Losing the propaganda battles

From my perspective I feel that it is a good thing for the civic that deep within their conscience, the majority of Guyanese know when the Opposition interests are either unreasonable or plain lies. Those not misled don't normally take to the streets - or to the letter columns. They know or suspect truth - and ulterior motives.

But to me, contrary to popular urban opinion, the civic often loses the PR/Propaganda campaigns initiated by Sophia via its teleactivists and more subtle front-persons and groups. Too often, this unsuspecting (new) generation thinks that corruption, discrimination, rigging of elections, a lazy parliament, broken-down schools and roads, squatting and crime began and ends with this Government. If they only knew! But I marvel with quiet admiration at the success of the Sophia spinners. Great stuff, unfortunately. It is not for me herein to tell the civic what and how to do differently, to sell their achievements, and sometimes truth.

Media freedom?

Another rebuke I really have for this civic. No one including Mr. Hoyte or even Mr Nascimento can deny the Press Freedom and the Freedom of "Expression", introduced and now being allowed. But oh, the nasty abuse, the unlicensed rapacious exploitation of this "softness"! In the name of press freedom and democracy? So now they have a right to describe the Head of State, publicly, in any manner they think fit; to incite criminality and racism; and to denigrate even people's wives.

An interim watchdog committee, ostensibly to uphold revered journalistic principles and to monitor wrongdoing, has proven to be a most timid toothless bulldog. What Bull? Soft government in the name of "freedom".

Ignoring the capital

I accuse the government of being indifferent to the rapid deterioration of the nation's capital city, Georgetown. I can appreciate all the bureaucratic legal and municipal hurdles which might initially be put forward as preventing Central Government from intervening. But don't tell me that there are no innovations available to by-pass the hurdles in the interest of the city.

The abrasive, rustic but savvy Minister Collymore should have been provided with legal advice - and money - to sit with the lame-duck, I can't bring myself to say impotent - Mayor, to bring Georgetown back from being now the dirtiest, most disorderly capital around. Citizens can be motivated to pay up but not under current circumstances. Some feel the governmental indifference lies in the fact that "Georgetown is PNC". Nonsense! Quietly again - if you want to use that unfortunate context - there are thousands of "PPP people" in Kitty, Alexander Village, Prashad Nagar, Campbellville and Riverview and Houston. Shame on you for "ignoring" Georgetown civic. My generation dies knowing nastiness in GT, crazy mini-buses only, vendors' shantytowns and traffic chaos. May another generation of Georgetown dwellers fare better. Even as Georgetown-based judges consider their learned judgements in terms of both the law and the welfare of the city.

Including outsiders

It's called various names these days. The political scientists, the politicians and students of government and governance all refer to "inclusiveness" one way or the other. I salute weakly the government efforts regarding Dr. Kenneth King, Manzoor Nadir and, and...? My God did Edgar Heyligar have to become fed up?

I know how cautious your hard-won victories have made you after rigging, discrimination, torture and opposition, but you could have been much more open to young newcomers and retired outsider/sympathisers Civic. Carolyn Rodrigues could possibly have brought others like her but there is definitely a close-shop/closed door nature about your government still. And I'm not even talking about the inclusive shared-governance the PNC has recently discovered. You stand accused Civic. Perhaps actually guilty.

Public servants...

I can be so ambivalent about this issue I have to mention it separately. Yes Civic, I know that since 1992 you have significantly increased and improved the pre-1992 pauperised Public Servants' lot. But the money's value, plummeting against inflated prices for life's every necessity, has made your efforts appear minimal. And open to the usual effective propaganda by concerned experts like Mr. Kirton, Mr Melville and Professor Thomas. (President Yarde is also good at his thing.)

The truth is that Frankly Speaking, I feel that your Westford and N.K Gopaul - advised by your Dr Jeffrey - could sit with the GPSU "doves" and prove that you have done more for public servants in a shorter period than was done for them by those who claim them.

O.K. I know well that circumstances have made too many Public Servants dishonest and vulnerable to corrupt practices. It has become endemic. (I believe Registrar Ramlall.) My own peers know! But public servants pay taxes and bear other workers' burdens. Like for policemen and teachers, money should be found to pay more. No question of justifying a measly $30,000 minimum a month. And yes a thousand of your "own" now teach and work as public servants. Right? Compromise even more civic. Let the union be innovative in its demands, and you be more flexible and accommodating.

Well see, I've run out of my allocated space for this Friday feature - and the layman's litany of my civic's shortcomings is so incomplete. But I'll continue. For now the above could be summarised as (1) fear to consult or include outsiders, (2) indifference towards assistance for the capital; (3) allowing too much unlawfulness in the freedom of expression (4) timidity and fear to prosecute wrongdoing and (5) not enough sympathy for your unsympathetic public employees. Stay tuned.