AFC’s new latrine activism

I VIEWED statements made by the Leader of the AFC at their press conference last week. He primarily spoke about the number of pit latrines still in existence at schools in Guyana. For an issue to be escalated to the level of being addressed by the leader himself, on a panel with other presenters, indicates that it is a flagship policy issue of the party. We were told that the Party Leader and a team of persons visited Region #9, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo, and came back with reports on pit latrines. In other words, the Leader of the AFC is going deep into the country on toilet sniffing tours.

I recall during my days at primary school we played a game, famous to most Guyanese, called, “What is the time Mr. Wolf?” In similar manner we may have to ask, “what is the scent Mr. Hughes?” On that note, Mr. Hughes is well advised to hold his breath one stroke before noon as Mr. Wolf can inform of his main high noon activity. So, Nigel Hughes, possibly attempting to retrace the steps of Greek mathematician Archimedes of Syracuse went to Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo and experienced a Eureka Moment, shall we call it, “latrine activism?” I feel pity for the activists and members of the AFC, many of whom are still my friends, to be subjected to this level of unimaginative activism.

There are several factors at play here, let’s delve. First, it seems like the AFC has an inside track in the Ministry of Education. Documents and stats still in working committees and not yet released to the public, end up in its possession. These documents, “exposed” by the AFC, if nothing else, pointedly demonstrates that we have a responsive government and a proactive Minister of Education who will address any issue affecting the people of Guyana, no matter who highlights them.

Following Mr. Hughes’ odyssey into his flagship latrine activism at Philippi, the minister could have simply ordered a new sanitary block be built and splashed it all across social media, the new opposition resort to score political points and be done.

Instead, a countrywide comprehensive study of all latrines, their built state and usage impact was ordered along with the state of other attending facilities such as water supply.
Even though Mr. Hughes quoted from a preliminary report before it reached compendium stage, which revealed that there are 77 latrines still in existence in schools, he did not reveal that there were almost 90 such facilities when APNU+AFC left office in 2020. This means that under Minister Manickchand, over a dozen latrines were converted to modern sanitary blocks. Come on Mr. Hughes acknowledge that some progress was made.

He also failed to reveal that during the tenure of the APNU+AFC more than 25 of the said latrines were either built or renovated and at least a dozen were completely neglected and condemned. So, it seems ok for APNU+AFC to build some latrines and neglect others, yet those very same latrines form part of Hughes’ selective outrage a few years later.

Further, Mr. Hughes was conservative with the truth when he mentioned that all 77 latrines sniffed by the team he leads, were found in indigenous communities. While all were found off the coastland, not all interior locations are qualified to be called indigenous.

Further, Mr. Hughes did not also tell the public that some of these facilities come under Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs) managed by APNU+AFC, which received budgetary support from Central Government to construct sanitary blocks. These RDCs have funds sitting on the books awaiting execution. The public should note that cabinet has approved funds already passed in the 2024 budget to renovate and repaint all schools across the country, including those in inland communities. The budget catered for improvements to sanitation blocks, water facilities, flooring and roofing etc.

RDCs are frontline responders to the needs of schools in their region. I am told that there is no record of any RDC administered by APNU+AFC with an active request to convert latrines to water closets that has been denied by the central ministry. Part of the new found latrine activism also highlights AFC’s own failures and Mr. Hughes should take several rows back until he can demonstrate, via certified RDC minutes, that AFC councillors raised this issue at any meeting over the last four years.

Of recent, the AFC seems to be well funded by some person or entity and party principals are under pressure to demonstrate continuous activism; but the AFC remains an infecund party, vacuous and completely barren of ideas, so it latches on to minutiae that sounds noble and create Facebook talking points for those vulnerable to be misled.

In my column last week, I mentioned that a major area of vulnerability for a good section of the population is the irrational expectations about what the current income from oil can do and when. This very vulnerability that exists among the people is essentially a vulnerability of government incumbency. It can become a contagion if not comprehensively addressed and managed. These expectations can easily be fed and run out of control; eureka, eureka “imagine 77 latrines at schools in oil rich Guyana.”

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited.