Dear Editor,
Please allow me to share my views on my recent visit to Region Two over the past week for the opening of the Anna Regina National Stadium, during which time President Irfaan Ali also had a cabinet outreach to various villages along the region.
Firstly, I must commend the leadership of the RDC, Town Council and NDCs for having what I regard as the most beautiful and kept region and county in Guyana. I have walked throughout Guyana in rain and sun, and Essequibo, which is We Own, is the cleanest region I have ever seen in Guyana. Congrats and keep up the beauty and cleanliness of this region.
As I travel along the region, I observe vast development and was honoured to witness the opening of the Anna Regina National Stadium, which seems to be, and I know is an international standard facility.
I must commend the Minister of Sports for having such investment in this region, to boost local sports tourism and also investments for the development of sports throughout the region.
As in Essequibo, I took the opportunity to interact with several of my colleagues who were, and I say were, because I don’t think they are part of the AFC anymore, as they claim to be neutral, and had some nice conversations as I listened to what their take on what’s happening in the region.
I also had the opportunity to visit several meetings, mainly where farmers were engaged, because I am interested in the agri sector for its betterment, and most of those colleagues in Region Two are involved in farming.
As we talk agriculture and its way forward, it was very astonishing to hear their views and talk as to how to better the industry and their region. A few were bent, as they are always on race-baiting political views and see nothing happening, either bad or good, but yet again it’s their way, although they are also benefiting from every aspect of government giving to the agricultural sectors in their region.
At the end of all of our conversations, it was agreed, and we concluded that under the former Minister Noel Holder and PNC government, as I always put it, that between 2015-2020 Guyana’s agriculture sector was on the decline and farmers were facing a downturn in production and investments.
In fact, one of my close friends said to us that under that period even the Burnham strategy of eat what you plant wasn’t working because you could not afford to plant or invest to eat because no one cared for the agriculture sector development, and I fully endorsed it.
As our conversation was surrounded by arguments and at times got up and left, we still had a respectful conversation, and almost all of them agreed that agriculture in their region is better off than where it was between 2015 and 2020, and more so they saw more development generally within their region as lots of investments were done from 2020 to present.
I attended several meetings where farmers were allowed to express their concerns as to what’s happening in the sector and how it can be better and what is holding it back at times. And yes, I must agree with the farmers that many of the officials within the regional agricultural sector are lackadaisical and just doing things to help themselves and friends and making the minister, President, and government get the blame.
It was evident in many cases that matters that could have been simply addressed by those officials had to be raised with the minister, and it was resolved immediately. Officials need to be held accountable for their inaction to help farmers.
As I sat in the meeting at Anna Regina where President Ali and Minister Mustapha were part of and rice farmers attended in their numbers, I must say that President Ali’s address and interaction with the farmers was real, down-to-earth.
The President spoke of the many developments taking place in the region, but many don’t see it as their way of benefiting from the government. Yes, the roads that they are walking, driving, and using every day, some don’t see that as a development. Why? Because they are blinded by the opposition politicians.
For me, the opposition politicians don’t even see the children’s “Because We Care Cash Grant” that they are collecting on their children’s behalf as development, yet collecting it.
In Essequibo, from what I gathered, is that from 2020 to now the agriculture sector has improved rapidly and saw billions of dollars in investment being made by the private sector and farmers because they see improvements in the economy not only nationally but also in the region.
Some of my colleagues said to me that during the PNC rule, they had no intention to invest anymore in agriculture because nothing was happening to improve the sector in their region, but just all political talk and no action.
I agree with them and had to enlighten them that not only farmers in Essequibo were suffering but throughout the length and breadth of Guyana. Every region saw a decline in agricultural activities and investments.
Under the former government, farmers weren’t allowed to even speak for their rights because the then Agriculture Minister Holder was pinned down on a chair within his office and wasn’t going to the regions to listen to farmers, but solely relying on his friends and political buddies who were feeding him wrong information, and he used that as his mantra.
Holder, as I always say, was a dead meat minister, and the fact is, he couldn’t act as he wanted but had to get PNC and Granger approval before he could do anything, and all they had wanted him to do was to kill the sugar industry and bury agriculture in Guyana, which they almost did, but in late 2020 the sector had a comeback under PPP.
Agriculture in Essequibo is better now than before, and many farmers are in high praise for the leadership in the agriculture sector, especially for Minister Mustapha, and more so for the strong leadership of President Ali’s vision for a better Guyana and agriculture sector.
Those who know me know that I say as it is, and my visit to Essequibo was to hear what’s happening and say as it is so that the people, especially farmers, can have the real representation they need.
People of Essequibo are in high praise for the government and its many developments taking place, especially in farming and infrastructure developments. Yes, some issues can be resolved within the RDC, Town Council and NDCs without waiting for the President or ministers to visit to deal with, but as Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo says, too many of the locals in positions are acting as “lords over the people,” and Essequibo is no exception.
I am calling on the relevant authorities, especially the Ministry of Local Government knowingly that Minister Manickchand is working diligently to better communities and villages to ensure that the local officials meet, listen to the people, and address their concerns on time.
Having those officials working for the people, we will have better communities and villages, and that’s what we need. Now that the councillors’ stipends are raised, ask them for a monthly report because we cannot give them tax dollars for free for sitting down. They need to look after their communities.
I call on the Minister of Agriculture, Mustapha, to see that all your regional staff walk the walk and listen to the farmers and assist when necessary, and to make full representation in having their matters resolved without waiting for you to visit.
Essequibo, from what I see, is moving and developing rapidly, and with development comes criticism, but the government needs to improve the work to shut up the critics and the naysayers who are also benefiting in every aspect from this government.
I must commend President Ali, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, and all the ministers for ensuring that they walk the walk, talk the talk, visit regions after regions, and listen to the people by bringing solutions to their issues.
The PNC government never even tried to walk the walk, but all they do is talk and talk trash, and that’s why they are today pushing the cart instead of leading, and they have a long time to push because no one in their rightful sense should give them heed and trust any opposition party to lead Guyana again. I remember former Minister Annette Ferguson attending the wrong funeral and the “Phagwali” celebrations lol.
Under the PPP government and President Ali’s leadership, Guyana is positively moving forward for the betterment of all of Guyana as we strive towards that One Guyana.