Jagdeo's one year in office
WHAT THE PEOPLE SAY
August 11 will mark the first anniversary since President Bharrat Jagdeo assumed the office of the presidency. We asked the man/woman-in-the-street to share their views on Jagdeo's performance over the past year. Their views follow: Harrydat Tilku - businessman: `For one year in office and during a trying period when the political and economic climates were stormy and even when climatic conditions were not generally good I think that President Bharrat Jagdeo has prevailed and done a fairly good job. He has kept the country on an even keel when it was expected to sink. Community visits, cabinet outreaches and other people-oriented programmes show that he knows where the roots are and that he cares. I don't think his shortcomings could outweigh the fact that he has tried and succeeded in more areas than he failed. Even in trying to find a peaceful solution to the Suriname border issue he has shown that he is politically mature when he was supposed to be the politician in diapers.' Kathy Fowler - nursing assistant: `The one thing which was evident since Jagdeo's appointment in this country was some peace on the streets. He has tried to reach out to people and generally he has been accepted because he is Guyanese-born and bred. Anyway, he has tried with the government and placed much emphasis on youths but hasn't been very successful because he has not been getting the full cooperation of his Cabinet colleagues and some party members. I think this is so because they do not see him as their party leader. Also the people whom he put in charge of issues are looking at them from a racial point of view. Sophia is one such example. Another mistake he made was not reshuffling the Cabinet when he took office. This was compounded with bad investment deals such as the Beal Aerospace and the Guyana Power and Light which means blackout.' Ashraf Pariag - deputy general manager: `President Bharrat Jagdeo did not perform too badly. However, in the area of foreign relations there appears to be some problems especially in the handling of our border issues. We could have done a better job with the eviction of the CGX oil rig from our waters by Suriname. Generally I think that the President has the ability to get things done and his efforts where he succeeded were appreciated. His intentions to end corruption is genuine but he cannot do it by himself. He needs the support of his cabinet and the opposition parties. He tries to be transparent but he could only reveal what he knows.' Trevor Bailey - trade unionist: `For the year he has been in office he has been trying his best. First of all, he is going around the country and meeting people so he gets an idea of what the problems are countrywide and in a general way. His emphasis on youths is important because the youths will have to develop the country. I believe that if he gets the necessary support he will move this country forward. His shortcomings has to do with his Cabinet colleagues who fail to follow up on action which should be taken in relation to decisions he has taken in the interest of people, groups and communities. His government is also not equipped to deal with the border issues which our country has yet to resolve satisfactorily. That issue is not a party issue and he needs to equip the Foreign Affairs Ministry with a political head who is also a qualified diplomat. The President lost the first round in that issue to Suriname. If we had more experts coming out to give their service earlier...' Malcolm De Freitas - political activist: `There is still some doubt in my mind that Bharrat Jagdeo is legitimately the President. I am still awaiting the decision of the High Court on that matter. Because of the outstanding issue I have outlined, there are inherent weaknesses in government which has allowed our neighbours, Suriname and Venezuela the opportunity to express themselves in the manner they have in relation to our country's borders. In addition, the economy is in massive shambles; the circulation of money to ordinary consumers is inadequate to satisfy their basic needs; Indeed, the economy could be determined to be suffering from circulatory sickness.' Clairmonte Frank - public sector employee: `President Jagdeo has been in government since 1992 dealing with economic and finance issues since then. He inherited an economy showing positive growth and where are we now? He has failed in terms of attracting foreign investment and recording positive economic growth. His government's handling of foreign policy matters, especially as it relates to our borders, leaves much to be desired. To put it frankly, the government handled the Suriname issues badly and continues to handle the Venezuela issues not well either. His foreign ministry needs to be drastically improved. He needs to put someone who is more professional as a foreign affairs minister. The one good move Jagdeo made was to bring back former foreign affairs minister Rashleigh Jackson and attorney-at-law Dr Barton Scotland. It shows a good sign of inclusion.' Herbert Campbell - private sector employee: `He started off good. Lots of promises some of which he has kept such as the rebuilding of roads in Linden. The roads were in a deplorable state and the main roads have been looked after. Some of the promises he has not kept includes the area of corruption. Corruption is rampant especially in the administrative regions and the regional system on the whole. You see it everyday in the regions where people collect salaries for doing nothing. One good thing about Jagdeo is that he has visited flood stricken areas and would have a fair idea of what is happening. For instance, he visited Linden where we tend to suffer from floods and erosion but there is need for follow-up action. I think that he failed in foreign affairs especially as it relates to the Suriname issue because he was not advised properly by his Foreign Affairs Minister. He needs to improve in that department.' Desmond Hinds - private sector employee: `From the time Jagdeo took over we experienced some kind of peace after an uncomfortable period when many people could not accept (former president) Mrs Janet Jagan as the leader of the country. Since then we also saw Jagdeo trying to woo investors to the country. I do not think he handled the Suriname border issue nicely. That one was painful for me. Regardless of Suriname's bullying tactics we should have never allowed the rig to leave the area. By its acts of aggression Suriname is now in possession of our territory. The Foreign Ministry is lacking and the President does not appear as though he is doing anything to beef up the ministry responsible for foreign affairs. It is hurtful to see Guyana support Suriname's entry to CARICOM then get stabbed in the back by the same country.' Latchman Puran - University of Guyana student: `President Jagdeo's performance as president has fluctuated over the past year. At times I think he has made good decisions in the interest of the country and at other times he has faltered. One such bad decision, I think, is the Beal Investment in the Waini. I do not think it is an environmentally wise investment. As far as I am concerned there are many life species that are there that have not yet been discovered. The President's emphasis on sporting and youth development clearly shows that he is thinking of the future of the country. I think that hadn't it been for so much flooding which is adversely affecting farming and production the economic outlook would not have looked as bleak as it does just about now. Nevertheless he has taken the issue of the floods in his stride and is dealing with it. Last, but not least, while others criticised the handling of the eviction of the CGX oil rig I on the other hand admired the way he handled it by trying to resolve it peacefully.' Samuel Ramotar - private sector employee: `Generally, he is doing a good job. He has taken an interest in the infrastructure of the country and has personally ensured that roads in Linden and in some parts of the country were looked after. He has shown that he is caring especially among the poor and victims of disasters. Convening a business summit was one way of showing his interest in encouraging investments as well. More than any other leader in recent times he has also paid a keen interest in the city's environment. In some areas funds were ploughed into the city to desilt the canals among other works. Generally I do not think he has failed in anyway.'
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