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one result of tax payers money.... an APNU RIDE. |
27 Apr 2012 20:01 #85119
by artemis
| APNU and AFC set to derail Guyana’s progress |
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| Written by ASHTON SIMON, MBA |
| Friday, 27 April 2012 00:49 |
| THE National Amerindian Development Foundation (NADF) states that it is unbelievably stunning that in today’s politics the ‘cut down to get on top’ strategy still implies.
[/size]NADF is of the view that such a strategy will send Guyana’s hard earned gains down the pipeline. One must be honest to realize and acknowledge the sterling progress made since 1992. NADF does not have to count on fingers to outline these gains as they are very visible in all sectors of our environment and society. NADF notes with surprise and grief the joint opposition’s proposed budget cuts to most of the LCDS, and GRIF-funded projects in our National Assembly. This is a complete turnaround for Guyana’s development as it will impact on all sectors of our society. The opposition must realize that such a proposal is high risk and will have negative consequences in the long term. Proposing cuts to the LCDS and GRIF is sidelining Amerindians from development programmes. It means that funding for the Amerindian Development Fund will not materialize. It specifies that our homes will remain in darkness and our children will never be able to pursue academic and other programmes of their choice. It means that demarcation of our titled areas will cease or slow down. It also means that these proposed cuts will seriously affect the small Guyanese entrepreneurs who strive to better their lives through micro and small businesses. Our children will grow up ignorant of the digital world thus creating a gap between those who can afford and those that cannot. The APNU and the AFC falsely enticed the Amerindians and other Guyanese into voting for them under the pretext that life will be better under their watch. This indicator certainly is not pointing to a better path. NADF is fearful that in expanding their blurred vision of development, APNU and AFC will compromise our hard fought for Amerindian Act, especially those clauses which empower communities and village councils to veto up to small and medium scale mining activities. ‘AFC has in the past indicated such a strategy. These proposed cuts will destroy many poor people’s lives across the country, electrical costs will spiral, and it will also effectively derail the Amaila Falls Hydro Project which is designed to reduce the high cost of electricity to the Guyanese people. Internationally, the status and recognition that Guyana enjoys as a world leader in the fight against Climate Change will be snuffed out. This move by the opposition is designed to cede Guyana’s global leadership on climate change. One must acknowledge the pride Guyanese experience when international recognition is showered their way. A tiny country with such assertive powers, we much give credit where it deservedly belongs – thanks to former President of Guyana, Bharrat Jagdeo. Our LCDS is recognized as a national initiative, and must be peddled as such. Seeking to sow discord and creating divisions within our structured national effort will be pursuing goals of destruction. If the opposition is aware that Guyana’s LCDS has been lauded by global leaders as a model for the world to follow, LCDS would not even come to their lips. But, they have and a strategy will have to be developed to answer such challenges; the partnership with the Kingdom of Norway is at high risk and Guyana must be on ‘RED ALERT’ as the benefits of accruing over US$250 million in the next five years for our forest services in the fight against climate change is about to be compromised. The Chairman of the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has said Guyana’s LCDS is one of the most progressive strategies of its kind in the world. Global NGOs, Presidents and Prime Ministers have commended it, while some as far as from Africa sought our input for helping them to develop their strategies. More importantly the people of Guyana support the LCDS, especially the Amerindian sector. The proposal to cut the budget will damage our Socio-economic thrust, and will negatively impact our population and damage our efforts to make life better for all. NADF urges the opposition to be more responsible in their thoughts and concepts. NADF also seeks to inform them that sitting on the ‘opposition benches’ does not mean saying ‘NO’ to every issue presented for their perusal for, in so saying, is being immature and only reflect the hungry politicians they be. Hungry for power which they must get at all costs, even at the cost of absolute destruction. NADF’s position on this is that it is absurd and will not benefit Guyana in the long term. |
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