I would like to refer to Peeping Tom’s gossip column in the Kaieteur News dated April 17, 2008. Peeping Tom has the nerve to suggest that Minister Manniram Prashad has not have a good record of accomplishments since taking up the portfolio of the Tourism, Industry and Commerce Ministry. Peeping Tom further suggests that he was hoping for a cabinet reshuffling so that Minister Prashad would be removed.

Well, I thought you judge people by their accomplishments. Minister Prashad has certainly done a lot in his capacity of Minister in such a short time.

Shame on you Peeping Tom. But this is the problem with Guyana. We exploit people for our own personal agenda. It is clear that the writer of the Peeping Tom gossip column is ignorant of the achievements that Minister Prashad has made in a short time.

Let me list some of the Minister’s achievements. The Minister has been pushing for additional funds to boost tourism; additional IADB funds are likely to happen through a possible US$1M this month. MINTIC/GTA are heavily involved with CARIFESTA X through the Accommodation Committee; reviving the B&B sector; a brochure for CARIFESTA X ; training for CARIFESTA X on frontdesk/frontline, hospitality, culinary, housekeeping; training for taxi drivers; producing a DVD for CARIFESTA X ; promoting CARIFESTA X through an inflight video aboard Caribbean Airlines; installation of MIST to capture and analyze data on arrivals; and the birding programme. There are other accomplishments which I will address in another letter; I merely want to focus on the Ministry’s current involvement with CARIFESTA X.

This is the kind of nonsence we see from time to time in Peeping Tom. It’s clear that there are editorial difficulties at Kaieteur News. Glen Lall should pay some attention to these gossip columnists like Peeping Tom, Freddie Kissoon, and a few others.
STEPHEN BERNARD