As the election campaign trundles on, we’re getting a clearer picture of what the competing parties think is “development”. The PNC claims to’ve dumped Burnham’s socialist path – whether “co-operative” or whatever – after total and unmitigated failure long before he died. But from Norton’s pronouncements and promises – as he speaks to the ever-dwindling faithful at campaign meetings – it’s clear he’s totally imbued with the guiding principle behind his hero’s ideological grasshopping!
And what’s that principle, Dear Reader?? The Free Lunch Principle!! But ironically, the PNC already proved you can’t develop a country through handouts – by whatever name you call it – socialism or cash transfers or whatever. You can put lipstick on a pig – but it still remains a pig!! The bottom line is, even though the PNC once had the slogan “Produce or perish” painted on every blank wall they could find – it remained a slogan on walls!! They’re consumed by a seemingly atavistic drive that all their supporters must get a piece of the (economic) action for free.
They seem incapable of accepting that those said supporters must sooner or later – and preferably sooner! – get their hands callused and grubby by ACTUALLY producing things!! If they don’t, then sooner or later – and most likely sooner! – they’ll end up with nothing in their smooth, uncalloused hands – since manna doesn’t drop from heaven no mo’ – if it ever did!! From their slogan, the PNC definitely KNEW of the importance of producing – and in Burnham’s case, they even took over “the means of production” – as they called the factories and fields. But by only stressing LIVING the good life rather than WORKING for the good life, they led their supporters to believe that woke rhetoric – about equity and equality – would lead them to the promised land of milk and honey! But it didn’t work then and it ain’t gonna work now!!
So Norton and the rest of the Opposition should quit playing the pied piper’s tune of annual million-dollar cash transfers and all the other freebies they’re promising. The economists would say it just ain’t “sustainable” – my granny said it much more punchier – moon a run till day ketch am!! Our oil’s gonna run out within a few decades – so where’s the funds to hand out gonna come from?? Haven’t we seen what happened to our neighbour Trinidad??
The PPP, on the other hand, isn’t oblivious to the reality that we started off from a poverty-stricken base – but their principle is folks need a hand up and NOT permanent handouts!! So they’re focusing first on building roads and bridges and other infrastructure like schools and hospitals – which will lead to attracting job-creating investments!!
And this is sustainable development!!
…on regional development
It’s rather sad the PNC/APNU continues to act as if Georgetown is Guyana and Guyana is Georgetown!! And imagine – if they could turn their heartbeat that’s our Garden City into a Garbage City – what would be the fate of the rest of the country!! Early in the day, they extended their gaze to Region 10 where Burnham created a town from three villages – Mackenzie, Wismar and Christianburg that he named “Linden” after himself – with a wave of his riding crop. But within the decade it lay in ruins where it’s been stuck.
Georgetown’s City Hall has now been returned to its Gothic splendour by the PPP – even though the responsibility lies with the PNC-controlled M&CC. And after five years, we can see the PPP’s plans for all the regions’ equitable development unfolding seamlessly. Last week, Berbice was informed of what’s ahead in the next five years as were the interior regions. Last Saturday, it was Essequibo Coast’s – Region 2’s – turn.
All Guyanese are equal!!
…being “smart flies”
The PNC originally encouraged the Sanctioned Man to go political – figuring he’d attract erstwhile PPP supporters. However, they’ve been caught with their pants down, now that they see their own supporters turning Blue!! Ain’t a pretty sight!!