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PPP’s optics can be blinding Oct 18, 2024 Features / Columnists Peeping tom… Kaieteur News – The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) knows the art of optics. It has mastered the skill of putting on a show, creating the kind of images that play well in the public eye and allow it to wield a psychological advantage. Recently, the PPP held a youth conference at Tain in Region 6. It managed to gather a few hundred young people—though they branded it as 3,000—in a sea of red T-shirts. The event was trumpeted as a sign of the PPP’s strong youth presence. But what do these optics really reveal? Not much, if we’re honest. The truth is that the youth arm of the PPP has long been a shadow of its former self. Under Bharrat Jagdeo’s presidency, the Progressive Youth Organization (PYO)—once the vibrant and revolutionary driving force behind the PPP’s grassroots activisim—slipped into terminal decline. By the time the United States began playing a more active role in shaping Guyanese civil society, particularly in organizing young people into a new movement, the PYO had become, in Jagdeo’s own favoured words, “moribund.” The decline was stark. For years, the PYO barely made a sound, let alone an impact. When an effort was made in 2011 to breathe life back into the organization, it fizzled quickly, with no real revival taking place. The PPP limped into the 2011 elections with Donald Ramotar emerging as a minority president, and the PYO remained largely absent from the national scene, despite a few attempts to show otherwise. Now, with the 2025 elections looming large, it seems that the PPP has decided to put on yet another show. This time, it’s aiming to create the impression that it has a powerful and vibrant youth arm. But can a one-off conference really demonstrate the strength and influence of young people within the party’s ranks? The answer, of course, is no. Gathering young people in red T-shirts to sit through speeches and to listen to party leaders is one thing. Organizing these young people into a coherent, disciplined, and active political arm is something else entirely. The recent youth conference may have provided the right optics—images of youthful faces, a sea of red, and a party leadership that seems engaged with the next generation—but it says little about the true state of the PYO or the PPP’s commitment to young people. For the PPP to genuinely convince the public that it has a robust youth movement, it will need to do far more than stage flashy events. The party needs to show that the PYO is not just alive but actively involved in communities across the country. Where are the PYO’s community groups, and what practical work are they doing? How are they helping to address the everyday concerns of young people, like employment, education, and security? Where is the leadership of the PYO in pushing these issues to the forefront of the party’s agenda? Moreover, there is a deeper issue at play here—one that goes beyond the optics. It’s about inclusion, involvement, and genuine empowerment of young people within the PPP. Rather than assembling young people for a photo opportunity and a pep talk from party leaders, the PPP needs to give them a real place at the table. It needs to involve them in the decision-making processes at the highest levels, and not just use them as foot soldiers for electoral campaigns. The PPP has a history of talking about its commitment to young people, but too often this has not translated into action. There is little evidence that the PYO plays a significant role in shaping party policy or that young people are being groomed for leadership within the party’s structures. Instead, many young people feel like they are being lectured to from a podium rather than being heard and engaged as equal partners. When the cameras are turned off, and the social media posts stop, what remains? The PPP’s optics can be impressive, but they often obscure the reality of what is going on within the party. A real commitment to young people would mean more than organizing events; it would mean building a structure where young people have a voice, where they are empowered to shape the future of the party and the country. As it stands, the PPP’s approach seems more focused on creating the right visuals than on addressing the deeper issues facing the youth in the party and the country. The optics may make for good headlines and social media posts, but they will not be enough to convince young people that the PPP is genuinely committed to their interests. The PPP has a chance to change this narrative. It can choose to move beyond the optics and make a real investment in its youth arm, not just for the sake of winning the next election but for the long-term future of the party. This means revitalizing the PYO, not just as a token group but as a dynamic and influential part of the PPP’s broader movement. It means giving young people a seat at the table, empowering them to shape policy, and ensuring that their voices are heard at the highest levels. Related Similar Articles

