A sitting president is not an ordinary member of the public

TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor,  

Permit me to quote from a Stabroek News report on January 11, captioned ‘(Jagdeo)…paid $5M per acre for land at Pradoville 2’. The report said that questions have been raised about whether the land was advertised publicly and how it was allocated and valued. It further stated that, “Observers say this is crucial as ordinary members of the public are subjected to rigorous guidelines and procedures for the apportioning of land.” 

First of all, a sitting president is not an ‘ordinary member of the public’, and as such, cannot be subjected to rigorous ‘guidelines and procedures’. To believe this is tantamount to believing that the president should join the queue at the passport office when renewing his travel documents, wait in line during rush hour traffic and pay a toll to cross the Demerara and Berbice bridges. The asininity of this is pellucid. 

In the civilised world presidents, past and present, are treated with dignity and respect. Why should it be any different in Guyana? Mr Jagdeo is entitled to certain privileges and is fully deserving of a comfortable existence when he demits office this year. 

This apparent obsession with the size, value and location of the president’s house is petty and ridiculous. 

Regards,

Brian Azore

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