My take on the Second in the NCN Series of Debates on Corruption:
First to note: APNU was AWOL! This was so glaring, that the Moderator, Mr Al Creighton, kept repeating that they were invited, and had indicated that they would participate, as they were among the most vocal critics of the Govt on the issue of Corruption. The fact that they didn't show up shows that they talk only for the sake of talking. When it comes to facing the truth, they have no legs to stand on. Since they cannot put up, then they should shut up! I trust that all the PNC/APNU sympathisers here take note!
Second: The AFC was again represented by their Leader, Mr Ramjattan. It looks like they have no one else who could espouse their bitterness more than Ramjattan. It also shows how thin is their talent pool. This alone should convince viewers that the AFC is not ready for Prime Time. I would have loved to see the whiner, Gerhard, on display!
And now for the Debate itself: The PPP/C was represented by Odinga Lumumba, the AFC by Khemraj Ramjattan, APNU by an empty chair, The Private Sector by Capt Gerry Gouveia, The Govt by the Minister of Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, and the Expert on the Panel was Mr Winston Brassington. Once again, the Moderator was Mr Al Creighton.
Mr Creighton began by inviting each participant for an "opening Statement". And then it came to the meat of the Debate.Mr Brassington firmly asserted that "every step of the process was open and transparent"; that every step was advertised; that there were 23 expressions of interest in the project; but only 2 were tendered, of which the lower one was selected
Dr Ashni Singh began by proclaiming that Guyana "is at an extremely exciting juncture in its Development", and that Projects like the Marriot will propel the country forward.
My Lumumba emphasised the need for a Project such as this, saying that with the country poised for take-off, accomodation was limited only to the Pegassus and the Princess Hotel, and that should oil be found, then even the 197 room Marriot would not be enough to take in the influx of visitors to Guyana.
Mr Ramjattan then questioned the need for such a project, loudly proclaiming that that " there is no commercial justification" for a project such as this; that the 52 million dollars that the Govt would spend in partnership with the private sector would be better spent on cleaning up, and beautifying, the city of Georgetown, to make it more attractive to visitors, to which Mr Lumumba retorted :"But where would the visitors stay?"
Mr Gerry Gouveia declared the project as evidence of "visionary leadership" on the part of the Govt; that when he started his Arrow Point tour resort, there were only 500 visitors per year, and now that number has grown to over 7000 visitors per year, and that he foresees an exponential boom in the Tourism sector, once the necessary infrastructure are in place. He alluded to the fact that when the New York City Sub-way was built, New york had a population of only 7 million , and critics were saying that the project was not commercially viable, but now that the population has grown to 20 million, one cannot imagine New York without its sub-way system - that time had shut the mouths of the critics.
When it came to the question of corruption, Mr Ramjattan had no evidence whatsoever, and he had to resort to conjecture and what-ifs... He was rendered speechless when Mr Lumumba pointedly told him that he and his Party, the AFC, were opposed to the project because the Marriot would entail serious competition to the Pegassus, which is owned by Mr Robert Badal, who is a personal friend of Ramjattan, and a major contributor to the AFC party.
All in all, the Debate was a very worthwhile exercise, which generated a great deal of light and a little heat. Openness and transparency were the big winners tonight, and the Govt looked like they had the interest of the Country at heart, whilst the AFC emerged as flimsy and bitter - no leg to stand on in their criticism!
The highpoint of the debate was the stirring appeal at the end made by Dr Ashni Singh, for everyone to put Country First, and partisanship aside! Wel-done, all!!!
I cannot close without acknowledging the contributions of two of my Face-Book Friends - Ms Youlanda Charles, and Ms Trinity Watson - for submitting very pertinent questions and observations during the feedback session! Well done, my Friends!
First to note: APNU was AWOL! This was so glaring, that the Moderator, Mr Al Creighton, kept repeating that they were invited, and had indicated that they would participate, as they were among the most vocal critics of the Govt on the issue of Corruption. The fact that they didn't show up shows that they talk only for the sake of talking. When it comes to facing the truth, they have no legs to stand on. Since they cannot put up, then they should shut up! I trust that all the PNC/APNU sympathisers here take note!
Second: The AFC was again represented by their Leader, Mr Ramjattan. It looks like they have no one else who could espouse their bitterness more than Ramjattan. It also shows how thin is their talent pool. This alone should convince viewers that the AFC is not ready for Prime Time. I would have loved to see the whiner, Gerhard, on display!
And now for the Debate itself: The PPP/C was represented by Odinga Lumumba, the AFC by Khemraj Ramjattan, APNU by an empty chair, The Private Sector by Capt Gerry Gouveia, The Govt by the Minister of Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, and the Expert on the Panel was Mr Winston Brassington. Once again, the Moderator was Mr Al Creighton.
Mr Creighton began by inviting each participant for an "opening Statement". And then it came to the meat of the Debate.Mr Brassington firmly asserted that "every step of the process was open and transparent"; that every step was advertised; that there were 23 expressions of interest in the project; but only 2 were tendered, of which the lower one was selected
Dr Ashni Singh began by proclaiming that Guyana "is at an extremely exciting juncture in its Development", and that Projects like the Marriot will propel the country forward.
My Lumumba emphasised the need for a Project such as this, saying that with the country poised for take-off, accomodation was limited only to the Pegassus and the Princess Hotel, and that should oil be found, then even the 197 room Marriot would not be enough to take in the influx of visitors to Guyana.
Mr Ramjattan then questioned the need for such a project, loudly proclaiming that that " there is no commercial justification" for a project such as this; that the 52 million dollars that the Govt would spend in partnership with the private sector would be better spent on cleaning up, and beautifying, the city of Georgetown, to make it more attractive to visitors, to which Mr Lumumba retorted :"But where would the visitors stay?"
Mr Gerry Gouveia declared the project as evidence of "visionary leadership" on the part of the Govt; that when he started his Arrow Point tour resort, there were only 500 visitors per year, and now that number has grown to over 7000 visitors per year, and that he foresees an exponential boom in the Tourism sector, once the necessary infrastructure are in place. He alluded to the fact that when the New York City Sub-way was built, New york had a population of only 7 million , and critics were saying that the project was not commercially viable, but now that the population has grown to 20 million, one cannot imagine New York without its sub-way system - that time had shut the mouths of the critics.
When it came to the question of corruption, Mr Ramjattan had no evidence whatsoever, and he had to resort to conjecture and what-ifs... He was rendered speechless when Mr Lumumba pointedly told him that he and his Party, the AFC, were opposed to the project because the Marriot would entail serious competition to the Pegassus, which is owned by Mr Robert Badal, who is a personal friend of Ramjattan, and a major contributor to the AFC party.
All in all, the Debate was a very worthwhile exercise, which generated a great deal of light and a little heat. Openness and transparency were the big winners tonight, and the Govt looked like they had the interest of the Country at heart, whilst the AFC emerged as flimsy and bitter - no leg to stand on in their criticism!
The highpoint of the debate was the stirring appeal at the end made by Dr Ashni Singh, for everyone to put Country First, and partisanship aside! Wel-done, all!!!
I cannot close without acknowledging the contributions of two of my Face-Book Friends - Ms Youlanda Charles, and Ms Trinity Watson - for submitting very pertinent questions and observations during the feedback session! Well done, my Friends!
