Dear Editor,
The Honourable Zulfikar Mustapha, without an iota of doubt, has proven to all Guyanese at home and in the Diaspora, to be the finest Agriculture Minister this country has ever seen. Without any respite, this man moved unfalteringly and interminably from one community to the next, spending hours and painstakingly and diligently sifting through the issues affecting the farmers and residents and resolving many of these on the spot. He demonstrated this again at the Rose Hall Estate Welfare Ground just a mere 2 weeks after he did the same at the Albion Sports Complex Ground.
This Minister makes “bringing the Government to the people” a reality. This is not mere politicking as was done by the coalition in its “knock off” outreaches which broke the backs of the already impoverished taxpayers. The coalition’s outreaches were marked by extravagant and lavish spending on food and drinks for the huge entourages which did absolutely nothing to alleviate the sufferings of the masses. In comparison, the PPP/C’s outreaches would make a beggar scoff. It was pure business, no pleasure! The PPP/C Ministers are earning every cent of their salaries!
Another noteworthy characteristic of the Agriculture Minister is the personal intensity and commitment in which he addressed each and every single issue. No problem was too big or any too small and he applied the same zeal to each and every one. This was not lost to all those hundreds of residents present at the outreach at Rose Hall Estate Welfare Ground. The resolution of problems lasted for long 3 hours and as each frustrated resident concluded their business it was clear that there was a sense of satisfaction and relief that reflected and emanated from their demeanours. Their faces literally lit. They no longer felt damned, abused and neglected as they did under the coalition’s self-centred maladministration. The residents gave vent to their feelings in an unrestrained manner and the Minister dealt with each one on its merit. His team was up to the challenge as well. In the end, they exuded a sense of belonging and the creation of a strong bond with the subject Minister and his Government was born.
It must be recalled that Canje and the surrounding communities were catapulted into a depressed area when the coalition mercilessly guillotined Rose Hall Estate. In fact, the poverty level rose by some 60 per cent as the socio-economic foundation quickly crumbled. However, the Minister re-energised the people when he again reiterated the Government’s commitment to accelerate the momentum of the reopening process and ensure that not only the continuous employment of severed workers but that sugar will be produced next year, 2022. The glorious days of Rose Hall will be back. This was met with a loud applause from all present, which included the CEO, Mr Sasenarine Singh and Estate Manager, Mr Aaron Dukhia and his Departmental Managers from Rose Hall Estate.
At the conclusion, the Minister made a strong resolution that these outreaches are just the beginning and these will be duplicated and magnified to every region of Guyana and then the cycle will start all over again. Guyanese can be assured that this Government will not operate in a cocoon but live and breathe with the people.
Yours sincerely,
Haseef Yusuf
