Latest update March 28th, 2024 12:59 AM
Aug 03, 2015 Letters
Dear Editor,
I must not be the only Guyanese who is still under shock after having read an article captioned “Ministers/VPs pay hike pegged at over $245M annually”.
There has been a deep felt sentiment of revolt and injustice among parents, especially single parents in rural areas, regarding the abolishment of the “Because We Care” vouchers, along with the firing of almost two thousand CSOs and a significant number of employees in the Public Sector. Yet, we now are informed that the Government is actually considering a major pay hike for Ministers and Vice Presidents.
The stipend of a CSO amounted to a mere $ 30 000 per month but the average Amerindian Village employed approximately ten CSOs, resulting in a monthly increase of village income of $300 000. Now Amerindian leaders are dumbfounded by this reported proposed increase in salary and other entitlements of each Minister and Vice President, who will each be earning more than twice the combined stipends of ten CSOs in one village per month— $245 million represent 24 500 vouchers and 8 100 CSO stipends. How could the Government defend even considering such an initiative in the face of the newly unemployed and disenfranchised Guyanese citizens, many of whom are youth under the age of 25 and single mothers?
The rice industry is literally collapsing due to the unfortunate election results which served as a catalyst for the Maduro’s exaggerated controversial move to worsen the Venezuela/Guyana land and maritime border controversy. It was to be anticipated the Maduro would not lightly accept the installation of a pro-US Government in Guyana, and his deliberate attack on our national sovereignty is specifically directed to the pro-US Granger Government for whom he seems to have little or no respect. Unfortunately for Guyanese, in particular Guyanese rice farmers, the Coalition Government appears to be deprived of the much needed skills in diplomacy required to handle the diplomatic crisis. Instead, it has swollen its chest with false pride, in full knowledge of the grave it is slowly digging for itself and our rice farmers.
The new Government should abstain from projecting aggressive messages toward its neighbours, as this is not patriotism but only a display of a false and arrogant sense of pride, which, as it has proven, has served only to worsen the situation and degrade the image of our country in South America. Guyana has yet to forge its legitimacy and credibility in MERCUSUR, and perhaps the first lesson to be learnt by the Granger Government, is that respect has to earned, not commanded.
So while our rice industry collapses, our social welfare benefits are being dissolved and there is hardly any progress in implementing the 100 Day Action Plan promised by the APNU/AFC Government, it is rather curious to know that Finance Minister Jordan is still shamelessly considering a dramatic pay hike which extends for the time being only to Ministers and Vice Presidents.
The rhetoric piped by Government will continue that the rice industry was failing under the PPP/C Administration and that pay hikes were granted to Government officials during its 23 year leadership. However, the rice industry was revived and maintained as best as it could, considering the international market practices and prices of primary goods. While pay hikes would have been granted under the previous Administration, it wasn’t to the detriment of social benefits, employment, failing agro industries and an economy on the verge of recession. It didn’t involve a 100 per cent increase each of the five times the PPP/C was elected. For those who argue that prior to 1992 there would have been no such pay hikes and benefits, and that these were much inferior to what was earned by the previous Administration, it is important to note that under the PNC dictatorship the country was literally bankrupt, while the cost of living was drastically lower than what it is today.
Maybe, if the PNC led APNU/AFC Government actually showed signs of investing in the promotion of a healthy economy and the social well-being of at least its electorate, then one could attempt to justify such a pay hike. Instead, it has only shown Guyanese its resolution to engage in finger pointing and witch hunting, ethnic discrimination instead of unity, self-interest instead of social welfare and lavish Government spending instead of economic strategising.
Maybe those benefactors who allegedly financed a multimillion inauguration and a lavish birthday party for the President, while Guyana was covered in waters, vouchers were scrapped and people were being fired from their jobs, would like to contribute to the cheap vouchers and CSO stipends? Must I remind the APNU/AFC coalition that some of those very CSOs accused of being “political” were engaged in the Government’s very own campaign trail across the country, even in Regions Seven and Eight?
Once it is announced on August 10, the Government would no longer be able to use the previous Administration as an excuse for its failure to live up to its promises. Coalition gurus and partisans should remember that while the PPP Administration rightfully blames the PNC dictatorship for destroying this country, it has forged a solid record of progress to show for its countless sustainable contributions.
What record is your Government building President Granger?
Lenny Archibald
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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