Oct 18, 2024 Editorial Editorial… Kaieteur News – The cash coming from the PPPC Government is producing much excitement for Guyanese.  Cash coming left, right, and center, and with a few loud blasts.  The biggest one of all is President Ali’s $200,000 one-off cash distribution for each Guyanese household. In a flash, Guyanese went from famine to feast, for $200,000 in hand is a bag of money that was not there before.  Though prices are sure to take on a life of their own, as is customary in such circumstances, $200,000 have some limited staying power, and the power to make a difference in the lives of struggling Guyanese.  Without admitting ignorance or incompetence, a new announcement modifies and expands the original $200,000 to cover more Guyanese, but at the smaller $100,000 level. The one-off cash grant should give Guyanese who need relief an ease, if it reaches them.  They could clear debts incurred to manage with cost-of-living, with some spare cash left to enjoy a decent holiday season.  The concern is where does this leave the Guyanese man-in-the-street, the teachers, public servants, and minimum wage workers, when the $100,000 cash grant is consumed.  The prices of essential items are rising with little reprieve in sight, so it could be back to square one, with the poor in this country feeling the squeeze, hit hard.  The cash handout is welcomed, has its uses, but what would help Guyanese more is to be presented with a plan (and a program) that is more than a bold headline.  A plan that is enduring because it represents what is fair to citizens in a rich oil producing country, with the national wealth spread out sensibly and cleanly.  Though it is a cloud on President Ali’s parade, this latest cash handout, for its helpful positives, has corruption written on every envelope.  When the amount stated is considered, many in the PPPC Government circle will have frequent opportunities for self-enrichment.  After several cash handouts this lesson should have been learned by now, with a different relief system put in place.  The “per household” cash prize was sure to generate both disagreements, which led to the revised $100,000 grant. To put more cash in Guyanese workers’ hands, there’s an increase in the income tax threshold, with a child credit announced.  This offers some ease, but it is a pittance.  This again emphasizes the government’s approach that is firmly settled in a drips-and-drabs mode, when a strong and steady hand to all Guyanese is what is needed.  Also, those workers who came painfully close, but not close enough, to collecting an NIS pension stand as prospective beneficiaries of a $10B one-off injection into that institution.  Some 3,800 workers should now be in line to receive a monthly NIS pension.  Along with those provisions, there is the universal $10,000 health voucher benefit, and free university tuition set to begin in 2025.  In fairness, it could be said that Guyanese have been offered some relief from their ongoing battles with managing to live with some dignity in the richest country in the world per capita.  Certainly, they make a dent, but more is needed, for this is a country where billions upon billions are being spent (and squandered) on pet projects about which so little is known, so little confidence is vested. Because the PPPC Government is so ecstatic by the opportunities for corruption under the umbrellas of infrastructure and protected agencies, that is where the bulk of budget funds have gone.  It explains why one eye-catching public works project after another makes the headlines, for this is where the government’s interest is foremost.  Supplementary allocations for failing institutions have also fueled more corruption. To a significant extent, this has been to the detriment of citizens, with those living on starvation wages feeling the full force of their needs and not being able to do much about their predicament.  Meanwhile, a dependency syndrome is fostered, with citizens having no choice but to wait on hands and knees for the president to make a grand entry and create a splash.  This is where President Ali is in his element.  He is happy to be a leader more of sound that quickly fades than one of substance that lasts Related Similar Articles

Oct 18, 2024 News The current Lethem Hospital in Region Nine. Kaieteur News – The National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) has disclosed that  CMEC- Sinopharmintl Consortium out of China has been awarded the contract to design and build the new Lethem Hospital in Region Nine. The consortium was among six firms who initially submitted bids for the contract and was then shortlisted with three other firms out of China to further bid for the contract. Information released from NPTAB had revealed that CMEC- Sinopharmintl Consortium submitted a financial proposal of US$31,099,200 to construct the hospital. This publication reported that the construction of the hospital falls under a US$97 million – Health Care Network Strengthen – Inter-America Development Bank (IDB) loan. In its tender, the Health Ministry had stated that part of the proceeds would be allocated to the construction of the Lethem Hospital, which is envisioned to operate at a level-five standard. The IDB loan, secured by the Guyana Government in December 2022, forms part of a broader effort to strengthen the nation’s healthcare network under the Conditional Credit Line for Investment Projects (CCLIP). The comprehensive programme aims to bolster the capacity of seven hospitals across various regions, including key hinterland areas and urban centres. It was reported that the loan will be used to improve the health of the Guyanese population through increased access to quality and efficient health services by improving health outcomes associated with low and high-complexity procedures. This will be done by expanding the capacity of strategic hospitals, extending coverage of diagnostic, medical consultation, and patient management services, inclusive of the country’s hinterlands, through digital health; and by increasing the efficiency of the public health system, by strengthening key logistic, management, and support processes and inputs. The project is also expected to target infrastructure improvement and expansion in seven priority hospitals, namely the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), the New Amsterdam Regional Hospital (NARH), and the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC), as well as four District Hospitals located in the hinterland (Moruca, Kamarang, Kato, and Lethem). Related Similar Articles

Oct 18, 2024 News The Sheriff Specialty Hospital at Palmyra under construction Kaieteur News – The Sheriff Specialty Hospital in Palmyra, Berbice, is progressing smoothly, the company said in a press release. The $4b state-of-the art facility, which is being built on 15 acres of land, is expected to be completed by August 2025 and is the first of its kind in Berbice, the company said. The world-class hospital will cater to all medical surgeries with $10–15b worth of medical equipment. The 150-room, three storey building will offer some 400 jobs to Berbicans. The facility will also provide housing for doctors and some staff. The hospital is expected to offer the best medical services at a low cost.  Some services that will be offered at the hospital will include heart surgery, eye surgery, plastic surgery, and more. Related Similar Articles

