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Oct 11, 2014 News
– “Combined cost of corruption, cronyism and the narco-driven crime wave has taken a toll on the quality of life in Guyana.”
By Kiana Wilburg
Prior the November 2011 elections, it appeared that the electorate was losing enthusiasm and disconnecting itself
from party politics. However, the political opposition believes that its performance and dedication towards shielding the citizens from abuses and executive lawlessness have renewed the collective hope of the people that a drastic, positive change will be realized.
Judging from his recent local government outreaches across the nation, Leader of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), David Granger, has concluded that the combined cost of corruption, cronyism and the narco-driven crime wave have taken a toll on the quality of life in Guyana. He said that it is those reasons, and more, which have caused the electorate to “turn its back on the People’s Progressive Party (PPP).”
The Opposition Leader made this remark during an interview with this publication yesterday after a press conference which was held at his Hadfield Street, Headquarters.
At his press conference, Granger highlighted that the PPP observed the 22nd anniversary of the 1992 General and Regional elections on Sunday (October 5). The elections, he noted, resulted in the Party’s return to Office on October 9, 1992. While the anniversary was “quietly observed”, Granger believes that this was so because the PPP, is facing an inescapable reality—that it has failed the people.
The politician said that the PPP’s return to Office led to the gradual “criminalization” of the State and precipitated several grave crises, more specifically in the post-2001 period.
The first, he highlighted, was the public security crisis. He explained that armed robberies, banditry in the hinterland regions, murderous maritime piracy along the coastland, suicides, fuel-smuggling, gun-running and contraband smuggling still prevail in Guyana. In this regard, Granger reiterated that the combined cost of corruption, cronyism, graft and the narco-driven crime wave has taken a toll on the quality of life in Guyana.
Ranking number two on his list of governmental crises was the disaster taking place in the public service. The APNU Parliamentarian said that regulatory and law-enforcement agencies – most particularly the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU); the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) – have been starved of adequate assets, equipment, financing and personnel to such an extent as to impair their ability to function effectively.
He said too, that the Government Information Agency (GINA), the National Communication Network (NCN) and the Guyana National Newspapers Ltd (Guyana Chronicle) rigorously exclude Opposition political parties and the dissenting views of civil society. He added that the state media houses have increasingly become agencies of the ruling political party — the PPP.
As it relates to the human development crisis, Granger said that public protests have become the most effective expressions of resistance against the PPP’s mismanagement of public health, public security, public works and the public education system.
He said that Guyana, in the new millennium, has become more unsafe, unsanitary and more unstable than ever before, owing to the high rate of crime and the low quality of life.
In further support of Granger’s points, Shadow Minister for Local Government, Ronald Bulkan said that while he has not seen any celebrations from the PPP which is usually extravagant during this observance, he is not at all surprised since considering the Government’s track record, “there really is nothing to celebrate.”
He said, “After the 2011 elections, the electorate showed that it rejects the Government’s winner-take-all approach and the message of the voters was clear. Their decision signaled the need for cooperation but the Government has chosen to reject that message. It has chosen to disregard the decisions of the National Assembly and brought three budgets without consultation with the political opposition. It is for these reasons, and so many more, that the Guyanese people have turned their backs on the PPP and in light of that; there really is nothing to celebrate.”
Granger in one of his books, Public Policy—the crisis of government in Guyana, spoke about the concern for the breakdown of citizens’ interest in party politics. However, the politician said that based on his most recent conversations with citizens all across the nation, he believes that there is a strong sense of hope that is growing amongst the people, for they believe in the Opposition’s ability to offer them a better life.
“There is no longer a feeling of apathy, for the people are more interested now because they feel there is a sure possibility for change with the political opposition,” Granger concluded.
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