Lincoln Lewis is mischievously...

From page 6 signed meaningful duties to my office. Apart from my role as the leader of government’s business in the National Assembly, I also have responsibility for the telecommunications sector, which includes the Telecommunications Agency, National Data Management Authority (NDMA), Public Utilities Commission (PUC), and the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC).

Additionally, I have been assigned the Civil Defence Commission and disaster preparedness activities in Guyana. My office also has responsibility for the energy sector, exercising oversight of the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), Guyana Power and Light (GPL), the Hinterland Electrification Company Inc, (HECI), as well as the Guyana National Broadcast Authority (GNBA). Further, my office is also tasked with oversight of the government information sector, which includes the Department of Public Information (DPI), the Guyana National Newspapers Limited (GNNL), and the National Communications Network (NCN).

The baseless and reck- lions of dollars from oil revenues which otherwise would not have been possible.

Only recently at a meeting with Amerindian leaders, Vice-President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo spoke of the billions of dollars that will be allocated to Amerindian development as a direct result of the sale of carbon credits. These are substantial developments that will impact positively on the lives of our Indigenous Peoples and the Guyanese people as a whole.

This is not to suggest that we should not seek to get a better deal from our carbon resources. My own view is that the current contract is much too skewed in favour of the oil companies operating, but there is not much to be gained from finding faults and engaging in the blame game.

The important thing now is to look ahead and learn from past mistakes, something which the current PPP/C administration is already doing.

The prospects for Guyana are looking good and will only get better in the coming years. But it requires all Guyanese to exercise patience while remaining vigilant that we do not get the raw end of the stick in future negotiations with the oil companies.

Yours respectfully, Hydar Ally less nature of the claims from Mr. Lincoln Lewis and his handlers in the opposition follow a now-familiar pattern of maligning state institutions, officials and public servants, and attempting to shake public confidence in the fundamental pillars of our democracy and governance. We are at an unprecedented moment of our cherished history.

Our democratic principles and rights have been solidly restored, the economy is strong to the point that we are once again able to attract foreign investors in significant numbers which is evidence of the vast potential that Guyana wields as a ‘head cornerstone’, leading the conversations on global issues as described by Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, at the recent opening of the International Energy Conference and Expo Guyana 2023.

Sincerely, Hon. Brigadier (Ret’d)

Mark Phillips

Prime Minister of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana