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Put an end to orchestrated forays into parts of the country’s capital Aug 18, 2024 Letters Dear Editor, Around this same time in August 2020, I broke ranks  with some of my colleagues when I proposed that we give young President Irfaan Ali an opportunity to do things necessary to make Guyana good and glorious. In many areas, some of us remain disappointed  and my advice to the President is that he  ensures  surrounding him are people of competence and capable of credible research. For now,  I will avoid mentioning the terrible conditions we discovered in the Housing Sector in 2015. It reminds us all that earlier President Ali stated  that we all came here for betterment. That only when Descendants of enslaved Africans pointed to the absurdity of this, he sought to correct it. Our President must be careful when making public pronouncements. At the Building Expo, he declared there were 357 Contractors. An impossibility. A Contractor is a trained person or unit, with the appropriate skills depending on the job. (Plumbing, Electrical, Carpentry, Masonry, appropriate equipment and machinery etc.). I make a bet challenging the President to produce the 357 Contractors based on the above criteria. Speaking for myself, and others, we are not interested in the big bucks but feel that all Guyanese, irrespective of what ships we came in, deserve to benefit from the massive sums now available. The fact that this Government is not collaborating with the Opposition and civil society, to get much, much more out of our non-renewable natural resources is another matter. For now, what follows, represents a weakness of a Government, that for the first time in this country, has available large sums of money but has been a dismal failure in identifying men and women with the competent sense of nationalism to manage those resources and therefore offer to Guyanese, a better quality of life. The sugar Industry is a classic case. Read Tony Viera’s letter published in Kaieteur News Letters, August 15, 2024, titled “Throwing money at GuySuCo now is just fueling more corruption and has nothing to do with reviving that dead corporation,”  and you will see the silly steps our Government is making with sugar that consumed the energies and dignity of our ancestors in the cotton and sugar plantations. Two, this morning at 8:58am, there was a blackout in my area and large parts of Georgetown. We have lots of money, a Turkish ship, etc. The problem Mr. President, again, is management. People in this and other communities described what is coming out of our water pipes as mud Three, as the new term beckons, why should our teachers in the public sector still be arguing with the Government for a decent, reasonable, livable wage. Is it because the big ones can afford to pay the high fees at private schools, ensuring that the gap between the haves and the haves not is widening.  All that is necessary for equity is to put in place, immediately free education from nursery to university, so that every child is given an opportunity to develop his or her full potential. Four, why is it that certain drugs, to sustain life, are either not available in a public health institution and in some cases, not available in Guyana and if available at some instances, beyond the reach of ordinary folks and unless they can afford to travel to countries, as near as Suriname, Trinidad or Barbados to obtain these medicines. Fifty, visiting with me were some of my grandchildren. They are all disappointed; in spite of boasting by our Ministries, the majority of fruits and vegetables are imported. Recall, the PPP were critical of an earlier Feed, Clothe and House project. Six, when listening to the Press Conference report by the President, he talked about everything under the sun, except as Head of State, to give this nation the available facts and prognosis  with respect to the two items, that if properly managed, can make every Guyanese comfortable and happy. If the President wishes history to judge him kindly, he must put an end to these orchestrated forays into parts of the country’s capital. Further, sit with the elected representatives of the City, examine the Greater Georgetown Development Plan. Further, support Community  Meetings, from Kingston to Agricola initiated some years ago, allowing citizens to appreciate the vital role they must play to make Georgetown, the Garden City, the envy of those who come to visit the President and others. A sine-qua-non must be the identification of persons to do these works based solely on their competence, experience and commitment. Allow me to compliment the President. Whenever I have the occasion to write to him, I receive a reply or acknowledgement. This is a good augury and I publicly congratulate him and hope that he can persuade the cultural barbarians over whom he presides to follow such a good example. Hamilton Green Elder Related Similar Articles

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Strengthen Ties with India Aug 17, 2024 Letters Dear Editor, India observed the 77th anniversary of its independence last August 15. India has significant influence on former colonies, including Guyana and several West Indian territories) of empires. India has doled out enormous developmental aid to former colonies like Guyana, Suriname, etc., to build infrastructure and to lift standard of living. India has been increasing its economic, political, and cultural connections with every country including those in Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America. India is an increasingly important player in the world stage, a key driver of global growth, accounting for over 15% of world’s total economic output. India has very strong trade ties with many countries and is also a major source of skilled immigrants, many of whom invested money for startups and job creation. India’s independence in 1947 paved the way for dozens of other colonies in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, including Guyana’s, belonging to France, Holland, Belgium, Portugal, and Britain. Former colonies have looked to India (since formation of the Non-Aligned Movement in the 1950s, BRICS, and international organizations) for global leadership on political events and economic development. India is an increasingly important country with a growing economy (economic powerhouse) and population and having a vast array of human resources in every area imaginable. India is also an agricultural powerhouse, a leader in production of several commodities. India has become the fastest growing major economy over the last decade with the world’s largest middle class that is the size of the middle class of all of Europe combined. Not surprisingly, every developed country and major economy have turned to India for trade treaties or economic cooperation. India is the most populous country in the world with its economy growing rapidly. It has the fifth largest GDP and is among the top seven most industrialized nations. It also has the largest pool of ‘uncontrolled’ (free to migrate unlike Chinese skilled personnel) technical labor, including engineers and medical personnel, and ITech specialists, who are prized by foreign multinationals and wooed for settlement abroad. India is also a nuclear power and has a large military force. It has joined the club of space explorers and has been launching satellites including for commercial purposes; India launched European, Asian, and American satellites in space. And using its own satellites, India has shared information on climate and agricultural challenges with developing countries. India is a major destination for students from developing countries like Guyana and from Africa and Asia, acquiring a skill set. Developed countries are destinations for Indian professionals seeking education and or work opportunities in technical industries. Even Guyana has recruited some skilled personnel from India in various sectors including medical, engineering, agriculture, and computer. India has rendered considerable developmental assistance to Guyana and Caribbean territories; in fact, on a per capita basis, Guyana is the largest recipient of India’s assistance in the west. Indian companies have also invested in Guyana. Vishnu Bisram Related Similar Articles