Dear Editor,
One gets the distinct feeling that Guyana is not going anywhere. Sure there is the potential for great things to happen, but that’s all there is to it. It’s just the potential somewhere on the horizon.
There is the distinct impression that the President is keen on taking the country somewhere but it’s also apparent that most of his managers delegated with various responsibilities don’t share his dream. And it will all be just a dream for him. This President’s best positive attribute is that he is financially prudent.
Unless the Commander-in-Chief does a complete about turn, he will not have much of a legacy. Some of the areas that require urgent attention:
Remove ministers and permanent secretaries who are not on the job. There are ministers who have been around so long that they are benefit of any ideas and cannot come up with any new policies. Then there are those who just hold the title but are busy doing some personal business or hobby that doesn’t allow them to focus on their ministries. This is true for some of the permanent secretaries as well.
This attitude then filters down to the rest of the public service. There are too many public officials who are not on the job. They are always out running personal errands. There are the few who are totally committed, but this is in the minority. The attitude of the majority will demoralise the few that are actually committed.
Then there is the question of morals. How can a government be respected if it tolerates and accepts the bad behaviour of some leaders. We already have a problem with violent crimes involving guns all over this land. A minister of the government, pulling a gun and firing it indiscriminately must be fired. Should have been fired immediately. His use of a gun in terrorising a teenager sends out the wrong message and only adds to the problems.
Then there are some in leadership positions who are scared to make decisions, some who just cannot make decisions and some who can’t make good decisions.
Why is it that during the recent rainfall, water re-mained at a high level in the drains and some places on the ground for over 48 hours. This is unacceptable. A high school student would be able to determine something is wrong. If the water cannot drain off after several hours of rainfall, what will happen if it rains for several days?
CN Sharma performs a good community service by highlighting the various issues facing the nation. Granted that perhaps he needs someone with a better command of the English language to host his popular programme, but the fact remains that his heart is in the right place and his concerns are genuine. It’s not just a grab for power. They are many issues affecting this nation and these issues have gone on for far too long without being addressed. The President should consider asking Mr. Sharma to join his cabinet. He already has Mr. Sharma’s son at GEA and Mr. Sharma’s son’s father-in-law in his cabinet. Mr. Sharma does manage a successful business.
This country needs to develop the productive and manufacturing sector. It’s something I’m sure the Prime Minister realises as well. Yet the Prime Minister, who is also the minister responsible for energy, continues to sit on a portfolio that is again going downhill. We need energy, reliable energy to develop the manufacturing sector, Prime Minister.
The productive sector also needs reliable and good water supply. Why is it that the water sector still cannot be fixed. Why can’t we have huge water tanks at strategic locations that then supply the population with water through gravity flow as is the case in forward thinking countries? Why is it that water supply continues to be a problem? Why is it that citizens have to invest over $200,000 to install a trestle, water tanks and a water pump?
This is all wrong. Granted there are some good things happening. Good roads, the bridge across the Berbice river. But water and electricity are core issues that have been problematic for way too long.
Yours faithfully,
Ganesh Singh
