The Youth Coalition for Transformation (YCT) says its call for the boycott of several business organisations has worked and critical issues, including the appointment of a new police commissioner, will remain on the front burner in the new year.
The youth group yesterday organized a ‘Resolution March’, another in a series of protest marches it has undertaken after last month’s elections, through the streets of the city. The march, which drew considerably less support than previous marches, started at the Square of the Revolution and ended with a public meeting at the Stabroek Market Square.
The speakers at the meeting, which attracted several dozen persons, told the gathering that YCT preached messages of conservation during the festive season and persons have been heeding the calls and spending wisely.
an old woman holds up a placard concerning old age pensions. (Anjuli Persaud photo)”]
APNU member Nicole Telford said the calls for conservation of finances by the YCT have been working as persons are dedicating their resources towards more important issues. She explained that when one spends less, it brings benefits to the family. She said the money saved can be put towards buying books and other educational tools for children’s education. Noting that government has been placing emphasis on assisting the entertainment industry to carry out events, she added that this was being done “to make you forget the issues but we will be marching to let them get the message and understand that we standing up for our rights.” She added, “don’t bother with the ads, watch at them and be wise.”
Telford also spoke of the country’s housing sector, which she said needs much attention in the coming months. Pointing to the house lot allocation procedures used by the Housing Ministry, she said they needed to be modified. In a spirited address on the topic, she noted that for a person to obtain a house lot s/he has to wait a number of years and “you have to mek children and you have to sign up and pay $500,000 and $1 million down and your salary is $40,000.”
She said the youths of today who are planning to have families needed affordable housing in their family planning. She noted that social ills can arise from families living in cramped conditions, adding that it is most unfortunate that impoverished communities are affected by the issue.
She also spoke of a number of persons working on contracts with the government, adding that they are unsure of their gratuities and pension benefits since they do not benefit from union representation. She said the government has implemented the system to “rob persons”, but the issue is among many which the YCT and its supporters are placing at the head table for Parliament to address.
Chairman of the proceedings Ryan Belgrave told the gathering that a number of events organized by supporters of the government and whose aim “is to get rich off of you”, have seen low turnouts during the holiday season and he said that as the festive season winds down, the YCT is urging its supporters and the populace to spend wisely in 2012.
He said the body has noted the increased advertising for several events associated with Hits and Jams entertainment group as well as the Kashif and Shanghai organization. These, he said, speak of the growing concern by those entities that they have lost popular support, as the public has recognized the importance of budgeting.
Feature speaker at yesterday’s event, Lurlene Nestor, said the YCT will be on watch to ensure that the image of the Guyana Police Force is enhanced. She said “there are some good police officers out there” who have led by example and in the New Year the YCT will up the ante for the police force to be improved.
She said the issue of the police commissioner is one of grave importance since the position is demanding and it requires the individual to be free of political interference. She said the body believes the incumbent Henry Greene should be removed from the limelight of the police force, adding that an impartial and unbiased commissioner is badly needed to improve the image of the force.
“I am saying in 2012 we must have a confirmed police commissioner. We want a commissioner who will stand up for justice, who will refuse strong orders and political interference,” Nestor said. “We are looking to see and we want them to know that if it is they feel they will put anybody and drop somebody else, we will walk the streets.” She said the group was not going to “settle for corruption.”
The group yesterday reiterated its calls for Guyana Elections Commission Chairman Dr Steve Surujbally and Chief Elections Officer Gocool Boodoo to resign from their posts. The YCT said it was aware that the government may call for snap elections, but the elections commission must be revamped and electoral reforms needed to be addressed and instituted before elections are held again.
The YCT also stated that equal representation in the state media including the National Communi-cations Network is among several issues which it will address in the new year.
