Hundreds of Guyanese were at the Square of the Revolution this week to meet with ministers of government and other officials. The theme of the engagement, which was organised by the government, was “Government Comes to You.”
There were representatives from the Office of the Prime Minister, ministries and other state agencies. Many are congratulating the government deeming the activity a success. Some have said that it is the first time they witnessed such a meeting of government and the people. But it has also been noted that it was not the first activity of its kind that has been hosted under this government and that the opportunity to meet with ministers is always an option. Although this may be true, certainly hundreds of people are not meeting with ministers and other officials every day. Many people have often tried to meet with ministers and have been unsuccessful. Ministers, however, cannot spend every day solely meeting with the people since they do have other ministerial duties.
Government coming to the people should not be a special event or something that seldom happens; it should be an integral part of how any government functions. Of course, no one is expecting ministers to leave their offices every day to sit under tents in this Guyana heat to interact with the people, but even if done periodically, the people will be encouraged. The people will be more confident that their votes matter. Those who refuse to vote may be motivated to do so. The youth will be encouraged because in meeting with those ministers they will be given the platform to speak about issues affecting them and remind government officials that neglecting the youth is akin to neglecting Guyana’s future. For many years, the government and the people seemed to be worlds apart. We have witnessed the rise and fall of leaders who intimidated the people and who were only concerned about the wellbeing of their relatives, friends and associates.
The activity reminded us that the Guyanese people want to be heard. They are not solely interested in voicing their concerns in small circles or on social media, where change is often not the outcome. There are valid concerns and desperate needs and once government allows the people access, they will not ignore or reject the opportunity while idly debating the past and the present, adding to the frustrations and divisions that exist, but they will show up.
The number of people who attended also indicated that Guyanese are not intimidated by their leaders and have no fear of sharing their disappointments and concerns. They realise that their voices are important. Certainly, over the last few years people have not been afraid to speak. Whether supporters of the government or opposition, all are sounding their voices as it should be in any true democracy.
So, what next? Is this an indication that the government is now ready to be more engaged with the people? Is it that the government has always been open but much of what they have done has been not broadcast? Certainly, we have heard many complaints about government’s public relations and the failures thereof.
Of course, there have been other questions regarding ‘Government Comes to You.’ Is it just a ploy for the support of the people to garner votes in the next elections? We have grown accustomed to politicians in the months before elections seducing the people with promises, suddenly repairing roads and building bridges while kissing babies. So, is it just that or are we genuinely seeing the change the majority voted for in 2015?
I read and heard of many positive accounts from the government’s interaction with the people. It was reported that most of the people who attended were interested in housing solutions. For many Guyanese housing has never been an issue. Many have been fortunate to inherit ancestral property. However there have always been those Guyanese who never had a permanent place to call home. For many years we have seen squatters in various areas. Many have been relocated. Many Guyanese must rent and, in Georgetown especially, many property-owners are charging exorbitant amounts for small spaces and some believe that part of the reason for this are the foreigners that are coming into the country. If we look around Georgetown, many people are now constructing apartment buildings, but in many cases the average Guyanese cannot afford the rent.
Home ownership should be the goal of every Guyanese citizen. Yet, in a country of 83,000 square miles, with a population of less than a million, many have had to wait a ridiculously long time for a piece of land when they apply. People have shared that they have waited as long as 20 years to receive a plot land, which every Guyanese is entitled to.
It, therefore, comes as no surprise that housing solutions were a major concern at the engagement and the fact that it is a priority of the government is a positive step.
The political climate over the last three months has been exasperating. There was the no-confidence motion in December, then the High Court ruling that it was passed and the opposition calling for elections, and then the majority in the Appeal Court last week ruling that the motion was not passed. Now, the opposition is appealing it and we must wait for the Caribbean Court of Justice. The Guyanese people have had enough. The political drama, love/hate relationship between government and opposition has exhausted many.
Many people are saying the no-confidence motion was a wake-up call for the government. Did the man who was called “Judas” and condemned because of his choice to vote with the opposition in the no-confidence motion in fact work in favour of the government? Could Charrandass Persaud have been the catalyst for definite change in this country?
Now that the issues of the people have been heard, the next question is whether there will be results. I know someone who met with the Minister of Social Protection and proposed a project. I was in the presence of the person on Thursday when they were called by the ministry to inform them that the project had been approved. Certainly, I and the others in the room were astonished. We hope that this is not just a season of generosity that will eventually pass but that the efforts to genuinely serve the people will be ongoing.
