Dear Editor,
Ever since I migrated to Canada more than 6 years ago I have been constantly following developments back home (moreso because I was also a former reporter) and I am very happy that people are rooting for change in the way our country is being governed. I am offering my ‘10 cents’ to the debates about an opposition coalition, with a 30-point action plan (Cheddi Jagan Jnr had a 15-point plan) as well as a proposed cabinet. I have not consulted with any one of the people proposed for the cabinet, so bear that in mind.
Proposed election 2011 manifesto:
Vision – shared governance
Wages and salaries – 15% increase across the board; joint services 20% with strict performance appraisals and zero tolerance for corruption; minimum wage rise to 60,000; tax threshold $75,000.
Total revamp of the Ministry of Education – Qualified teachers get a 25% increase in salaries; performance appraisals with stringent targets; more focus on Science, Technology and Agriculture.
Hire 10-15 retired judges to hear backlog of cases.
Abolish Capital Punishment immediately!
Electricity generation – national consultations held to derive a long-term strategy to end blackouts permanently.
Consult with all stakeholders and develop a ‘new’ National Development Strategy.
Pass Freedom of Information (FOI) legislation within 100 days.
Implement Crime Stoppers Programme within first year of new government.
Establish a local DEA office within first year of the new government.
Run off local government elections within 18 months.
Raise the retirement age to 65 immediately.
Reduce VAT to 10% immediately.
Divest the state newspaper, radio and TV; pass broadcast legislation; invite persons to set up radio stations.
Start constitutional reform consultations immediately.
Parliament to be given more powers.
Cut and review government spending by 15-20% – review all government contracts on a value-for-money basis.
Start negotiations on the road to Brazil – deep water port in Berbice.
Prison reform – new state of the art prison (relocated out of the city).
Review powers of the DPP.
Appoint a qualified Auditor General.
Rename the Guyana Police Force the Guyana Police Service (GPS) – invite British to assist with security reform that was scuttled.
Retool the GDF – give more resources for border patrols and our EEZ.
Abolish executive presidency through a referendum.
Set up commission of inquiry into jailbreak and subsequent violence.
Set up Guyana Secret Intelligence Services.
University of Guyana – more funds for Science, Technology and Agriculture.
Complete Review of the LCDS.
Set up re-migrant scheme to encourage Guyanese back home with attractive incentives.
National task Force set up to drastically reduce deaths on our roadways
Set up a National Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Proposed Government
Joe Singh (President); Raphael Trotman (Prime Minister); Paul Slowe (Minister of Home Affairs); Cheddi Jagan Jnr (Ministry of Agriculture); Christopher Ram (Minister of Finance);
Khemraj Ramjattan (Minister of Legal Affairs); Moses Nagamootoo (Minister of Information); Winston Murray (Minister of Trade); Kathy Hughes (Minister of Education and Culture); Donald Duff (Minister of Youth and Sport); Varshnie Singh (Jagdeo) (Minister of Human Services); Emile Mervin (Minister of the Diaspora); Ian Chang (Minister of Foreign Affairs); Mervyn Williams (Minister of Amerindian Affairs); George Norton (Minister of Health); Peter Ramsaroop (Minister of Public Works & Transport); Clarissa Riehl (Attorney General); Sheila Holder (Head of the Presidential Secretariat); Mark Benschop (Minister of Local Government); Eric Phillips (Minister of Public Services).
Yours faithfully,
Clyde Pestano
