There’s this criticism of leaders: that they’re “disconnected” from the people they’re supposed to be leading. Well, you can accuse President Ali of any number of things, but THAT ain’t ever gonna be one of them!! The man is here, there and everywhere – almost every day of the week – mixing and mingling with the folks out there. He’s even broken the biggest barrier of all – the ethnic enclaves claimed by the Opposition as their transported property!!
Linden? Mocha? Golden Grove? Buxton? Been there, done that…and then some!! The “some” being all sorts of problems getting fixed; all sorts of initiatives launched to “bring Government to the people”!! The latest, of course, was to actually take the Office of the President on the road to every Region. From what we saw from his first moveable Presidency, it was a roaring success!! And why shouldn’t it be?? Governments are chosen by the citizenry to serve their needs, but once in office, the tables are usually turned. From the amount of bowing and scraping that goes on when ordinary folks meet those who’re now called “big ones”, you’d think the citizens had anointed then Kings of Kings!!
And to your Eyewitness, if nothing else, this will be Pres Ali’s biggest contribution to the political culture of Guyana. Government officials have to be accessible to the citizens who put them into office!! They must EARN their respect by serving those people, and not DEMANDING it because they’ve been given a title. The latter simply describes the job they’re supposed to be doing for the people. Minister of Social Services?? Well just ensure that such services get delivered to the target group!! For instance, there shouldn’t be a single person on Public Assistance who doesn’t get their cheque every month. And from even a cursory walkabout, your Eyewitness knows that plenty of such folks are falling through the cracks.
As your Eyewitness had complained before – he thinks it’s a retrograde step for the Minister of Home Affairs to request more sirens and flashing lights for public officials’ private vehicles. From what we saw in the Coalition’s five years, those are simply used to emphasise how SPECIAL these officials are!! If there are traffic jams, let the officials experience them! And maybe they’d urge their colleagues in Public Works to fix bottlenecks more expeditiously!! It’s noteworthy that President Ali’s use of outriders and sirens are waaaaayy below the mark set by Granger!!
While some perennial critics are complaining that Pressie’s “usurping” the position of his Ministers and local officials, they miss the point that the President’s forays wouldn’t have been necessary if those worthies had been doing their jobs!!
The officials – and Opposition – are getting dizzy!!
…the anarchy
The recent incidents at Buxton and Hopetown, where citizens took matters into their own hands to deliver their own definition of “justice” – in state law enforcement officers’ presence – represent a clear and present danger to the viability of our state. A “state”, after all, is ultimately the institution that can impose force or sanctions on its people. And when the people assume that role, it means they don’t recognise the state’s AUTHORITY. And what but anarchy would descend into the land whenever Tom, Dick or Harilall decides – like Louis XIV – he’s the state!?
It’s of more than passing interest that both Buxton and Hopetown are villages purchased after slavery. It ain’t coincidental. There are elements out there who’re terrified that Pres Ali and his Government are breaking the old race politics with the concrete application of his inclusive approach. If he continues with this, what’s their role?? They haven’t a clue about practising multiracial politics.
All they know is the politics of hate! But dinosaurs became extinct!!
…a cricketing revival??
Your Eyewitness knows it’s only Zimbabwe, but he’ll take what he gets! Young Tagenarine Chanderpaul sealed the second father-son duo to score double centuries in Test cricket!! Plus, a new opening pair record for WI!!
Kudos!!
Leading…
…from the front
There’s this criticism of leaders: that they’re “disconnected” from the people they’re supposed to be leading. Well, you can accuse President Ali of any number of things, but THAT ain’t ever gonna be one of them!! The man is here, there and everywhere – almost every day of the week – mixing and mingling with the folks out there. He’s even broken the biggest barrier of all – the ethnic enclaves claimed by the Opposition as their transported property!!
Linden? Mocha? Golden Grove? Buxton? Been there, done that…and then some!! The “some” being all sorts of problems getting fixed; all sorts of initiatives launched to “bring Government to the people”!! The latest, of course, was to actually take the Office of the President on the road to every Region. From what we saw from his first moveable Presidency, it was a roaring success!! And why shouldn’t it be?? Governments are chosen by the citizenry to serve their needs, but once in office, the tables are usually turned. From the amount of bowing and scraping that goes on when ordinary folks meet those who’re now called “big ones”, you’d think the citizens had anointed then Kings of Kings!!
And to your Eyewitness, if nothing else, this will be Pres Ali’s biggest contribution to the political culture of Guyana. Government officials have to be accessible to the citizens who put them into office!! They must EARN their respect by serving those people, and not DEMANDING it because they’ve been given a title. The latter simply describes the job they’re supposed to be doing for the people. Minister of Social Services?? Well just ensure that such services get delivered to the target group!! For instance, there shouldn’t be a single person on Public Assistance who doesn’t get their cheque every month. And from even a cursory walkabout, your Eyewitness knows that plenty of such folks are falling through the cracks.
