By Stabroek News
Copyright stabroeknews
Dear Editor,
President Ali had the right and he employed it with all his might. A new cabinet to which I tip my hat, despite disappointment at not making the grade. To the two dozen plus ministers, I simply say, do an honest job. Though I may be put out of business, do right by Guyanese. Inefficiency could be overlooked; incompetence occasionally bypassed. Do well by all the people, and all will be well.
I observe that the president has a tendency to say the proper things when in front of a podium and microphone. It’s a start. What develops afterwards serves as proof of the wisdom of his choices. I will not second-guess any of his ministerial choices, nor the motivations and visions behind some of the switches, nor the retention of some from the old crew. The president has to have the freest hand, and may his cabinet honour him by paying homage to Guyanese of every stripe and spot. Like Stewart Copeland of the Police, ‘I’ll be watching…’ The white gloves, as promised, remain in place until December. May I never have to take them off, as I make these initial cabinet comments.
From KN’s Sunday edition, I noted something, which prompts me to single out and commend several ministers for their, I must say, appealing lack of hypocrisy. Ministers Bharrat, Sukhai, Ramraj, Texeira, and Anthony took their oath of office without any sacred book in their hand, or that was visible. I am reading that in one way: they have ideas about the honest road, don’t need any scripture to reinforce publicly, and prefer not to call any sins on their heads by mocking God, through pretenses with his written word. The others with holy books in their hands may be doubly committed to the straight and narrow path, which only time will tell, because the president has already sounded a few cautionary notes.
From Demerarawaves, Guyanese learned through the words of the president that the new cabinet will be under “constant review.” Good! Deep review and credible review could provide the president with extra yardage, should he need to pull the plug. Once ministers pull their weight, approach their portfolios with a clean head and a closed fist, those assessments will not turn up anything. Incidentally, a closed fist means an empty fist. When I absorbed Pres. Ali’s charge to his cabinet, with the accompanying pep talk, I concluded that the much-waited for, and much marketed, anticorruption squad may be out of business before it could even get going. When the new ministers, which includes the returning ones, hold the line on honesty and integrity, the anticorruption people will not have any work to do. What unexplained wealth? What underhanded activities? What minister’s name making the rounds from the Corentyne to the Northwest, even as far as deep into Caracas? I think that the returning PPP Government and the second term Pres. Ali are the real McCoy (a loaded word that is fraught with peril in any context), and on which His Excellency went to town, and painted it in red.
For from SN, also on Sunday, September 14th, came the story of a president having a rocking good time. “This government is about the exercise of responsibility, service, and humility. No egos, no egos. It’s about service and responsibility.” Did I read right? Bravo, Dr. Prezzie! Can this be actually happening? Will I have any work left to do? Thanks, Mr. President. I exhort every Guyanese to give Pres. Ali a listening ear, an open mind. “We intend to work relentlessly to uplift every Guyanese and fulfil the expectations of our people. And their expectations are: to live a life of dignity, a life in safety, a life of honour; a life in which prosperity reaches every home; a life in which our elders can retire in dignity and in comfort; in which your communities are clean; you have sanitation services early; in which you feel alive with high quality and standard of living; world-class education, world-class health services.” It’s a September to remember.
Pres. Ali has promised. My job would be to keep him honest to such. No talk today about holding feet to the fire, just keeping he and his cabinet honest to the promises made, the oaths sworn. Others can wax lyrically about old wineskins in new suits and dresses, or carousels and musical chairs. I am singing my own song of thanksgiving and praise to Pres. Ali. The hope is that he doesn’t make me choke. Best wishes to all ministers. Make all Guyanese proud. And help me to retire, fully, finally.
