PRESIDENT Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali said what his political party intends to accomplish this year, thereby making history again in this country. He intends to win the municipality and town of Georgetown, along with the upcoming Local Government Elections. He did not stutter or leave any ambiguity looming.
President Ali has made his bid to the citizens of Georgetown to give the People’s Progressive Party Civic the “chance” to run the capital city.
He said, “We want the chance to run this city because this city is better than what it has today, and it is time that we will rise up, and give the People’s Progressive Party Civic that opportunity to lead, to lead this city and continue to lead the city into progress, prosperity, and to deliver good governance for the people of Georgetown”.
The president plans to continue modernising Georgetown and the transformation of the capital city, which began under his watch in 2020. He told the gathering at the launch of the new $6B Aubrey Barker Road that Georgetown has been neglected by the PNC/APNU-led city council for decades, explaining that he would not play politics and the blame game.
“We will make it happen, trust me. To the people of Georgetown, we love you. I am not interested in casting in this blame game. If they don’t want to open the Koker, and if they don’t want to maintain the drain, we will show the people of this city that we are ready to do it. Our road networks must be modernised to accommodate exponential growth in motor vehicles, reduce congestion, improve safety and increase productivity”, the president said.
The president was convinced that the PPP was the right medicine that this city needed. Dr Ali said that his vision was bold and clear.
“Our vision is clear: better roads, better movement, better lives. This road transport master plan did not begin yesterday. It has been unfolding steadily over the past five years, and it continues with strength and purpose today. The expansion and extension of Aubrey Barker Road is one chapter in a much larger national story”, the head of state continued.
He said too that, “We are governing, and governance requires responsibility. It requires decisions. If Georgetown is to become the finest city in the Caribbean, then its infrastructure must match that ambition. A modern city cannot run on broken roads. A growing economy cannot move on yesterday’s infrastructure”.
Firstly, the president’s intended declaration is welcomed by every right-thinking and objective citizen who knows the political situation that existed in Georgetown over the past four decades. The PNC and the APNU have maintained control of the municipality, running it virtually to the ground. They have misused the finances and resources through several of their PNC-APNU Mayors, with the worst being former Prime Minister and Mayor, Hamilton Greene.
The PNC Councillors have neglected the affairs of Georgetown, leading to a solid waste management and garbage crisis and a manpower shortage.
The streets are in a deplorable condition, and let’s not get started talking about the environment. The PNC-led Mayor and Councillors tax and charge rates to the private sector and small-scale businesses, but provide little or no service in return.
The citizens are left to bear the brunt of problems—ranging from corruption and political instability to failed infrastructure—which is a recurring theme in the PNC-led capital city, often resulting in increased vulnerability and poverty.
And, when it is convinced, they have always blamed the central government and claimed political victimisation. Ironically, it is the same government that has had to bail out the city time and time again. The same PPP governments are responsible for 80 per cent of the modernisation in the form of projects, buildings and developments today. The same central governments have been patient and have exercised restraint with the PNC-led council while it played politics with the lives of all residents.
No wonder, the president’s clear intent is receiving much discussion in the hallmarks of public buildings, markets, minibuses, cars, streets and meetings across Georgetown. People are fed-up and tired of listening to and believing the political sound bites that come from Congress Place and the Mayor’s mouth. They want change and need it now. A change in leadership, perhaps, and I do not think it would be to the arms of the WIN opposition, which is more concerned about ‘Facebook likes and views’.
Secondly, if what the president described is indeed what he means, then there needs to be a relationship of trust built with the PPP and its councillors. The building of good faith and trust will lead to a victorious PPP in the local government polls in Georgetown.
They must be very visible at the council’s meetings and in and around Georgetown, if they are not already. They must begin standing up to the PNC and APNU establishment in a more assertive way for the residents. They must highlight the issues that private businesses and residents face monthly.
The PPP and the president must make their blueprint of a plan to change the fortunes of Georgetown and release it closer to the local polls.
Finally, Georgetown is no one’s property or right to govern. It is not an APNU/PNC or WIN stronghold. It is not a political toy to be played with and kept strangled. It should be led from the front by the most promising candidates who have bold visions and plans. The old PNC establishment is crumbling, so now maybe the time to reach for its governance for the betterment of its inhabitants.
The president has articulated the plan clearly. Only time will tell.
DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited.