Dear Editor,
Fifteen months into a new administration comes the first real test of the mettle of President Granger. The Minister of Health’s shameless misleading of the nation in relation to a transaction involving the rental of a bond for the storage of medical supplies at an astronomical sum of twelve and a half million dollars a month, and the subsequent excuses offered by the President’s cabinet sub-committee are an insult to the people of this nation.
The President has to now make a decision on the immediate future of our nation. It has been fifteen months of bumbling ministers and bungled deals, but now that most dreaded snake has raised its head and cannot be ignored, we the people have watched in abject dismay as the President attempted to mount a defence of his Minister’s actions. We the people are not stupid and the President has expended much credibility in his misguided effort to shield a loyal party member from censure.
We have had fifteen months of poor administration; many were willing to give a honeymoon period for settling into the job, and the President has made many speeches and pronouncements, none of which have been backed by policy changes or a clear articulation of vision, but through all of that, all of us were willing to believe President Granger’s anti-corruption stance was the cornerstone upon which he would build his legacy. Sadly, he has been badly let down.
I would respectfully suggest that if the President cannot separate his loyalties to party from state, then the day when he will not have to choose may come sooner rather than later. Everyone speaks about five-year terms of government, but the recent shortened Donald Ramotar administration tells of a different reality.
This may be a good time to remind all members of the administration and public service that newly created anti-corruption state agencies SOCU and SARU/SARA will continue to be in existence even if the government changes hands.
Yours faithfully,
Robin Singh
