100 days in office: Citizens give gov’t thumbs up

THE first 100 days in office has a symbolic significance, and is used as a benchmark to measure the early success of a President and the new Government. It may be the transition between an old administration and a new, energised body. On November 10, it will be 100 days since August 2, when the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) assumed office after a five-month delay.

In Berbice, there is much satisfaction that the Irfaan Ali-led administration is doing a good job in meeting most of their demands thus far.

“So far, the current Government, upon assuming office, has hit the ground running, leaving the comfort and luxury of its office and going across Guyana, meeting with residents to listen to their problems, and address them with much urgency. While we all keep record of the Government’s performance since in office for 100 days, I must say that they are meeting the demands of the nation, while working in the midst of a pandemic, and with an emergency budget. I believe that the Government should continue in the same vein, if they truly want to unite and move Guyana forward, and make it the El Dorado everyone dreams of,” Teddy Sukhdeo, a plant operator at the Guyana Water Incorporated Inc. (GWI), and resident of Number 63 Village stated.

He added: “100 days in office, and the Government is winning the nation’s favour, and at the same time breaking down barriers that have divided the nation, because they have almost fulfilled their Manifesto promises. I am, however, disappointed in the way the Ministry of Home Affairs is handling the crime situation in the country, because I personally have not heard the subject minister outlining how he plans to make Guyana safe and crime-free. I strongly recommend that the Government continues to be people-focused, and make policies and decisions that will benefit the less fortunate, and improve the lives of all Guyanese.”

In light of its performance thus far, Sukhdeo has high expectations for Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), and is hoping that the Government continues along the same path it is going.

POWER AND FAME
“I want to see East Berbice, Region Six being transformed into the business capital of Guyana; communities, infrastructure, drainage systems being upgraded; power supply being reliable and affordable,” the young Berbician said, adding: “Also, I want to see an emergency medical service being established in Berbice; an affordable tour package being rolled out for local Guyanese to tour and enjoy the beauty of the Guyana they work so hard to build. 100 days in office so far, and the Government has become the idol of the nation. I do hope they do not lose focus and vision in the midst of fame and power.”

Mankarran Singh, 42, a businessman of Belvedere, East Berbice, Corentyne, is pleased, overall, with the performance of the new Government thus far, but is hoping, like many others, that they continue in the same vein, and deliver on their promises.

Singh, who has a hardware store in Bushlot Farm, in the Central Corentyne area, noted that the $25,000 grant has done wonders for the East Berbice Community. He expressed satisfaction that the Government has chosen to give cash instead of vouchers, since doing so affords one the flexibility to shop wherever one chooses, and whatever items they want. He praised Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha for the hands-on approach he has adopted, and is hoping the other ministers can take a page out of his book by being on the ground, too, and meeting with ordinary citizens.

“We are seeing some development in infrastructure, but I’m hoping to see more people from the Cabinet on the ground,” the businessman said, adding: “In Belvedere, we have some terrible roads, and we haven’t had any ministerial visit as yet. I see Minister Mustapha all over the place, and that is commendable. I do hope the others can do the same, because that is what is needed to address the concerns of the ordinary man. That being said, as a businessman, I can say more people are buying building materials, and business has picked up, which signals that people are confident in investing, and coming up to the holiday period, it should be better.”
Basmatie Budhoo, 45, who has a roadside vegetable and fruit stand at Alness Village, said she is very pleased to see the removal of VAT on water and electricity, and the free 10 cubic meters of water for pensioners.

“Some old people get it real hard, and them depend on that pension money to last them the whole month for everything,” Ms. Budhoo said. “This increase to $25,000, and the subsidy on the water, and less tax will make a whole world of difference to them people. And that is what I am very happy for; I think the Government is doing good for this short time them in there. And with more time, we can expect much more,” she added.

Mahendra Deonarine, 55, a resident of Auchlyne Village, said he is pleasantly surprised at the amount of development that has already taken place thus far, and is very excited for the future generation, should the Government continue with the same pace.

