December 17 2019

Source

Dear Editor,

 I would like to congratulate President Granger and the coalition for their creative approach in stabilizing the AFC presence in that coalition – it cannot be overstated because unity against the communists who control the PPP is vital and has to be enduring – too much is at stake in this upcoming election. Everyone and every party in the coalition will bring votes to continue the progress made in the last four years and let there be no rest and relaxation in convincing the people of our Republic that Mr. Granger and his government will offer the best chance for all of us to benefit from the bounties which will flow not only from oil , but from the many investments and good jobs which will follow oil revenue – we have water for a thirsty planet; high grade aluminum and pure rubber for expanding space exploration;  forests which contain pharmaceuticals and are part of the “lungs” of our planet, not to mention fauna and flora which can augment international zoos and botanical gardens; agro-investments can and will create our dream of making Guyana the “bread basket” of the Caribbean and bring our sister CARICOM countries relief from the high food prices they pay; and finally – gold, diamonds, manganese, timber, hydro power, fisheries, sand and brick for the Caribbean poorer people to have homes, and more foreign investment and trade  to create “silk roads” to South America and the Caribbean. We citizens of Guyana have to be patient and place our future in the right hands-steady hands and not get carried away with the PPP propaganda which communists like Teixeira, Jagdeo, Ramotar, and the rest of the Gang of 8 peddle at all times – remember Guyanese, my father, President Cheddi was in opposition for 28 years and dealt with it like a “man” and here we have people who claim they follow Cheddi but yet they cry like “babies” because four years are too long for their thirst for power.   

 Editor, the new PPP manifesto is really a call on all Guyanese to forget the recent past – do they believe that the citizens of Guyana have a collective amnesia and will accept their brazen attempt to fool us again? We are aware of the many tricks played on us by Jagdeo and his cohorts like the failed “computer in every house” fiasco; the hydropower road where a lot of money was lost and Fip Motilall walked away smiling;  the tricks played on our hard working sugar workers by GAWU and the Jagdeo-Ramotar regime with the Skeldon fiasco and the general destruction of the sugar industry. The PPP actually closed down sugar cultivations  while the leadership of GAWU lived the sweet life as the sugar workers got poorer – Guyanese need to wake up and face reality – the PPP under Mr. Jagdeo, has nothing to offer us at this important juncture in our political and economic life. The “silk” roads are coming straight to our country and ask the PPP leadership if they support the concept that the private sector is the engine of growth and guess what – they can never submit to that concept – Jagdeo and his Gang of 8 believe that the government is the engine of growth and their record proves it. Everywhere communists controlled historically the government was the engine of growth and were economic disasters and collapsed –  the private sector has to be the engine of growth. Remember , Guyanese voters – it was the PPP government which brought, without a  policy of gradual increases, a consumption tax of 16% which the Guyanese working poor bore the brunt of and which was so unjust – rest yourselves, Mr. and Mrs. PPP and let Mr. Granger continue his efforts at coalition governance;  creating the conditions where the private sector will become truly, the real engine of growth;  welcoming ExxonMobil and other oil and gas investors, the greatest best news our Republic ever enjoyed, and lastly, Mr. Granger will always hold hands with any allies to stand firm with diplomatic responses in defending any false claims to our God given oil wealth.

Editor, the numerous smaller parties which are contesting the March elections are all living in a dreamworld created by their leaders who, besides having no real narrative of standing up for Guyana, are all incapable of providing the level of reverence for our citizens’ needs and the creative conditions to realize the “good life” in our nation’s future. Every vote counts and our citizens should reject these parties -their presence is to split votes to create the conditions of parliamentary gridlock and political confusion which will affect the positive effects of our oil revenues and leave us more divided than ever. Our future is bright, optimistic and clearly positive with President Granger as the helmsman of our country’s future.

Yours faithfully,

Cheddi (Joey) Jagan (Jr.)