Dear Editor,
This writer at the time of writing this letter is residing at Lot WD 107 Government Quarters, Post Office Street – Leonora, West Coast Demerara and my neighbours are President Irfaan Ali to the east and former Regional Chairman of Region Three, Julius Faerber to the West. To the north is the Atlantic Ocean and to the south is the Leonora Police Station.
I have been residing at this Government Quarters for nearly five years now and I must say that when I began occupancy of the house back in November of 2015 with my letter of permission to occupy, it was Julius Faerber and his family that warmly welcomed me and requested that we live as loving neighbours. I believe that we indeed did live as loving neighbours. I remember vividly during Hindu religious holidays he would share sweetmeats with me and I would do same. I remember sharing with him gooseberry, passion fruit and vegetables from the kitchen garden which I planted in the yard space. I remember when my mother-in-law passed away it was Faerber who came first and it was his wife that covered the corpse with a sheet. I remember attending religious functions at his home and never did I ever pass him or his family straight without saying a good morning or a good afternoon. In fact his deceased mother-in-law and I use to frequently communicate and even at her funeral which I attended, Faerber embraced me.
Notwithstanding the above, even though Faerber is using the parapet of the street which I use as his garbage site, I never complained. Even though he blocked the drain which I was using as my drainage, I never complained and even though he fenced the reserve, I never complained simply because I remember the words, “Let’s live as loving neighbours.”
Fast forward to Sunday, August 2, 2020 when His Excellency Irfaan Ali took the Oath of Office as President of Guyana. Faerber changed. It started with loud chattering but I simply locked my doors and stayed inside. Tuesday, August 4, 2020 I am told that Faerber ‘instructed’ the substantive Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region Three to write me and demand that I vacate the government house in 72 hours and further the REO must copy the letter to him and the Regional Police Commander.
Editor, when I heard this I laughed and as I pen this missive, I am still laughing. Let me make it pellucid here and now. I was a geographic candidate for the APNU+AFC coalition in the recently concluded Regional and General Elections. I campaigned for the coalition. I walked the street fighting for the coalition in this democratic, sovereign state called Guyana. Like many of the persons that are still in the employ of Government who did it for the PPP in 2015, I did it for the APNU+AFC in 2020. It is public knowledge.
As an employee within the Public Sector of Guyana I am aware that first, there is no rule barring public servants from campaigning for a political party of their choice. Secondly, it is the Regional Executive Officer who is the custodian of all Government properties in regions and thirdly, after the declaration of election results, Regional Chairmen no longer exist until Regional Councillors take their oaths of office and elect a Regional Chairman.
Editor, former Chairman Faerber’s bone of contention is one that I cannot understand. Notwithstanding the above, if it is the desire of the newly formed Government to have me vacate the Government house I respectfully request that it be done within the confines of the laws of Guyana and in keeping with the Public Service Rules.
Yours faithfully,
Ganesh Mahipaul
