An uncompromising picture
Dear Editor,
On the morning of December 29, 2020, I pulled into Guyana Voice to listen to Guyana’s 7am time news broadcast. A few minutes after 7am, I overheard an interview involving the Honorable Finance Minister. The Minister was asked to explain the current financial position when the new administration came to power in August 2020. The minister claimed that he was quoting official records available to him, as he responded to several suggestions put forward by him interviewer. I must say that unlike other government speakers on the subject the Honorable minister gave the impression that he was avoiding the usual political adversaries and adhering to a description of the money of what the coalition government had achieved: (a ) from 2015 and (b) during the tenure of the caretaker administration. The picture he described was uncompromising to the outgoing administration. In the words of the minister, it could only be described as a “disaster.”
Unlike his colleague, the Honorable Attorney General, Mr Anil Nandlall, the Finance Minister did not claim that the PPP / C’s victory in the March 2 general election represented, “good victory over evil,” the strongest indictment I have heard since I started listening to public debate. However, what he disclosed and wants his audience to consider factually in the administration of the coalition government, would discredit any administration since World War II. As we the people of Guyana expect to be able to navigate the governance process by listening to the free communication of various political institutions and especially the main competitors, I feel bound to recommend to government media that equal time should be offered as soon as possible for official representatives of the previous coalition government to respond as he sees fit, and tends to make the indictment given to the public area by the Honorable Finance Minister on December 29, 2020. Such a proposal, if accepted, will allow the population to form an opinion based on what each of its main competitors is prepared to defend as true and factual. The exchange will also allow the responding party to correct any exaggeration and clarify any side violation of normal financial conduct rules as set out by the constitution, financial regulations and best practice.
Yours respectfully,
Eusi Kwayana