Robert Persaud should take to the debate stage not James Singh

Dear Editor,

Permit me to congratulate APNU parliamentarian and Shadow Minister of Public Works and Communication, Joseph Harmon, for his relentless pursuit of fairness and justice on behalf of all Guyanese. I am encouraged by his passion and conviction to do what is right for the people. The recent Bai Shan Lin (BSL) scandal and Mr Harmon’s swift consent to a public debate on the matter is indicative of his commitment to engage the government in order that the secrecy which surround the deal regarding this operation will be exposed.

Even in the light of the unthinkable destruction of our lands, the plundering of the forest continues. I am quite sure that those who presented former President Jagdeo with the Champion of the Earth Award are having a difficult time understanding how a man who professes to believe in sustainable, viable and sensible exploitation of our natural resources can have acceded to the Bhai Shan Lin contract.

For too long the PPP/C government has engaged in non-transparent deals such as that with BSL. I will watch closely to see whether Mr Harmon’s legitimate requests for specific documents are granted prior to the debate.

I am also waiting to see whether Mr Harmon’s counterpart in the National Assembly, Mr Robert Persaud, will act responsibly and take his place on the debate stage, as it is only right that he should debate Mr Harmon.

For a senior public servant to take his place in the debate amounts to an abrogation of his responsibility to the people. Senior public servants must understand that taxpayers expect them to be professionals, not political.

I therefore, call on James Singh to put on his professional hat and let the Minister face the people on this BSL issue.

Of course he can provide the minister with all the information he thinks is needed to demonstrate to the people that the BSL deal is above board, but he has a moral and legal obligation to act as the public servant and not the politician.

Like the rest of Guyana, I will be watching the developments prior to this debate. Let’s see whether the Minister who has oversight of Guyana’s resources is capable of exhibiting magnanimity and taking the debate stage to account to all the people of Guyana, particularly those who are directly and immediately affected by the logging industry. Let us all pay careful attention as we try to unravel the tale behind the Bhai Shan Lin debacle.

 Yours faithfully,

Lurlene Nestor