Truck driver dies after collision with tractor Oct 18, 2024 News Image displaying the aftermath of the collison with the tractor and lorry Kaieteur News – A 65-year-old man lost his life on Tuesday afternoon, after the driver of an unregistered tractor/trailer failed to stop and collided with the motor lorry he was driving on Litchfield Public Road, West Coast Berbice (WCB). The dead man has been identified as Gokaran Lackram, who resided at Lot 41 ‘A’ Cotton Tree Village, WCB. The man who operated the tractor was identified as 52-year-old Sherlock George, of Lichfield Village, WCB. Police reported that the accident occurred at about 17:45h, when Lackram was proceeding east along the northern side of Lichfield Public Road, negotiating a right bend. Whilst George was proceeding south from an access road, failed to stop at the Lichfield public road junction and ended up in the lorry’s path. “This caused the front of the lorry to collide with the right side of the trailer,” Police reported. The impact severely damaged both vehicles. Lackram, along with two porters seated in the tray of the lorry, sustained injuries and were extracted from the wreckage in an unconscious state. They were promptly taken to Fort Wellington Hospital, where Lackram unfortunately died while receiving medical attention. The two porters were admitted in stable condition for observation. Related Similar Articles

Oct 18, 2024 News The Liza Unity FPSO Kaieteur News – ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL), the operator of Guyana’s prolific Stabroek Block is currently in discussion with the Government of Guyana (GoG) to further increase the daily rate of oil production at the Liza Two project. This was revealed by the President of EMGL, Alistair Routledge during a media conference last week at the company’s Duke Street, Kingston, Georgetown office. He explained that the oil giant is currently producing a combined total of about 665,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd). “For Liza Phase One that capacity it’s authorized above 160,000 (bpd) but our current capacity is 150,000 barrels per day. For the Liza Phase Two and Payara developments is 252,000 barrels per day (each) of authorized production.” In May this year, the company signaled its intention to increase the daily rate of production at Liza Two, operated by the Liza Unity Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel. It later received the blessings of government to conduct debottlenecking activities to increase the production. This activity was completed in August.  Routledge reported that the facilities were operating as expected by the company, but it is still hoping to boost production further. According to him, “We are ongoing discussions review with various agencies including the EPA and with the Ministry of Natural Resource on whether to increase the production on the Unity FPSO above the 252,000.” He said the process was very methodical where the company would review the facilities for bottlenecks to improve recovery of the resources. This informs the work of the technical team, as it did during the last shut-down in August for Unity. During the process, the company would focus on increasing the capacity of heat exchangers; analyzing the trims on valves and others. He explained that prior to the physical activities on the vessels, the team would conduct analyses and risk assessments. It is followed by reporting to the EPA to inform the regulator of the new performance of the systems. Notably, the company does not proceed with ramping up production until it gets the green-light from the agency. Routledge said Exxon currently believes the Liza Unity can be increased to 270,000 bpd. Presently Exxon is producing oil at three projects in the Stabroek Block. Each of the developments have an estimated 20-year project life; however, the Liza One and Liza Two projects are likely to be cut short as almost half of the oil has already been drained. Last month this newspaper reported that Liza One, which commenced oil production in December 2019, has already produced close to 200 million barrels of oil (MBO). The Field Development Plan for that project however indicates that the project, operated by the Liza Destiny Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, has a reserve of 452 MBO. This means that 44% of the reserves are already drained. Similarly, at the Liza Two project, the Ministry reported that almost 200 MBO have been produced by Exxon since the commencement of production activities in February 2022. That field, according to the FDP holds about 570 MBO. Consequently, 35% of the reserves have already been produced by the company. It could also be deduced that about 40% of the collective reserves at the two projects have been depleted. Meanwhile, at the current rate of production, ExxonMobil could drain the remaining resources in just over seven years. Related Similar Articles

Budhan Memorial Turf Club horserace meet set for October 20 Oct 18, 2024 Sports Over $2M in cash and other incentives up for grabs    Kaieteur Sports – The Budhan Memorial Turf Club (BMTC) situated at No 66 Village Corentyne, Berbice is expected to come alive this Sunday, 20th October when they host a one day horserace meet. Six races are listed for the day with over $2M in cash, trophies and other incentives up for grabs. The feature event is for 3-year old animals and all K class and lower horses over one mile. The winning purse is $250,000 and trophy. There is an L class open race over 6 furlongs for a winning purse of $150,000 and trophies. The two year old maiden horses will compete over 6 furlongs for a winner’s take of $100,000 and trophy. The L2 and lower class horses will also race over 6 furlongs for a first prize of $100,000 and trophy. There is a race for M and lower horses for a pole position take of $60,000 and trophy. The final event will see farm horses racing for a $60,000 winner’s money and trophy also over 6 furlongs. The track is in good condition and an action packed day of racing is anticipated. Interested persons can contact any member of the Club for further information. Race time is 13:00 hrs.   (Samuel Whyte) Related Similar Articles