Latest update March 29th, 2024 12:59 AM
Aug 12, 2010 Letters
Dear Editor,
I am aware that Guyana has a serious drug problem, but politicians and political pundits must avoid taking that stuff… it’s dangerous.
I have to admit; the opposition parties, specifically the leadership of the Alliance for Change (AFC), are not exactly building confidence among the electorate that they are ready for prime-time.
The more some within the AFC try to justify their case for not forming an alliance with the PNCR, the more they’re sounding like a bunch of political opportunists on an ego trip, and behaving like a spoilt brat who is prepared to take his ball and go home if he’s not allowed to bat.
Peeping Tom suggested in Kaieteur News (August 4) that the AFC could become the next main opposition party, and this is how he proposes it will happen: AFC will contest the General Election with Khemraj Ramjattan as the AFC’s Presidential Candidate. After losing to the PPP/C in 2011, he would become the next Leader of the Opposition, “and eventually have to give way in 2016 to Raphael Trotman when the AFC would be in a stronger position to challenge the PPP and perhaps win the presidency.”
No offence to Peeping Tom, but he must have been smoking something when he wrote this article.
In a letter (Kaieteur News August 2) Sasenarine Singh wrote “The AFC has a legacy to build”. Problem is: while the grass is growing, the horse is starving.
Then in another letter captioned: “The AFC was formed so as to provide an alternative to the PPP and PNCR” (Kaieteur News August 11), Gerhard Ramsaroop wrote, “The AFC is the only major political party that can boast that it has earned every single vote it got at elections…..To put it in its correct perspective, the AFC did not get a single vote from the PNCR or the PPP, but from some 30,000 Guyanese citizens…..I personally believe that the best possible result to the 2011 election is that the AFC wins it. My second best scenario is that no single party wins an outright majority, and this of course, is only realisable if there is a three-horse race.”
I sincerely hope that this is Mr. Ramsaroop’s personal view, and it does not reflect the policy of the AFC, for these are the facts: There are only two major political parties, and the AFC is not yet one of them. The votes that the AFC received in 2006 came from known PNCR strongholds, and I believe former PNCR member Raphael Trotman was mostly responsible for those votes. The AFC did not exist prior to the 2006 General Elections to have “earned” those votes; rather, it reflects a willingness by ‘Afro-Guyanese’ to cross party lines to “test-drive the new car”. But if the AFC keeps up this rhetoric, they are unlikely to retain the seats they now hold in Parliament.
There are three things that all the leaders of the opposing political parties have in common: (1) They all want the best for the people of Guyana, (2) They all want to get rid of the oppressive PPP/C regime, and (3) they all want to be the next Executive President of Guyana. Unfortunately, the first and second can only be achieved if the opposition can find common ground, and unite in the best interest of Guyana and all Guyanese. Time is running out…a common campaign strategy needs to be designed and implemented; campaign financing needs to commence; but most important, the opposition leaders need to speak with one voice in harmony with each other; and the leadership of both PNCR and AFC need to get their act together now, and not wait for Christmas.
Unlike Gerhard Ramsaroop who is obviously bias and seems determined to be the spoiler in a three-party split, my loyalty is to the people and not to any political party. So rest assured that any party in power, who fails to do the best for Guyana will always have me as a critic.
However, I do feel that the opposition has the best opportunity in 2011 to rid Guyanese of the tyranny they’re under. The PPP/C shamelessly continues to blame the Burnham administration for all their failures over the past 18 years; more than enough time for them to undo all the wrongs that were done and to have built a legacy of their own.
Instead, we have the most corrupt, secretive, dictatorship that does not feel the need to be accountable to anyone.
Guyanese have had it with the Jagdeo Administration, and they’re looking at the opposition for leadership… not in 2016, but right now! But if all they see is a bunch of want-to-be Presidents disorganised and fighting among themselves, they may well decide to stay with the devil they know, and who can blame them.
I objectively believe that the best possible ticket to win in 2011, is the PNCR under Winston Murray as the Presidential Candidate, in alliance with the rest of the opposition, giving the Prime Minister position to the AFC Leader, even if it’s Khemraj Ramjattan. Having two Indo-Guyanese head the coalition may be the best strategy to win over a significant amount of PPP defectors and those few independent voters, while retaining the PNCR base. Murray is an astute politician, credible, respectable and a brilliant economist; just the leader we need to save this sinking ship.
Alternatively, if the AFC refuses to listen to the cries of the people, and focus on building their “legacy” rather than saving the nation, then the PNCR should continue their effort to form a broad-base alliance with civic-minded Guyanese, even from within the AFC and the PPP/C. With Winston Murray as the PNCR Presidential candidate, the Prime Minister position may be an alluring prospect for either Raphael Trotman or Speaker of the House Ralph Ramkarran to do the right thing to alleviate the sufferings of the Guyanese people.
Harry Gill
Electricity theft is ubiquitous
Dear Editor,
It is indeed very inspiring to see that Guyana Power and Light (GPL) along with the Honorable Prime Minister Mr. Samuel Hind (who has ministerial jurisdiction over the power company) are embarking on the Electricity Sector Reform (Amendment) Bill 2010. Electricity theft remains a major challenge for the power company as it strives desperately to reduce losses.
Already there are arguably strict penalties for persons who are caught stealing electricity. The last time I checked, I believe the fine for anyone caught stealing electricity is that of $50,000 and a compulsory one-year jail term.
This to me is quite a frightening penalty to pay for illegal electricity. Some have even paid with their lives when electrocution fatally administered judgment on the careless culprit. Even the innocent suffered unsuspectingly if they came into contact with illegal wires. Some have even lost precious household items to fires caused by illegal connections.
What confuses me however is the fact that such harsh penalties exist for electricity theft and still this now cancerous problem remains prevalent in every corner of the Guyanese society. The light that ever so often conveniently shines on electricity theft would lead the public to believe that this problem is only prevalent in one section of society. That is not so! Electricity theft is ubiquitous.
GPL has set up a division to focus entirely on loss reduction. And while loss reduction embodies the reduction of both technical and nontechnical losses, more energy must be focused on eradicating the many ingenious forms of electricity theft that prevail.
GPL needs to deal severely with persons found stealing electricity in whatever form they find. GPL needs to make examples of those persons in the business community who steal electricity. Regardless of whether a person is a friend or a foe to the organisation if they are caught stealing electricity they must face the full brunt of the law.
The amendments being made are good. It is heartening to see the power company working towards stricter legislation to combat electricity theft. However if the proper enforcement is not practiced, if the persons caught stealing power are not prosecuted accordingly, these amendments would be but an academic exercise.
Maybe the Honorable Prime Minister needs to set some specific targets for GPL to achieve with regard to the tangible reduction of electricity theft.
This problem needs to be eliminated. I would appeal to GPL to ensure that those in charge of the Loss Reduction Division are properly qualified and are functioning efficiently and effectively in the fight against electricity theft.
If proper enforcement does not accompany these new amendments things would remain as the saying goes: with Peter (the legitimate consumer) paying for Paul.
Richard Francois
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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