Speeches in the National Assembly

APPOINTMENT OF A COMMISSION OF INQUIRY TO INVESTIGATE THE INCIDENCE OF ILLNESS AND DEATHS IN THE BARIMA-WAINI REGION OF GUYANA
Mr. Bond: Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the motion brought by the Hon. Leader of the majority, David Granger.
This motion is very clear. The motion speaks, in the first WHEREAS clause, to rights. In the second WHEREAS clause, it speaks to the deaths of children. The third WHEREAS clause calls for an appointment of a commission of inquiry into the deaths. The first Resolved clause speaks to expressions of sympathy and remorse for the relatives of the children and the last Resolved clause calls upon the President to appoint a commission of inquiry into the deaths.
For my own part, being a product of the soil of Region 1, Barima Waini, I express my sympathy to those families and the fact that one child has remained nameless from the reports is a travesty in itself.
The sentiments echoed by my Colleague, the Hon. Member, Mr. Whittaker, has somewhat left me disconsolate, himself being a member of the same community, Mabaruma, Region 1. I could remember experiencing black creeks and crystal lakes. I drank from those creeks; I never got gastroenteritis. I swam and bathed in those creeks; I never got gastroenteritis. I remember walking into the office of my mom, who was the Health Visitor at the Mabaruma Hospital and seeing those charts of the persons going to the latrines and then persons going and using the water from the river and them getting sick. I saw the animated pictures showing them drinking the water and getting sick. I can remember her going to riverine areas - Moruka, Wauna Creek, Yarikita and Morawhanna - and doing work in those areas as the Health Visitor. I spoke to her and she told me that there were outbreaks but when I mentioned the figures we have in 2013, she was alarmed.
She was saying that because of the drought, what normally happens when there is a dry spell, the gastroenteritis and other waterborne diseases would surface because there is limited supply of clean and potable water.
This motion, again, appeals to the side that is not easily appealable, to the other side, the side that is humane. I was heartened to hear Dr. Leslie Ramsammy give a very frank and passionate presentation as a healthcare provider. That is the kind of expression that is needed from our leaders, not the dismissive and arrogant responses that some others give.
This motion today brings to the forefront the question of equitability. I remember Napoleon, the Stalinist pig in George Orwell’s Animal Farm saying all animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others. I remember my father giving me that book as a present and we began having conversations about the historical enveloping of communism and socialism into the political cloth of Anglo-speaking Caribbean countries, conversations about the responsibilities of the State in a communist, socialist, soft setting, responsibilities to provide education, health care, amenities of water and power, and installation of infrastructure for transportation and commerce. I dare say those conversations are apt in our rather fledgling democracy.
Let me say this emphatically from the outset: every Guyanese has the inherent and unconscionable right to resources of this country and to enjoy the basic amenities of the State in a reasonable quantity and of reasonable quality. This, however, is not the boast of the majority of Guyanese, more so our Indigenous sisters and brothers.
Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, I wish to assure you that the reason why these treatable and preventable diseases are so common place in countries around the world is because of where they occur. They occur in rural and poor communities. They occur where people need the State’s intervention and the State lacks the political will to intervene. That has been the testimony of it. How could we, as a country, in 2013, still speak of gastroenteritis having occurred in such alarming numbers and be so nonchalant about it. You sent a team. So what? Where did you send the team? Is it Kaituma? I visited the Kaituma Hospital. Do you want to see the state of that Hospital? Pigs invade it and eat the garbage. The roofs are caving in. The toilets are not functioning properly. There is no proper water supply. This is 2013. How could you, as leaders, try to pass off incompetence upon the Guyanese people? This should not be a once and far or whenever something arises. The knee-jerk approach to decision making continues. The PPP/C Administration has had 20 years to get it right and failed to do so.
This is not the first outbreak; it is not the second and it would not be the last. But what must we do? Must we wait until February, March and April? Must we wait in Canal, Oronoque, Four Miles, Citrus Grove, McDoom and the other areas for another outbreak in 2013 for you to send in a team to tell them that gastroenteritis is preventable, drink ORS, boil your water, and make your toilets far from the creek? Must we wait until we hear that old story again? I say that is reprehensible; that is incompetence to its highest.
The Minister should take full responsibility. Not only should he express sympathy; he should apologise.  [An Hon. Member: He should also resign.]   I would not call for the man’s resignation. The party seems to love persons who seemingly err in their capacities. It is very fond of them.
I must make the wider point that health is not the only issue affecting our Amerindian brothers and sisters. For too far too long... It is the political fixtures that are there... I want to make a general point. Were we to empower our Indigenous brothers and sisters, few of the problems they face with empowerment and education... These are real difficulties not play-play difficulties. Were we to empower them, we would not have these outbreaks and these issues occurring – human trafficking and so on. The Administration must understand this. You have appointed an Amerindian Minister. There are NGOs and Councils, but you have not given real empowerment to our Amerindian brothers and sisters. Every two mornings you will have to go in there and give out handouts, send a team and walk with medical supplies. It has come to a point where I had to draw the conclusion that it seems as if the PPP/C does not care for our Amerindian brothers and sisters. Do you know what, Mr. Speaker? They boast about the solar panels, the one lap top and land titles but the Amerindians are not generally happy. When one goes into Lethem and these places, one sees a solar panel on a mud wall with thatched roof houses. This is not development. This development that they boast about...[Interruption]
Mr. Speaker: Hon. Members, this is the last speaker. Mr. Bond, please speak to the motion.
Mr. Bond: I will come back, Sir. The point has been made, and I think I made it sufficiently, that these problems we find in the areas of health are symptomatic of an administration that has neglected to see the whole picture of fixing the entire problem. I dare say that why I believe the PPP/C is so averse to a commission of inquiry into anything – I am surprised they talked about Mr. Rodney’s death – in terms of human element is that they are so many things underlying that they are not willing and prepared to fix. If it is anything this Government has demonstrated, it is a lack of political will to fix people’s problems. That is what they have demonstrated.
We need a commission of inquiry not only into health, but all the areas I mentioned which are affecting our Amerindian brothers and sisters. I want to say that the call to have it done should be commended. We should not hear statements that this is duplication of efforts and wasting of moneys. The PPP/C should be the last to talk about wasting moneys – last! We have seen wastage in every single facet of our lives.
I do not wish to be long to keep my Colleagues who look tired, but I want to say that this motion should be adopted in its entirety and supported by the entire House.
Thank you. [Applause]