Dear Editor,
It’s been four years now since this government is in power and during those four years as I travelled the length and breath of this country talking to people from various background, I was able to glean from them their opinion on the performance of the ministers of this government, which I would now like to share with your readers. I would start with the ministers who are popular with the people and who they think are doing a great job. At the top of the list are Ministers Croal, Rodrigues, Mustapha, Nandlall, Walrond, Edghill, Indar and Ramson. They feel these ministers are doing a good job and are always on the ground interacting with the people. They are also likable and the people feel at ease around them. They also liked Ashni Singh, but feel he is not his own man. They think the real power behind the throne at the Ministry of Finance is President Irfaan Ali and VP Jagdeo.
The ministers who they think is doing a poor job are Manikchand, Anthony, Anand Persaud, Vindya Persaud, Benn, McCoy and Hamilton. Teachers, students and educators generally complained bitterly about conditions in classrooms, washroom facilities and security in schools. In the health sector, doctors, nurses and patients also complained bitterly about the conditions under which they have to work and shortage of drugs. In the local government sector, there are numerous complaints about the poor service people are receiving from the NDC and municipalities. There are also numerous complaints from old people and pensioners on the poor service they are receiving from social service agencies throughout the country and the inadequacy of their pensioners. Ministers Benn, McCoy and Hamilton are missing in action. The people hardly see them. Likewise Teixeira and Parag. I guess, now that Sonia Parag is at the ministry of local government, she will be more visible and walk amongst the people to hear their problems.
Editor, I do hope when the President read this missive, he read the riot act to his ministers and get them to go around the country and visit all the schools, hospitals, health centres, NDCs, municipalities, social service agencies and post offices, police stations and companies and businesses where people work so that they can get a handle of what is happening on the ground.
Sincerely,
Imtiaz Baccus
