Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Sep 04, 2016 Letters
Dear Editor,
As a citizen of Guyana who has voted in several elections, I wish to make some comments on a few issues I have observed within the past year of APNU/AFC assuming the seat of power. In addition to my right to vote, this is also my right to question what is going on in this country, more so the blatant double standards and dual sets of rules for two different political parties.
When the PPP/C was in government, I observed just how elements of the then opposition, the APNU and AFC, along with support groups of these parties have made governance of Guyana almost intolerable and difficult for the PPP/C. The media became another thorn in the flesh of the PPP/C, observantly, carrying out directly and indirectly the mandate of the APNU/AFC. Every mistake – real and imagined – of the PPP/C resulted in party officials and government ministers being brutally flogged and crucified by the media, the APNU and AFC politicians and many different social and interest groups. Protests were held, throngs of people holding placards for prolonged periods were seen, abuse was heaped on ministers, and much unrest was created.
Almost every sector of society – from the NGOs, women’s group, socio-political groups, legal fraternity and others – were on the ball bashing, criticizing, cursing and denigrating PPP/C ministers. Not only were resignations called for whenever a PPP/C minister or official blundered, but brute actions were taken in the streets and the media belted out its string of attacks daily to ensure that PPP/C ministers were shamed and humiliated and the harshest punitive actions were taken against them.
In the Bherri/Nageer issue for example, calls were made for the minister to be sacked. Every group, every columnist and every patriot were calling for his sacking over a few inappropriate comments. When the labour unions didn’t get their way or their demands met for wages and salaries increase, the country was shut down as the unions engaged in massive and prolonged protests to bully the PPP/C government to grant them what they wanted. When to levy appropriate charges on the Lindeners for consuming electricity, violent protests were held, roads blocked and chaos ensued in a massive unrest. APNU, AFC, the media and its many columnists, international groups and local groups –everyone – were on PPP/C’s case.
Now there is a new government and the then opposition is in the seat of power. What do we observe? Do we observe the same alacrity to crucify wrong-doers when similar blunders are made? Do we see the media and its columnists gunning after the APNU/AFC ministers as they once did the PPP/C ministers? Do we hear from the international bodies, the private sector, business groups, social groups, etc on these blunders? How strong has been the call – if any at all – for any APNU/AFC minister to resign from his/her post for blunders? What was the difference between Bherri’s and Lawrence’s comments that one was harassed and pressured until sacked and the other allowed to proceed as normal?
Health Minister Dr. George Norton is involved in a major scandal involving millions of taxpayers’ money and no call – or no strength in call – for his resignation has been made. None of the groups are joining forces to get him out. His party says he will remain as the minister and justified the scandal as a petty, genuine mistake.
The media, columnists, interest groups, etc all accept it quietly and life has moved on. The health minister lied to the Parliament and the entire country at large – a very grave misdemeanor if ever there was –and no one has anything to say about that. He is allowed to get away with this peacefully and feathers all intact. The minister has nothing to explain to anyone. No protest. No placard bearing protesters. And if this was a PPP/C Minister?
New tolls have been instituted for the use of roads in Linden – 18 different categories of tolls to be specific – with detention of vehicles for those who refuse to comply. How come there is no protest against making the Lindeners having to pay for the usage of the infrastructure in the same way massive protests were held previously when they were told they would have to pay – quite rightly too – for the electricity they consumed? Why no road blocks and burning of tires?
The labour unions are not getting – and will not be getting – their demands met for wages and salaries increase. The APNU/AFC government says they don’t have money to pay them even while there are millions going towards making the ministers extremely comfortable – to the point of luxurious pampering – in their lifestyles.
The gross disrespect of the public servants is even more obvious now than ever since great promises were made to them by APNU/AFC during the election campaign. This is not fulfilled. Are we witnessing massive protests and shut down of the country by union leaders and public servants as they did under the PPP/C when they didn’t get their demands met? I observed the union leaders are sipping tea and talks are continuing in an amiable and understanding environment.
Richard Van West-Charles, CEO of the Guyana Water Inc and son-in-law of Forbes Burnham, is embroiled in a scandal that reeks of cronyism and lacks transparency in the employment of a close friend of his. Do we see the CEO being crucified by the media and politicos? By interest groups, transparency groups, social groups? Have we seen and read mountains of commentaries about cronyism? His questionable actions were fixed quietly and then swept under the carpet. Life continued as normal. The payment of millions of US dollars to BK, the Harmon and BaiShanLin scandal, the Simona Broomes mining permit controversy as well as Richard Van West-Charles fuel import licence controversy, the Volda Lawrence child molestation controversy, the City Hall constant troubles and so many, many more blunders, and we see that a different set of rules are used on the APNU/AFC ministers versus the previous administration. The question is why? I observed the quiet acceptance of Ramjattan’s comment that they are party of humans and not angels and therefore, they will make mistakes. Was the PPP/C not a party of humans prone to mistakes too?
Why is one set of rules used on the PPP/C when it was in government and another used for the APNU/AFC? Why is the APNU/AFC allowed to get away so easily with their blunders when that same party and media and others didn’t allow the PPP/C to get away with mistakes they made? Why did the labor unions make the country ungovernable and hindered the growth of the economy with great militancy, aggression and force under the PPP/C but now is taking an inert approach towards the APNU/AFC? I would love to hear the answers.
Daren J. Harish
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