Dear Editor,
Editor, the November 28 general elections are now ahead. And there are major, vital and critical issues facing our nation. Crime is rampant in Guyana. Our country is now a narco-state. Unem-ployment is rife. Poverty is everywhere, especially in the interior areas. Taxes are high, and the 16% VAT especially is a burden around the necks of workers. Partyism, nepotism,cronyism and racial bias dominate life and living in our society.
It was therefore of major importance to learn from the three presidential candidates their visions, plans and programmes to deal with those issues, since one of them will be head of state, come November 29.
Relatives of mine who live in Berbice, West Coast Deme-rara and Essequibo were eagerly looking forward to a national presidential debate so they could learn from the lips of each candidate how he would address the issues.
Alas and alack, Mr Ramotar of the PPP/C declined to participate in the debate on the grounds that he is too busy campaigning. But Editor, the debate is a form of campaigning, so Mr Ramotar’s excuse is puerile at best.
The debate would have been an act of transparency in what is supposed to be a democratic society. It would have been a good guide to voters, including my relatives, on who they should vote for.
In the absence of the debate and since voters need to know more about the presidential candidates, I call on Mr Ramotar to release to the media a full curriculum vitae so we may judge for ourselves his qualifications, experience, ability and suitability to be President of Guyana. Brig Granger and Mr Ramjattan have publicly issued their CVs, and Mr Ramotar should do the same.
Yours faithfully,
Valda A Forsythe
