By Abena Rockcliffe
Commentary about the President and Cabinet Ministers visit to Tiger Bay last weekend was almost ubiquitous. Everyone had their two cents to put on the table. Some were upset about photos taken of children not fully dressed. Others were caught in a spin that Minister Priya Manickchand was somehow launching her presidential campaign in Tiger Bay. Then, there were those who recalled that the visit was not the first of its nature. In 2020, President Ali visited Tiger Bay and made similar promises but nothing ever materialized. While I watched on, I just wanted to know how would it work. What is the plan, what are the measures of success and what were the pillars of the approach?
We have long been talking about the fact that Guyana’s status as the fastest growing economy is not felt by the poor and lower middle class. I was happy to see the formation of an initiative to change this unfortunate reality.
What remains unfortunate is that beyond the optics of it, we have no clear idea of how transformation will occur.
Minister Manickchand repeated in several Facebook posts, “watch us transform this community.” I want to know just how that transformation will be measured. Is the main focus to change the aesthetics? As in literally transform the physical community, or will focus also be on transforming lives?
Along with green spaces, will there be social workers working directly with residents? Will a programme be set up in that community for young people who dropped out of school and are now interested in learning a trade or getting subjects?
Will financial literacy be taught as a priority? This is especially important since some politicians are advocating for lumpsum cash grants. How will we make sure that these grants, if ever realized, are used in a productive manner?
Has there been an assessment about the impacts of the Albouystown beautification project? Did it have any positive impacts beyond giving the community a face lift? Did having facilities in that community promote responsible care? Are there lessons to be learned from that project?
As I write, there are more and more questions popping into to my head. My aim is not to inundate this piece with all my questions before I become truly excited about the initiative.
So let me say what is my hope. I hope there is a genuine desire to transform the “ghettos” of my dear land. I hope that in a road map to 2030, there are detailed directions of how to mitigate poverty and improve lives not just aesthetically, which I agree is important, but also in a way that weens dependence.
This has to be a baby of no less a person than President Irfaan Ali. There must be desire and direction from the very top. The president often speaks about key performance indicators when talking about the agenda for his ministers. Let us look out for the key performance indicators for uplifting of ghetto communities. And hopefully when President Ali demits Office, he can boast real transformation, a legacy few can match.
