Maintaining the momentum

Editorial
Guyana Chronicle
June 28, 2001


PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo has been extraordinarily busy during the past month or so diffusing touchy situations in various parts of the country.

He has managed to fit this in while tending to pressing matters of State and has perhaps been able to take it all in stride because he is young and full of energy.

While he is doing all this, he continues to hold dialogue with Opposition Leader, Mr. Desmond Hoyte on a range of matters.

After several rounds, the two found a common approach to several issues and the President has ordered that some recommendations from some of the specially selected bipartisan committees be implemented.

The committees were established out of the meetings to look into areas of concern to citizens.

Since the March 19 elections, there have been violent street demonstrations, beatings and the plunder and destruction of state property which have had crippling effects on the economy. There have been losses to a particular section of the Guyanese population.

The President visited several villages on the East Coast on several occasions following the upheavals there.

He met residents of the villages and discussed issues which are currently engaging the attention of his government.

He then met Water Street, Georgetown vendors who were facing imminent removal from the area where they have been hawking their goods for years.

Together with the vendors and the City Council, the President has proposed a solution to this old problem which is being worked on.

Just under a month ago, the President had cause to travel to Berbice following protests by residents which had begun to turn sour.

He held several meetings with the disgruntled residents and took on-the-spot action following the rising crime wave and other social problems in the area.

Shuttling between Georgetown and Berbice, the President made subsequent visits to the area and normalcy was restored.

Hardly had he settled down at his New Garden Street, Georgetown desk when he took time off Sunday to travel to the mining town of Linden to settle a burning issue involving small loggers and other matters of concern to residents.

This was followed up with a meeting with a group Monday.

Clearly, Mr. Jagdeo has shown a determination to reach out to all sections of the population, even before the mushrooming of the problems, informing them of and discussing with them his Government's plans.

In all of this, the President and his administration continue to face obstacles but they must push on to demonstrate that they have the spirit and will to endure in carrying through with the mandate they have received from the people.

The task may at times seem daunting and tend to weigh down those in charge, but the President is leading by example and setting the pace for the way forward.

His may be a difficult pace for others to keep up with but the administration cannot be found wanting in this testing time.

The momentum has to be maintained.