“Stop politicians who want to obstruct, hinder development” – Rodrigues

The People’s Progressive Party-led Government has no allegiance to ethnicity but rather its allegiance is to Guyana. This is according to Minister within the Housing and Water Ministry Susan Rodrigues.

She was at the time addressing a forum organised by the Junior Chamber International Guyana on Saturday in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) on a peaceful and sustainable Guyana.
Minister Rodrigues highlighted several projects and programmes implemented by the PPP/C, which give testimony to the Party’s non-allegiance to ethnicity.
She detailed several projects which ranged from the Government’s housing projects to opportunities in both the health and educations sectors.
These include its housing programme, which does not discriminate, the removal of a question which requires a person to state their orientation on a housing application form, the water distribution network, increases in pension and other allowances for senior citizens and the way persons get employment in the Public Service which she said can withstand any public scrutiny. The public health and education sectors offer equal opportunities for all Guyanese, she added.
She pointed out that any Guyanese can apply for a scholarship being offered by the Government regardless of a person’s ethnic, religious or social background.
“That is just a handful of projects and programmes and policies that we have implemented as a Government to demonstrate our commitment to every single Guyanese regardless of all of those perceived inhibitions or regardless of what we are told.”
She said having traced our history, the lie that we believed for decades to be racism and the cause of division among our people – that there is inherent discrimination in our system and that our people are divided – which continued post-independence, continues to be peddled today.
“If you start to pay attention to the issues and people start to really focus on issues and vote on issues our country will be a very different place.”
She said as Guyanese we need to start thinking independently.
“We have to put a stop to politicians who want to obstruct and who want to hinder development. Our people have to judge parliamentarians and local officials; you have to judge them on output and deliverables.”
She pointed out that sections of the electorate should not be manipulated by politicians to feel guilty for supporting a political party that is outside of their ethnic grouping.
“We do not have allegiance to ethnicity. Our allegiance is to our country.”
“Our electorate must demand results, transparency and accountability while noting that decency must prevail in our Parliament and the attacks on women have to stop. We must vote on issues and not along racial lines. We have to break this generational curse,” she said while adding that young people are the key to ending this.
Noting that the youths in Guyana are its future, Rodrigues said they must lead the way.
“They must lead us into the future, a different future, a bright future for Guyanese and for Guyana.”
Meanwhile, President of JCI, Kestine King in brief remarks noted that a peaceful and sustainable Guyana is important as it improves the quality of our lives, protects our ecosystem and preserves natural resources for future generations while promoting unity, positive thinking, and collaboration for the common good of all.
She urged that we all strive for the desire of making Guyana sustainable and be our neighbour’s keeper in the aspiration of peace. (G4)