2007年VOA标准英语-Guineans Have Cautious Optimism Over New Govern

By Phuong Tran
Dakar
29 March 2007

In Guinea, the newly-appointed Prime Minister Lansana Kouyate has named more than 20 new government members, the latest step in the strike-ending deal reached last month that ended weeks of violent unrest and work stoppage. Phuong Tran reports from VOA's West African bureau in Dakar that Guineans are generally optimistic about the change in leadership.

demonstration1, part of a general strike in Conakry, 22 Jan 2007" hspace="2" src="/upimg/allimg/070529/1100060.jpg" width="210" vspace="2" border="0" />

Protesters march during a demonstration, part of a general strike in Conakry, 22 Jan 2007

Abdel Nasser was one of thousands of students who took to the streets during waves of strikes and violence that killed more than 100 and crippled the country's biggest industries since the beginning of the year.

When he heard the prime minister's announcement Monday about the creation of a new government, he said he felt relief.

Nasser says he is mostly optimistic and that Guineans are counting on the new ministers to solve economic problems that he says was one reason Guineans protested President Lansana Conte's rule.

One of the conditions for ending the strike for union leaders was the reduction in prices of rice and gasoline, which Guineans said had become unaffordable.

Diallo Ibrahim is 37 years old and has been unemployed² for almost one year. He says it is still too early to know what the change in government means for every day life.

He says people have to wait to see whether the ministers will be able to solve the country's widespread unemployment and its poor health, water and electricity services. He adds no one knows yet how much change will happen just because new ministers are appointed.

In his televised speech Monday, Prime Minister Lansana Kouyate said he knew the catastrophic situation in Guinea demanded a break with old practices.

Of the more than 20 people the prime minister named, only one has served under President Conte. The rest include mostly economists³ and experts from different fields who are seen as independent.

 

The Guinea chapter president of the corruption⁵ watchdog Transparency International, Mamadou Taran Diallo, says corruption and impunity⁶ are explosive forces in Guinea that set off the first waves of strikes.

The protests began when President Conte personally freed from jail two of his allies held in connection with a corruption investigation⁷.

Transparency International rated Guinea last year as the most corrupt⁴ country in Africa.

Diallo says the first priority for the new government is to dissolve the controversial security forces many hold responsible for scores of deaths during recent protests.

A peace deal to end a weeks-long fatal strike brought Prime Minister Kouyate to power one month ago as a consensus⁸ leader who can hire and fire ministers, something only the 72-year-old President Conte had done since he took power more than two decades ago.

1 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

2 unemployed   

adj.失业的，没有工作的；未动用的，闲置的

参考例句：

• There are now over four million unemployed workers in this country.这个国家现有四百万失业人员。
• The unemployed hunger for jobs.失业者渴望得到工作。

3 economists   

n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。
• Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 corrupt   

v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的

参考例句：

• The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
• This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。

5 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

6 impunity   

n.(惩罚、损失、伤害等的)免除

参考例句：

• You will not escape with impunity.你不可能逃脱惩罚。
• The impunity what compulsory insurance sets does not include escapement.交强险规定的免责范围不包括逃逸。

7 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

8 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？