Dear Editor,
Guyanese are living all over the planet and with a new government in office, most are very optimistic that the APNU+AFC will turn the country around after 49 years of mismanagement, first by the People’s National Con-gress (PNC) under Forbes Burnham and worse yet by the People’s Progressive Party (Civic) under the leadership of
Bharrat Jagdeo and later Donald Ramotar.
Frankly speaking Desmond Hoyte made some significant changes for betterment, but he lost the government in 1992. Cheddi Jagan was doing an excellent job, but he died not long after he became President.
The citizens of Georgetown have seen signs of improvement as massive work began two days after the swearing in of President David Granger. Workmen cleared the drains and removed the unsightly objects around the city. This is a good sign.
Guyana gained independence on May 26, 1966 and although Cheddi Jagan, the founder Leader of the PPP was in the forefront of independence, his supporters (mainly Indo-Guyanese) hardly participated in the celebrations, I covered most of the activities in Berbice and it was very unfortunate that some even boycotted them. Therefore at independence Guyana was hardly one nation. It was more two societies coexisting, maybe because of the racial disturbances the country encountered in the previous years, especially between 1962 and 1964.
Racial division was the hallmark of the daily lives of Guyanese, mainly the older folks. Fortunately the young people are far more integrated than their parents, uncles, aunts and other seniors.
The times are changing, if they have not already changed, and now with a merged movement in power which comprises personnel of different races and from varying backgrounds we are heading in the right direction.
Modern technology is playing an important role in the country and facebook and other news dispensation media added significantly to the PPPC demise. Their corruption and misbehaviour were brought out in a flash.
Despite massive corruption during the past decade Guyana’s economy is relatively sound − above that of most Caricom states − and now favourable reports of the discovery of oil 120 miles offshore Guyana in the Atlantic Ocean certainly adds to our hopes that Guyana will prosper in the years ahead.
It is worrying that a country like ours which produced rice, sugar, rum, lumber, bauxite, not to mention gold and diamonds, is the second poorest country in the hemisphere.
Blatant dishonesty and poor management forced the country’s best brains to leave and they are now serving in various countries on the planet.
The move by the President to introduce a code of conduct in order to hold his ministers and other officials to the highest standards of ethics, honesty, integrity, professionalism, is an excellent move which was lauded by the populace. This will certainly stamp out corruption.
Yours faithfully,
Oscar Ramjeet
