Home Letters October 5 is a day to remember as we look forward to...
Dear Editor,
I was a toddler when Cheddi Jagan, Janet Jagan, and the group of PPP/C politicians were victorious in wrestling our country from what seemed like the iron fists of the PNC. All I could recall was that things were about to change.
I read later on in my life that democracy and freedom were restored in Guyana.
After years of struggling and terrible stories of the hardships Guyanese endured at the hands of the late Prime Minister Forbes Burnham, the late President Desmond Hoyte and general PNC rule, they would now be emancipated.
On October 5, 1992, the PNC albatross was cut from the neck of every right-thinking and objective Guyanese who wanted a different life with different circumstances than those they had endured during the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s and early ’90s for their generations to come. They wanted the ‘new Guyana’ that was promised by the Jagans and PPP/C which is Guyana free from cronyism, racism, racial discrimination, dictatorship and all the inequalities that existed in the pre-1992 era.
So, this day carries both historical and national importance. It was a day when all Guyanese were looking forward to seeing the years of the Jagan presidency but it was cut short when he died in 1994.
Jagan died but the things he stood for, and believed in did not go to his grave. The vision and policies, as championed by him, would serve as a motivator for leaders like his wife, Sam Hinds, Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar. These Heads of State fought and toiled for Guyana through difficult times and many challenges to bring their versions of development to the poorest of the poor.
Indeed, Jagdeo more than any other President has had an indelible mark on the history of this country as far as development is concerned. He led its modernisation, transformation and development through the years when it was very ‘fragile’. Added to this, he moulded the young minds to stand up, like Jagan, did to politicians who would turn back the progress and development of Guyana to suit their private political interests, economic interests and social interests.
Even now, Jagdeo is still managing to hold the PPP together while President Dr Irfaan Ali is doing the job of managing the affairs of the country in such a way that it leads Guyana into its ‘golden years.’ Dr Ali has the mammoth task of leading Guyana further towards real economic transformation and prosperity by using the oil and gas resources wisely while ensuring the stable and sustainable growth of the non-oil economy in agriculture, housing, education and health among others.
Ali has the making of a great leader but the APNU/AFC Opposition and other parties from the past would seek to hold back that progress through lies and deception with their use of PR gimmicks and misuse of information to toil with the minds of Guyanese.
The war to protect Guyana and its gains made since 1992 is not being fought at home only but internationally. The only period, I would never give a positive account of, is the period when they snatched the Government from the PPP/C and wreaked havoc upon the citizenry, through half-baked policies and taxes. This is the period related to former President David Granger and the APNU/AFC Opposition. This is the first time since 1992, I was not sure where Guyana was going but I know we were going down the path of dictatorship, a lack of democracy and anarchy.
Widespread poverty, mass hunger, double-digit unemployment and haplessness characterised Guyana regardless of what the Government MPs and other politicians would say during the years of 2015 to November 2020.
Now, I am certainly optimistic about the future and destiny of Guyana under the leadership of President Ali and the PPP/C. Real economic growth and development are happening all around us in Guyana, just look at the gas to shore project, the expansion of the Cheddi Jagan Airport, the new Harbour Bridge river crossing, the 12 hospitals, and the other major socio-economic projects to name a few.
Under this Administration, I feel secure and I am calmly awaiting more development, more growth, more prosperity and more progress to take hold of Guyana. The saying is getting more, and expect greater but, that is not to say we should forget and become complacent.
We must always remember the brave policemen and women, soldiers, State officials and politicians who fought so that we can enjoy and celebrate these freedoms, and the democracy we have today.
It was threatened already by the APNU/AFC, and PNC in the 2020 March elections, it could be threatened again so we must at all times stand ready, and mobilised to fight for this cause.
October 1992 is testimony that despite the weight of PNC atrocities inflicted, we can still overcome and look to the future as ‘One Guyana’.
Yours Truly,
Michael Younge
