Dear Editor,
Guyana continues to reflect the status as the “fastest growing nation” internationally, while grounded, guided and governed by the policies, principals and projects of the Guyana Government, led by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic, managed, maneuvered and marshalled by the unified trinity of President Dr. Irfaan Ali, Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo and Prime Minister, Brigadier (R’td) Mark Phillips. The PPP/C five-year 2025-2030 manifesto is enveloped in “national economic expansion and infrastructure integration plan and human capital management plan,” among other plans inclusive of health, education, social securities, etc. It is beyond doubt that the peace, progress and prosperity created by the PPP/C remains unparalleled, unchallenged and undisputed by any other political party in Guyana.
According to the President, “the Guyanese economy is not drifting; it is being guided, protected, and anchored by steady, competent hands. The economy is in safe hands – your hands, our hands, the nation’s hands – working together.” While this is so, recent alarming incidents continue to surface to reveal crevices fracturing the sociological networking in the nation. Society continues to bleed at an amazing rate, exposing the fragility of unprotected vulnerability, exposing consistent weaknesses, unintentional avoidances and provoking altercations. The room for remedy remains remorseless!
The promising 18-year-old Essequibo had her life snuffed out after a horrendous accident involving a reckless motorcyclist. The World Bank sounded a caution that the country’s road death rate (15 per 100,000 people) remains high. To allow over 40,000 road traffic tickets to remain unpaid is unimaginable. The deafening sounds on the roadways with lewd, loud and limitless music by motor vehicles is outrageously unacceptable. The infraction on window tinting policy on vehicles as reflected by the Minister of Home Affairs does not attract applause. The brave and promising Minister Waldron, is getting her feet wet and hands soiled in an unfriendly area and fragmented arena.
The deaths of a Berbician woman and her new born baby, leaves an unpleasant vacuum and room for further clinically, in depth studies for improvisation from the providers of health care. The careful and proactive Minister Dr. Frank Anthony will continue to have sleepless nights despite the commendable opening of more hospitals and advanced technological applications. The death from drowning of a former Leonora young woman whose body washed up by Stewartville seashore, paints a picture of sadness and the failure of the system and society. A former private school teacher, a young woman, single, one who suffered from depression and experienced mental instability, is an issue overwhelmingly unsatisfying, to be left ignored or unattended. This story holistically may be inconclusive but yet, it reminds us of how limited our shattered social infrastructure is portrayed as and the shortcomings that need to be urgently addressed, efficiently and effectively. This should not be envisaged as pointing fingers or playing the blaming game.
But without any prejudice, it is death that teaches us about the meaning of the value of life. Should we re-address the teaching profession for guidance and counselling, regardless of private or public institutions? The appeal for more social workers in the villages becomes more apparent and is there any oversight from the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security? Did something go a-miss for more medical attention? Should we culturally re-visit the role of religious institutions? Is there accountability (lack?), transparency or interventions for responsibility from our systemic anomalies that may have been intercepted to relieve the unfortunate suffrage? This is yet another timely incident to review the expansion for far more social undertakings that can be incorporated with our blessed revenues from our abundant resources in this country.
Within the framework of the Ministry of Local Government, promises were made to pay special attention to clean up the communities, provide more safety and security and to make provision to cater to commercializing zones so that there will not be interference with large business entities, workshops and the people in residential areas. How early this will materialize is an open-door approach. Minister Manickchand must be commended for her bold, brazen and brash attempts to commence such a clean-up campaign in some areas. The question of human rights continues to plague the residents in Leonora, other places in Region 3 and yes, the country on the whole. Their safety and security is undermined, not to underplay their mental health status, the dignity of having a pleasant and complete night’s rest and the tranquility of a peaceful ambience. Of course, we target the menace of having to endure the polluted, prostituted and promiscuous repercussions from bars and nightclubs operating until the wee hours of 3 am and onwards in residential areas. When will this nuisance cease?
Why are these infiltrators of lawlessness allowed to renew their licenses when it was publicly and internationally announced by the Ministry of Housing that bars and nightclubs are not allowed to be licensed in residential areas? Who is minding the store and not ending this madness which is affecting poor, innocent and defenseless citizens? This government preaches and practices “promise made – promise fulfilled.” This Government “walks the talk” and not only “talks the talk.” Others provoke “lip service” only but not this Government. But it must be noted that, “while the grass is growing, the horse is starving!” The people’s welfare is not only fragile but fearfully frustrated!