Guyanese must support the Alliance to rebuild Guyana

DEAR EDITOR,
Whether Guyana will be a prosperous country in the next five years ultimately depends on the extent the AFC/APNU Pro-Democracy Alliance could influence the people to unite and reject the race-bait politics and empty campaign promises from the PPP cabal for the next two and a half months and vote for change by electing the APNU/AFC Pro-Democracy Alliance on May 11.
This means that the commitment of the Alliance has to extend beyond friends and party supporters to include all Guyanese irrespective of their race, class or party affiliation.
The leaders of the Alliance have pledged to build a better Guyana for all Guyanese by cultivating a mindset that everything that happens or can happen in Guyana is the people’s business and should concern them. That a divisive, racial and class segregated Guyana is detrimental to its development, unity and lack of prosperity. To accomplish this, the Alliance has to convince the people to put aside their political, racial, class and religious biases and prejudices, and put the economic and human development of the country before the individual accumulation of wealth.
First, the coalition must embark on a policy to reduce the level of violence, starting with a drastic reduction in murder. But the reduction in violence has to cover a much broader spectrum than murder to include the cruelty to children; the rape of young girls; brutalizing of the elderly and the disabled; as well as the neglect of the destitute.
Although they may not be able to help all our downtrodden brothers and sisters in the short run, yet they can be compassionate towards them and protect them from violence. The leaders of the Alliance have to persuade the population to replace hatred with love and civility, even in how individuals speak to each other, and to be each other brothers and sisters’ keepers in the struggle to rebuild Guyana and make it a better and safer place for all.
Second, they must reduce the level of crime, especially armed robbery, which has severely affected the average citizen and the business community. During the last ten years of PPP rule, crime, gang warfare, kidnapping, illegal drugs and the trafficking of persons have crippled Guyana and made it one of the worst countries in the Caribbean.
Also, the coalition must develop strategies to tackle organized crime, in particular, white collar crime which has wreaked havoc on the country. They must not only apprehend the petty criminals, but lock up the accountants, businessmen, government officials and the drug barons who manage the affairs of the small bandits. Over the years, the PPP regime has been far too tolerant and helpful to those involved in corrupt practices.
PPP has always aided and abetted the corrupt practices, not only of their members, but also of foreign companies whom they have awarded multi-billion dollar contracts for huge kick-backs. For the PPP not to heed the warning of the Norway Government that the Chinese company involved in the Amaila Falls Hydro Project is corrupt, and for them to even say that there are safeguards in place to protect Guyana against corruption is not only absurd, but it also shows that the PPP is corrupt to the hilt.
It also shows that their concern is not to protect Guyana from corruption but to fatten their bank accounts with kick-backs. The only bidding process that takes place in awarding contracts is that the companies that give the largest kick-backs will receive the contracts.
In this election, the leaders of the Alliance must convince the electorate that they would incorporate a new type of anti-corrupt culture to put an end to corruption in all government departments, state agencies and the police force. They also have to stop the stealing of electricity, oil, the purchasing of forged passports and driver’s licences, and the bribing of politicians and others in authority.
Third, the AFC/APNU Alliance must develop an economic programme that will reduce poverty, improve the lives of the poor and create jobs for the youths and those who want to work. They must lower VAT by 2 percent, provide a 15 percent annual increase in salaries for the workers, increase old age pension from $13,000 to $20,000 per month for senior citizens and lower the toll on the Berbice Bridge from $2200 to $1000 for cars and mini buses, and free for motor cycles.
Guyana cannot afford to fail, and the people cannot continue to punish this time around, therefore the Alliance has to get it right for the first time and set the economy on a path of sustainable economic and human development. The Alliance cannot only depend on loans from the IMF, World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank, or rely solely on remittances to take care of the people’s needs. They must improve the production of rice, sugar and gold, among others, to help finance the developmental projects.
Fourth, it is time for all Guyanese to rise to the level of political maturity as the basis for the establishment of a national consensus based on an agenda of priorities and a programme of policy measures to achieve these goals. The Alliance must spare no effort and leave no stone unturned in its attempt to heal and unite the nation, reduce partisanship and end racism. It must set an example for the people to follow and must welcome all those who want to contribute ideas and time.
Nation-building is the responsibility of each and every Guyanese. As John Kennedy said, “ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country [Guyana].” Let us all join team APNU/AFC Pro-Democracy Alliance now and work to rebuild Guyana.
Asquith Rose
Chandra Deolall
Dr. Merle Spencer-Marks