What was to have been a momentous occasion last week erupted in chaos when residents of the Good Hope, East Coast Demerara community, turned up to protest the siting of a health centre on a plot of land which was being used as a playground by their children.

Prime Minister Sam Hinds, former president Janet Jagan and Minister of Health Dr Leslie Ramsammy, who turned up for the sod-turning ceremony at Lusignan, were witness to what was an obvious split at the community level. Efforts were made to placate the disgruntled villagers, reminding them that the building of a health centre would redound to the benefit of all. The Prime Minister even went so far as to assure them that an alternative site would be identified for a playground, with the assistance of Housing and Water Minister, Shaik Baksh.

A week later, Dr Ramsammy ventured to turn the sod for a health centre at Enterprise and met a similar, though less vehement, reaction. It was all too much for Dr Ramsammy. Perplexing. How could people disagree with having a health centre built in their community? After all, government was "bringing health to the people." And the location was a good one, near the schools, market, community centre and policing base.

It was obvious that he had lost it, when he told the small crowd gathered: "... we have decided on the site, there is no room for discussion on the subject." Wrong answer. The doctor would have failed Diplomacy 101. There is always room for discussion, though perhaps this should have been done at the community level, before both sod-turning ceremonies.

Dr Ramsammy, is quickly earning a reputation as a go-getter. His approach to many of Guyana's health problems has been: go out and get it done. He has made the HIV and AIDS fight a personal crusade, promising to access anti-retroviral therapy at a minute fraction of its cost. He needs to work on maintaining this profile and dismissing the views of people, regardless of how inane they seem, isn't going to do it.

While it is recognized that it is impossible to please all of the people all of the time, they should never be made to feel that the government or community leaders are imposing their views on them. Isn't this precisely why President Bharrat Jagdeo began taking the Cabinet to the community? So that the ministers could hear first hand what the people wanted? So that the people could feel a greater sense of ownership of projects executed for their sakes?

In both instances, residents had what seemed like valid reasons for disagreeing with the chosen sites. In the first, it was because they wanted a playground there instead. In the second, it was because they wanted it between the two communities it is being built to service. Efforts should have been made to have the pros and cons of the site selection ventilated beforehand. Perhaps more people could have been won over and the ugliness avoided. Perhaps the clinic would have been sited elsewhere.

Perhaps the time has come for another Cabinet walkabout.