Dear Editor,
I write to dispute the letter which appeared in sections of the media on Sunday, 6th August, from a ‘Guyanese Nationalist’, entitled “Jagdeo lost a great opportunity to move this country forward”, and “Where Does The PPP Go From Here?” signed ‘Concerned’.
This letter, distorting our recent history, does great injustice to our former President, Jagdeo, and the PPP.
Firstly, our people and country made great forward strides during the 23 years that the PPP/C was in office, with Mr Jagdeo as Finance Minister initially, then as our President for more than half of the time.
Secondly, be assured that the PPP will continue to work its way towards one Guyanese People, one Guyanese Country and One Common Guyanese Destiny on the background of ‘A New Global Human Order’ – the World being one, and we all being members of one Human Race.
True, there are the challenges of comprehensively and explicitly coming to terms with the collapse of the Soviet Union and the passing of our founders, Comrades Cheddi and Janet; and yes, there have been tensions, contentions, contradictions, differences and departures, but the basic vision still holds the overwhelming majority together, and continues to attract new, young citizens to its fold. The future and the way forward are seldom clear and undisputed; contradictions are testimonies of evolving situations, and the basis for further evolution. The PPP will always be there as the Champion for the less able.
Former President Jagdeo, carrying on in the changed direction for our country initiated by former President Cheddi Jagan, changed the face of Georgetown and Guyana for the better, and our people and country moved remarkably forward from where we had been, really getting on with the tasks and anticipated rewards of our Independence.
Editor, when before did we have regular minibus service to Mahdia and to Lethem? And when before did we have regular annual safaris from Georgetown to Orinduik, passing through and linking some twenty Amerindian villages across the North Pakarimas? When before did we have electricity service to Lethem/St Ignatius, Mahdia/Campbelltown, and Port Kaituma 24 X7? And when before did we have photovoltaic solar home systems providing electric lights to 20,000 homes across our hinterland? When before did we have the second East Coast Road (Railway Embankment), and the bridge across the Berbice river, eliminating hours, even days, of waiting to cross on a steamer? And when did we have two Roll On-Roll Off steamers crossing between Parika and the Essequibo Coast, with potential of a ten-fold increase in commerce and travel? When did we have the Ogle crop-dusting airstrip grown to the centre for scheduled domestic flights and become the Eugene F. Correia Regional Airport?
The then still young former President Jagdeo made himself a champion for establishing the new and future IT economy in Guyana, to provide new and better jobs, as jobs were lost in the old traditional sectors.
When before did we have a second competing telephone service and mobile and Internet service rapidly available all across our country?
You can be sure that there was much encouragement and patient nurturing to attract and hold and initiate the new IT sector, inclusive of Qualfon, Teleperformance, the unsuccessful medical transcription venture, and the local Nand Persaud operations.
When did Guyana and we, the Guyanese people, deliver on that bold commitment of former President Burnham in 1973 to provide a headquarters building for Caricom? As a member of Cabinet, I saw former President Jagdeo laying out a vision for the development of that area,which saw construction of the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, the Caricom Headquarters, the Aquatic Centre, and the allocation of lands for private development – the Giftland Mall; Movie Town, now nearing the end of construction; one or two hotels, and lands for upscale housing and offices.
Our present President may well consider renaming the area ‘Jagdeo Square’, perhaps with an eye to naming the Caricom Headquarters the ‘L F S Burnham’ building.
Georgetown and Guyana were changed in so many ways by the overwhelming number of Guyanese leaving their earlier disillusionment, downcast psyche and hopelessness behind them. The large numbers of new and improved homes and the surge in the number of vehicle owners all across our country provide the solid evidence. For the majority of us, former President Jagdeo delivered on the hope and enthusiasm generated with his coming to office.
Yours truly,
Samuel A. A. Hinds
Former Prime Minister and former President.
