Distorting history for political reasons
Dear Editor,
On Sunday May 25, 2014 I attended the Independence Flag Raising Ceremony at Micobie Region Eight. Before I go further I would just like to know of the reasons for the government holding these national events away from the head office of Region Eight, Mahdia.
I the other regions events are kept in the central area. The reason I believe they are doing so is political. I would recommend that our council set up a committee to organize national events.
Before the flag raising the Minister within the Ministry of Local Government was in the area where he held meetings with the residents of the Amerindian community of Princeville and Campbelltown but did not see it fit to meet with the residents of Mahdia where most of the residents are non-Amerindians.
I believe that any national events in a country are for the people of the country who put their differences and politics aside and come together to reflect on what we have achieved, where we are and where we want to go. People use those occasions to foster unity and not for political purposes or disunity.
I can recall that when Guyana gained independence Dr. Jagan and Mr. Burnham put their differences aside and celebrated together then, and at every independence celebration.
However, that was not the case here. The entire programme was designed to criticize the opposition. When a staff of the regional administration was reading the history, everything was said of the PPP and Mr. Jagan gaining independence for Guyana. Nothing was mentioned of the PNC and Mr. Burnham who actually gained independence for Guyana.
When the Regional Executive Officer was giving his remarks he only spoke of what the PPP has done from independence to now. For him, the PNC did only negative things. When Minister Whittaker was delivering the feather address, he never made mentioned one good thing that the PNC has ever done for Guyana.
What was important to note is that most of the persons there was born after 1992 and knows nothing about the PNC rules. While I am not a member of the PNC nor was ever a member I believe we should be honest and give them their dues since I know of many good things they have done for our country.
There is the Demerara Harbour Bridge, the Soesdyke/Linden Highway, free education from nursery to university etc. What these two guys were doing was giving the audiences the impression that the PNC never did anything for Guyana.
What was most disturbing was as our Regional Chairman was giving his remarks the Regional Executive Officer was heard heckling continuously behind his back, and even though the Minister Whittaker was sitting next to the REO he did not see the wisdom to advise the REO to desist from that behavior since it was at a political platform.
This guyβs behavior clearly shows us that he is not working in the best interest of our region, and since we of the council donβt have any confidence in him we are calling for his immediately removal from our region.
Naieem Gafoor
Regional Democratic Councillor