Dear Editor,
On Friday September 21, President Ramotar hosted a press conference that allowed us to hear a lot of what was on his mind. We heard his narrative in relation to what we regard as an ineffective minister being reclassified as the “best candidate” to chair the Broadcasting Authority. Is this the legacy that President Ramotar is offering the nation?
Leadership is about setting a course and describing a vision for people. Are we to understand that Ms Bibi Shadick with almost zero background in the broadcasting industry is the visionary for that industry? These conditions in Guyana makes it almost impossible to conduct a professional life since hard work and abundant talent do not factor into appointments these days. What happened to seasoned and experienced broadcasters like Ron Robinson or Paloma Mohammed?
This is exactly what is wrong with Guyana: too many unsuitable appointees in command. When a state through its leader seeks to reward its political associates rather than the best and most competent, then there is no incentive to foster dignity and respect any more, since the road to the front of the line just requires only the classic fawning approach. When loyalty to the party is the principal determinant in appointing people to higher office, then there is no incentive to work hard, to be trustworthy and to be responsible.
As this Jagdeo philosophy gets institutionalized in the state under President Ramotar, it reduces all the people to the lowest possible level, be they workers, housewives or professionals. When a government fails to truly understand history and how the country can best develop by creating more opportunities for the best, brightest and most competent in the middle and professional classes, and provide opportunities for the poor to elevate themselves to a better socio-economic position, then we are doomed. When a visionless government overlooks talented and passionate professionals like Ron Robinson and Paloma Mohamed to serve at a higher level after they have walked the tried and tested path of hard work and gained valued experience and talent, then we are doomed.
We are doomed since the administration of institutions like the Broadcasting Authority are being surrendered to people with a pitiless and partisan past in service to their political sponsors. Ms Shadick has played a brutal role on the University Council in the attempts to break the backs of the intellectual class, and for such a service, she has been given a new mission in relation to what is left of the independent broadcast media that allow self-expression to the people.
There is a lesson to be learnt from this episode of history; we are all in this together; not only the Bibi Shadicks and others with political connections to Freedom House. This nation has clearly demonstrated that it is broken given the government’s quest to control the independent broadcast media houses by appointing such prejudiced minds to what was supposed to be an independent institution.
The few committed leaders who practise the politics of principle in Guyana like Messrs Nagamootoo, Hughes, Ramjattan and Solomon with the people’s blessings will bring an end to this.
Yours faithfully,
Asquith Rose
Harish S Singh
