with 100 food hampers and some $4M worth of agricultural tools. Sports Minister Charles Ramson is smiling with his GCC life membership. Some 350 families in Berbice are smiling with their $100,000 cash grant for children living with disabilities. Region One residents are smiling with $161M in agricultural programmes contracts. Congratulations to the 7,500 recipients of the 2022 GOAL and GROW scholarship programmes. As Guyana welcomes another week, remember to be generous as Maya Angelou, “If you have only one smile in you, remember to give it to the people you love.”

Yours respectfully,
Jai Lall