Addressing a select audience of lawyers and businessman last Wednesday morning in Queens, New York, Dr Cheddi Jagan, President of Guyana, stated that the next elections will be tight. Blaming the system of proportional representation, Jagan said that a fly-by-night party may garner sufficient votes and so present a balance of power situation as happened in 1964 when a D'Aguair/Burnham coalition prevented his party, which had won a majority, from forming the government. However, Jagan was optimistic saying that the present coalition of the Peoples Progressive Party (PPP)/Civic will win the next elections due by December 1997.
The PPP/Civic coalition according to Dr Jagan, ernbraces all sectors of the society: the PPP has maintained its working class base and the Civic, which is not a formal party but a group of individuals, brings to the administration t:he business and professional elements of the society. "Formerly they used to call us communists. Now we have two priests, Reepu Daman Persaud (PPP) of the Hindu faith, and Dr Dale Bisnauth (Civic), once head of the Christian Council of Churches. They are both members of the Cabinet," Dr Jagan quipped. Dr Jagan, whose audience comprised Indians only, made no comments on the question of race.
On a more serious issue Dr. Jagan said that he was encouraged by the large amount of donations given the country from overseas Guyanese who have not forgotten their homeland. Citing the recent gift of computers donated by a Guyanese medic now resident in the United Kingdom for a new wing of Berbice High School in New Amsterdam, Dr Jagan invited his audience to consider making such donations. He said in that gifts are a great help to the schools, univesity, police and other essential services and the country will be grateful for such donations. Indeed, the President informed the gathering that a special unit has recently been set up in his office "in order to avoid the hassle" at Customs. Donors, he said, may write his office directly for expedited, hassle-free treatment.
The President said that his country has been developing at a steady pace especially in rice and sugar and as a result "homes are built or refurbished at a feverish pace". He also said the privatization of the former nationalized industries are continuing on schedule. Commenting on the crime situation, the President observed that his government is actively engaged in curbing the wave but it is hampered because of shortage of personnel and equipment. He stated the police force is very short of manpower because few people would apply for the jobs, the salaries not being very attractive. Finance is the chief problem not only in the police force but across board, he said.
The President dismissed the view of a vocal few members of the gathering who suggested that he should allow more people tocarry guns.
The President further observed that at the present rate of development the nationwould be in very good shape in another five years. He stressed that his government was hampered by the past four years because of the "tremendous burden of the twenty-eight years of neglect by the former government."
"We have been doing well so far to bring the country around," said the President making reference to the field of culture. He said that most of the playing fields which were built before the Burnham era and were allowed to deteriorate are once again becoming useful to the youths. He feels certain that Guyana will once again field the better sportsmen and women in the region in a reference to the many Guyanese stalwarts of WI cricket.
Dr Jagan informed his audience that there is also a great need for skilled manpower and he would encourage them to consider returning even on a short-time basis. He explained that a group of American doctors regularly visit the country and give of their skills and equipment. On the subject of skills, Dr Jagan has also invited academics to return to work on the long term priorities of the country. He said that the view of politicians is usually fixed on winning elections and are "pragmatic". There is need to plan the longer agenda and academics, he said, are better able to do so.
Dr. Jagan has left for Canada where he was billed to deliver a keynote address at York University, Downsview, Ontario.