THUMBS UP
“I am very surprised at the pace at which works are being done since this Government took office,” Mr. Deonarine said, adding: “We had a meeting the other day with them minister, and two days after he promise to fix the drains, them machines went and start the work. And with all this rainfall, we nah get no flood. Imagine, with just an emergency budget, they were able to get these things done. And next year, with a full budget, I predict a very bright future. So I would give the Government a thumbs up for their 100 days in office.”
He is, however, asking for the creation of a recreational ground for the youths in the area, as, for want of a proper facility, they often make do with an open lot if they want to play a little cricket or volleyball. The creation of a recreational ground, he said, will make way for a more structured approach to help nurture the youths.

The Guyana Chronicle also spoke to computer science student and local ‘techie’, Aggrey Marsh, and he expressed his satisfaction that the long-awaited liberalisation of the telecommunications sector has finally been realised.
In October, two months after assuming office, the Government issued Commencement Orders, fully bringing into force the Telecommunications Act 2016, as well as the Public Utilities Commission Act 2016. In effect, it has ended a 30-year anti-competitive telecommunications monopoly that has left Guyanese weary, frustrated, and lagging behind in the telecommunications arena.

“Liberalisation is good, but it is part of a multi-step process, and now that the telecommunications sector is liberalised, what needs to be done now is infrastructure-wise,” Marsh said, adding: “The Government should encourage, but not be involved in the use of Internet exchange points nationally.”

For context, Internet exchange points (IXPs) help create shorter, more direct routes for Internet traffic. According to the Internet Society, IXPs provide a more affordable alternative to sending local Internet traffic abroad, as is presently being done here in Guyana, only to have to return that traffic, via an international link, which can be an expensive business.
Aggrey also highlighted that he would like to see the Government support small businesses throughout their tenure.

He, however, noted few shortcomings of the Government thus far, one of which is the still unsolved murders of the teenage cousins, Joel and Isaiah Henry. He is suggesting that the government bring in the Argentine Forensic team; a move he believes would help to bring the perpetrators to justice.

He also believes that the government did not handle the situation with the squatters at Success, East Coast Demerara (ECD) in a proper manner. “We should accelerate giving people land, including those squatters there at Success,” he said.

Nadira (only name given), is also hoping that those genuine and vulnerable squatters at Success will be given house lots, so that they can live more comfortably.

NATIONAL HEALING/POLITICAL MATURITY
Moving forward, one area she hopes much more focus will be given to is national healing. A few days after his swearing in, President Ali committed to fostering the process of national healing, cognisant of the tensions that arise during the protracted election period.

“The division of races in this country is a big thing, and I would say that is what separates us so much,” Nadira said, adding that political maturity is needed to bridge the divide in Guyana.

“Everybody looks at PPP/C as an Indian party, and the APNU as the African party, but that shouldn’t be. They (the current Government) need to focus on bringing the nation together, and really live up to our motto, and not just use it as another talking point,” she emphasised.

One business owner on the ground floor of the City Mall, Sawdah (only name given), said that she is pleased with many of the Government’s initiatives thus far.

“I don’t have anything bad from the Government so far, but one of the good initiatives that they have done so far, and one which I have personally benefited from, is the $25,000 per household,” Sawdah said.

As part of the $330B emergency budget crafted and passed by the Government in September, a COVID-19 cash relief grant of $25,000 will be distributed to each household. Many people, just like Sawdah, have expressed their appreciation for this initiative, hailing it as timely. This grant was part of the stimulus package to help increase citizens’ spending power, and provide some amount of relief to them during the pandemic.

Sawdah is, however, skeptical of the decision to reopen schools already. She indicated that her son is an “active” eight-year-old, and she would not want him to go back to school while the coronavirus is not yet under control.

Maduraj Mohan, who works along with his mother in a small business she owns, indicated that though he has not personally received the cash grant as yet, he believes it is a great initiative.

“With the cash grant, maybe for Christmas, we could see a li’l bit more people coming out to buy, and maybe business might pick up again,” he said. Beyond that, Mohan said that the COVID-19 pandemic is one which there is little control over, and that he believes that the Government is trying its best to manage the crisis.