Dear Editor,
Please permit me a space in your newspaper to respond to a letter that was published in the Stabroek News, dated August 28, 2019 titled, “APNU+AFC gov’t destroying the independence of our institutions”. In that letter, the Former President, Donald Ramotar, declares that “In the last elections campaign, the APNU+AFC made many promises that they had absolutely no intention of keeping”.

APNU/AFC made promises in their manifesto that within 100 days after assuming office there will be numerous changes. One hundred days may have been too short a period to institute sweeping changes from the mess, ‘narco’-state, money laundering etcetera left by the PPP/C administration.

Despite the restrictions the coalition faced, it avoided public fanfare and triumphalism, the coalition government steered the country forward as a stable and growing economy; promoted and defended its sovereignty and territorial integrity; restored respect for Guyana as a democracy in which all human rights and press freedom are protected; and supported and encouraged social cohesion among our multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, plural population.

Let me remind former President Ramotar that despite missteps, this coalition government has worked collaboratively to ensure the journey towards fulfilling its promise to all Guyanese, not just a few cronies, families and friends. It was the PPP/C which introduced VAT on the Guyanese populace and the coalition promised to reduce it, which it did, the Berbice River Bridge toll was also reduced.

It is this government that has sought to ensure the independence of our constitutional bodies by passing legislation that has struck down provisions which sought to undermine the independence of bodies and agencies like the Public Service Commission, the Police Service Commission, the Teaching Service Commission, the Parliament Office, the Office of the Ombudsman and the, now much-maligned, GEOCOM to name a few. Why was this not done under your tenure as president Mr. Ramotar?

For Mr. Ramotar to accuse this coalition government of disrespecting the Constitution and “destroying the independence of our institutions” is plain hypocritical. Since the three-month deadline after the no-confidence motion would have expired in the due process of litigation, which was the coalition’s right to pursue constitutionally. Political expediency must not trump the Rule-of-Law. Or is seeking legal recourse the exclusive purview of the PPP/C?
Over these past four years, the policies and programmes of the coalition government have favourably impacted every aspect of life in Guyana, from the coastland to the hinterland, and in our riverine and indigenous communities. No government before has done more within such a short span of time.

Mr. Ramotar makes me recall Matthew 7:5 where I will substitute brother’s with PPP/C and APNU+ AFC: – “You hypocrite, first take the plank out of the PPP/C’s eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from the APNU+AFC ‘s eye.”
Oh, the hypocrisy of trying to take the speck out of the APNU+AFC’s eye while the plank has been in yours for 23 years Mr. Ramotar!!

Regards
Ceion Rollox