Dear Editor,
On Monday, Dec 28, as I scanned the television channels I was attracted to PPP General Secretary Rohee’s ritual press conference, since he was addressing a matter that I had attended to, in my capacity as Technical Facilitator to the Minister of Education. He was reporting that the government had not involved the PPP/C in the preparations for the ushering in, and celebrations of, the country’s 50th anniversary of Independence. I was stunned since I was convinced that the allegation was baseless and all that followed from it was uncalled for and could only be regarded as the usual ‘politricking’ that has become a norm in Guyana. To avoid being accused of the said culture, I took some time to verify the following:
- Matters relating to the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Guyana’s Independence are being handled by the recently appointed National Commemoration Commission.
- The cabinet approved composition of the Commission provides for a nominee/representative of the opposition.
- The Leader of the Opposition has been written to as recently as Nov 11, 2015, re the submission of the name of his nominee. That correspondence was delivered to, and signed for by one Majeed, at Freedom House on Nov 13, 2015.
- To date there has been no acknowledgement and submission of the name of the opposition nominee.
In the aforementioned circumstances, the government can hardly be accused of excluding the opposition (the PPP/C) from participating in the preparations for the jubilee celebrations. It can only be concluded that for reasons only known to the PPP/C, it has not acknowledged, and/or availed itself of, the opportunity to participate in those preparations.
Incidentally, this trend has been manifested in at least two other instances. The PPP/C has failed to nominate a representative to sit on the University’s Council after receiving a request approximately five months ago and at least one subsequent reminder. Similarly, a response is awaited for a nominee to sit on the Commission of Inquiry into the Education System.
It is the PPP/C’s prerogative to respond, or not to respond, to such requests. But it is certainly unacceptable for them to cast blame on others when the fault, whether contrived or otherwise, does not lie at the feet of the government.
Responsible political behaviour can only be good for Guyana. The contrary will only take us further into the morass from which we need to be extricated.
Yours faithfully,
Vincent Alexander
Technical Facilitator to
the Minister of Education
