Minister of State Harmon: Guyana not in crisis
By Tangerine Clarke
Guyana’s Minister of
State, Joseph Harmon
told a packed audience in
Brooklyn, last Saturday,
that Guyana is not in a
crisis, that the Republic
instead, has a sound, stable
government in place
that respects the constitution
and the rule of law,
and will never damage
that, adding, “at the same
time, people should not
believe they can pick and
choose parts of the constitution
and create a crisis
where none exists.”
“President Granger has
said that once an election
is called it has to be on the
basis of operational readiness
by the commission.
We are not afraid of holding
elections we want to
make sure the opposition
does not complain as they
always do,” said Harmon,
whose government has
began house to house registration
to ensure effective
polling.
Harmon assured
expatriates at a People’s
National Congress North
American Region Annual
Creole Brunch, at St.
Stephen’s Church Hall,
that great things are happening
in Guyana, stating
that Exxon Mobil, and
other off-shore oil drilling
companies, are moving
from discoveries, and
now guarantees five billion
barrels in 2020, a very
clear sign Guyana cannot
turn back, he said.
He explained that a sovereign
wealth fund was
signed into law by President
of Guyana, David
A. Granger on January
2019, that would prevent
any administration from
dipping into oil revenue
without going through a
significant process.
Proceeds would only
be withdrawn for projects
approved by the national
assembly. A significant
percentage for investments
and development of
Guyana, and its citizens
are guaranted for generations
to come, noted Harmon.
Guyana’s world-class
products, like minerals
and its eco-tourism
package, in addition to
1600 jobs created by 200
investment companies,
have put Guyana back on
the world stage, said the
politician, who called out
some people for confusion
in “our dear land of Guyana,
Caribbean L 6 ife, March 22–28, 2019 BQ
of rivers and plains,”
adding that the current
incendiary discourse by
the opposition leader, is
a side-show to take away
from the positive things
nationals at home and in
the diaspora have worked
hard for.
He called him a single
‘wrecking ball’ who served
twelve years as president,
before being denied a
third term by the courts,
but who now wants to be
the president in the back,
controlling the president
in the front, while wrecking
“our country, and its
reputation overseas.”
“The diaspora is a
strong resource, necessary
for Guyana’s development.
Thanks for the work you
are doing, and the inspiration
you give to Guyana,”
the politician told
expatriates, while calling
on the media to play its
part, to report accurately,
what is truly happening in
Guyana.
He also acknowledged
Andrea McPhoy, who
started a movement on
social media that challenged
the political discourse,
garnered 80,000
followers, and got the
attention of the Coalition
and the opposition.
“We worked very hard
to improve our image.
We brought back pride to
Guyana. We are no longer
considered a narco state.
Our people are our national
treasure, we value Guyanese
wherever they are,”
he said, and made reference
to 400 young people
who disappeared under
the previous administration.
“I say to all Guyanese,
no! We are not going back
to that type of nineties
behavior. We are now
being led by a president
of high moral values, and
whose integrity is beyond
question, no one challenges
his honesty,” said
Harmon, who lambasted
a former Coalition parliamentarian
who was bribed
in return for a ‘no confidence
motion” against the
government, that calls for
elections in 90 days, now
before the courts.
from left, Ellen Tappin, Errol Lewis, Beryl James, Minister of State, Joseph
Harmon, Joycelyn Thomas-Wilson, Trevor Waterman and Ervin Washington,
at the (PNCRNAR) Annual Brunch at Stephen’s Church Hall, in Brooklyn.
Photo by Tangerine Clarke