A People’s President

PRESIDENT, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali has demonstrated by his several actions that he is a President for all Guyanese. This undeniable fact has found expression in his several encounters with people from all across the political and ethnic spectrum of Guyana, the most recent being his engagement with residents of the Mocha-Arcadia community on the East Bank Demerara.

Several initiatives were taken at the meeting of villagers aimed at further enhancing the quality of life of the residents. Among these were the commissioning of the Burnham Boulevard and the signing of contracts to rehabilitate the Barnwell Road and the rigid pavement of Cemetery, both of which were in need of urgent rehabilitation works.

President Ali and his PPP/C administration have been extremely even-handed when it comes to advancing the developmental trajectory of the country and its people. This passion for development to bring development to the Guyanese people is unbounded and has transcended the confines of narrow partisan politics. The President understandably has no tolerance for those who stood in the way of development and who seek to play politics with the lives and livelihoods of the Guyanese people.

According to President Ali, “we must not lock ourselves out of opportunities by subjecting ourselves to narrow thinking. I am not here to tell you that I want all of you to vote for the PPP/C. I am here to tell you that I want all of you to benefit from the PPP/C Government.” This is indeed big thinking on the part of the President.

In the case of Mocha-Arcadia, it is a known fact that a significant number of the residents are supporters of the opposition APNU+AFC. This, however, is of no consequence insofar as developmental works in the community are concerned. And even though there are still a number of developmental challenges facing the community, the records will show that the community has benefitted substantially over the years under the PPP/C administration by way of infrastructural works and other aspects of human development.

As pointed out by President Ali, no individual or institution has any control over the lives and well-being of people regardless of perceived political allegiance. In the final analysis, it is the extent to which citizens enjoy a better quality of life that is important.

The tendency by some opposition politicians to stand in the way of development out of narrow partisan interests is at best counter-productive and is in fact doing a great disservice to residents whose interests they purportedly claim to represent. It is an established fact that in a number of administrative regions where the APNU+AFC Coalition has political control, monies allocation by the Central Ministry are deliberately underspent or mismanaged in order to frustrate development out of fear that it will make the PPP/C administration look ‘good.’

The truth is that people have a way of knowing when their economic and cultural lives are improving and are unprepared to allow others with hidden agendas to stand in the way of their development. This explains why the President and his teams of officials are generally embraced in all regions of Guyana, including in supposedly APNU+AFC ‘strongholds’.

When it comes to enriching the lives of the Guyanese people, there can be no favoured communities or individuals. The PPP/C has always embraced a developmental philosophy that is people-oriented. And while it is true that some communities were neglected developmentally by the vindictive policies of the PNC regime in past years, there can be no doubt that such distortions are being systematically corrected by the PPP/C administration.

It would seem that such an even-handed approach is now posing some difficulties for the political opposition who continue to sell a false narrative of ‘selective’ development based on ‘political’ and ‘racial’ discrimination on the part of the PPP/C administration.

The political opposition has even gone to ludicrous proportions by making references to some elements of ‘apartheid’ rule.

Nothing could be further from the truth. No wonder Guyanese from all across the political and ethnic spectrum are disassociating themselves from any such insinuations by fringe elements whose only objective is to sow the seeds of discord in the country. This is in sharp contrast to the ‘One Guyana’ vision articulated by President Ali which is gaining momentum with each passing day.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :
Facebook
Twitter
WhatsApp

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

All our printed editions are available online
emblem3
Subscribe to the Guyana Chronicle.
Sign up to receive news and updates.
We respect your privacy.