As your Eyewitness had complained before – he thinks it’s a retrograde step for the Minister of Home Affairs to request more sirens and flashing lights for public officials’ private vehicles. From what we saw in the Coalition’s five years, those are simply used to emphasise how SPECIAL these officials are!! If there are traffic jams, let the officials experience them! And maybe they’d urge their colleagues in Public Works to fix bottlenecks more expeditiously!! It’s noteworthy that President Ali’s use of outriders and sirens are waaaaayy below the mark set by Granger!!
While some perennial critics are complaining that Pressie’s “usurping” the position of his Ministers and local officials, they miss the point that the President’s forays wouldn’t have been necessary if those worthies had been doing their jobs!!
The officials – and Opposition – are getting dizzy!!
…the anarchy
The recent incidents at Buxton and Hopetown, where citizens took matters into their own hands to deliver their own definition of “justice” – in state law enforcement officers’ presence – represent a clear and present danger to the viability of our state. A “state”, after all, is ultimately the institution that can impose force or sanctions on its people. And when the people assume that role, it means they don’t recognise the state’s AUTHORITY. And what but anarchy would descend into the land whenever Tom, Dick or Harilall decides – like Louis XIV – he’s the state!?
It’s of more than passing interest that both Buxton and Hopetown are villages purchased after slavery. It ain’t coincidental. There are elements out there who’re terrified that Pres Ali and his Government are breaking the old race politics with the concrete application of his inclusive approach. If he continues with this, what’s their role?? They haven’t a clue about practising multiracial politics.
All they know is the politics of hate! But dinosaurs became extinct!!
…a cricketing revival??
Your Eyewitness knows it’s only Zimbabwe, but he’ll take what he gets! Young Tagenarine Chanderpaul sealed the second father-son duo to score double centuries in Test cricket!! Plus, a new opening pair record for WI!!
Kudos!!
Leading…
…from the front
There’s this criticism of leaders: that they’re “disconnected” from the people they’re supposed to be leading. Well, you can accuse President Ali of any number of things, but THAT ain’t ever gonna be one of them!! The man is here, there and everywhere – almost every day of the week – mixing and mingling with the folks out there. He’s even broken the biggest barrier of all – the ethnic enclaves claimed by the Opposition as their transported property!!
Linden? Mocha? Golden Grove? Buxton? Been there, done that…and then some!! The “some” being all sorts of problems getting fixed; all sorts of initiatives launched to “bring Government to the people”!! The latest, of course, was to actually take the Office of the President on the road to every Region. From what we saw from his first moveable Presidency, it was a roaring success!! And why shouldn’t it be?? Governments are chosen by the citizenry to serve their needs, but once in office, the tables are usually turned. From the amount of bowing and scraping that goes on when ordinary folks meet those who’re now called “big ones”, you’d think the citizens had anointed then Kings of Kings!!
And to your Eyewitness, if nothing else, this will be Pres Ali’s biggest contribution to the political culture of Guyana. Government officials have to be accessible to the citizens who put them into office!! They must EARN their respect by serving those people, and not DEMANDING it because they’ve been given a title. The latter simply describes the job they’re supposed to be doing for the people. Minister of Social Services?? Well just ensure that such services get delivered to the target group!! For instance, there shouldn’t be a single person on Public Assistance who doesn’t get their cheque every month. And from even a cursory walkabout, your Eyewitness knows that plenty of such folks are falling through the cracks.
As your Eyewitness had complained before – he thinks it’s a retrograde step for the Minister of Home Affairs to request more sirens and flashing lights for public officials’ private vehicles. From what we saw in the Coalition’s five years, those are simply used to emphasise how SPECIAL these officials are!! If there are traffic jams, let the officials experience them! And maybe they’d urge their colleagues in Public Works to fix bottlenecks more expeditiously!! It’s noteworthy that President Ali’s use of outriders and sirens are waaaaayy below the mark set by Granger!!
While some perennial critics are complaining that Pressie’s “usurping” the position of his Ministers and local officials, they miss the point that the President’s forays wouldn’t have been necessary if those worthies had been doing their jobs!!
The officials – and Opposition – are getting dizzy!!
…the anarchy
The recent incidents at Buxton and Hopetown, where citizens took matters into their own hands to deliver their own definition of “justice” – in state law enforcement officers’ presence – represent a clear and present danger to the viability of our state. A “state”, after all, is ultimately the institution that can impose force or sanctions on its people. And when the people assume that role, it means they don’t recognise the state’s AUTHORITY. And what but anarchy would descend into the land whenever Tom, Dick or Harilall decides – like Louis XIV – he’s the state!?
It’s of more than passing interest that both Buxton and Hopetown are villages purchased after slavery. It ain’t coincidental. There are elements out there who’re terrified that Pres Ali and his Government are breaking the old race politics with the concrete application of his inclusive approach. If he continues with this, what’s their role?? They haven’t a clue about practising multiracial politics.
All they know is the politics of hate! But dinosaurs became extinct!!
…a cricketing revival??
Your Eyewitness knows it’s only Zimbabwe, but he’ll take what he gets! Young Tagenarine Chanderpaul sealed the second father-son duo to score double centuries in Test cricket!! Plus, a new opening pair record for WI!!
Kudos!!
