What the people say about
A few minutes with the President
If you had a few minutes with the President what would you tell ...
By Iana Seales
Stabroek News
April 12, 2004
Ramkumar Sukram - housewife: 'I have always dreamed of hugging him. So if I had that opportunity I would hug and kiss him. I am not sure whether words would be spoken if I had a few minutes with him. No, the time would be too precious and short.'
Dexter Muir - self-employed: 'What has he done to develop depressed communities? I look at Albouystown and Tiger Bay and see forgotten areas. Roads are in a deplorable state in the country and he needs to look into that. I would also raise the issue of crime with him. Crime is strangling this country and he needs to devise a plan; plan in the sense of a way forward.'
Zenobia Narine - self-employed: `I have concerns with crime especially the kidnapping ring that seems to have developed. I would ask the President what is going on with all these kidnappings. I welcome the move to deploy a kidnapping squad in the police force but how efficient is it? I am also curious as to how he views the breakdown in the talks with the opposition.'
Kenneth Chance - co-ordinator, Justice for Jermaine Committee: 'I am hoping to have a few minutes with President Jagdeo. Firstly I would ask him about civic and human rights. Those are areas of pressing concerns. Then I would speak about my community, Albouystown. That place is a health hazard. For 35 years I have been in that area and no changes. Where is the improvement that community needs? Albouystown is not populated by one breed of people there is diversity among the residents. I would point out to the President that youths are idle. The young and unemployed are fast becoming delinquents. From delinquency the process evolves into criminality. I would urge him to put money into creating jobs for the young.'
Jenel Ifill - self-employed: `I just have one question for him since that is the only thing on my mind at present. Where are the jobs for young people? I would welcome an answer to that.'
Bato Alli - cane cutter: `People are suffering and I want to know what he is doing about it. There are so many things that are wrong in this country. Look at the roads, go into communities across the country and see how people are living just to name a few. I know people who don't have access to clean water, food and light among other things. I am disappointed, just disappointed.'
Yolande Holder - public sector employee: `I would applaud him. President Jagdeo keep up the good work, is what I would say. He is working to better Guyana. I would implore with him to work along with others and keep this country beautiful.'
Brian Goodraj - student: `I would ask him about the current state of the country. I want to know what he intends to do about the recent escalation in crime. In his capacity as head of state he has to act. I want to know what he is doing abut crime'
Indi - private sector employee: `I would thank him for the scholarship opportunities that he has provided for students. Looking at our education sector I can say with some ease that it has blossomed under him. However I would ask him to work for more recognised scholarship programmes - recognised in the sense that students might be able to study in England or the United States. Not that something is wrong with the Cuban and Indian scholarships'.
Rawl Dumette - private sector: `I would tell him that his style of Governance seems to favour one section of society. He also has to look inside his governing body and take a firm grip on things. Then I would draw him attention to unemployment especially among youths in our country. If this situation continues and people cannot find work things will take a drastic turn. Crime will predictably rise to another level if something is not done to address this. The country is also in need of foreign investors so I would raise this matter with him. Instability in the country is crippling the economy and people will not invest here. How will we draw investors when Government and Opposition are at loggerheads?'