Latest update April 25th, 2024 12:59 AM
Dec 05, 2008 Features / Columnists
Peter R. Ramsaroop, MBA
INTRODUCTION
There seem to be so many issues going on in our nation that one wonders if the politicians realize that the things they are dealing with are not our pain.
For example, there is the issue on the table of the rule of law that no one should be allowed to serve in Parliament if they hold citizenship of another country, regardless if they are Guyanese and living in Guyana.
What I didn’t know was that this is already written in the Constitution and was being addressed by MP Sheila Holder. I had misquoted her in my last Sunday’s column as a new initiative, for which I humbly apologize.
She would like to see this rule of law enforced since many in Government hold dual citizenship. I believe instead, we should be working to change the law where all Guyanese around the world if they so desire can get a chance to serve their country.
On Wednesday, James Mc Allister, MP with the PNC, was recalled and expelled from Parliament because he disagreed with the leadership of his Party. Minister Jeffrey was either axed or will resign because he disagreed with the President on the EPA.
Local Government elections have disappeared off the radar screen since the massacres. It will be fifteen years since the last local government elections were held in our so-called democracy.
We have seen government shut down TV stations, stop advertisements in both leading papers, give concessions to a select few, take away farmland from the people in Buxton, terminate new cable companies so one entity can get a head start and you can most likely add to this list.
Our politicians need to focus on the issues that affect us, how to make our nation better today, how to improve our economics, how to improve our security, how to improve our education, how to reduce the cost of living, how to implement investment codes that will excite investors and create jobs, how to provide a boost to our economy by the reduction of the high taxes we pay and lastly but not least, become servants of the people not masters.
We have a government and parliamentary system out of control and regardless of the political parties to which they belong, they have lost track of OUR PAIN.
THE REAL PAINS:
1. In my Wednesday column, I highlighted the plight of our education system and the areas where we need improvement in order to better the lives of our young ones.
2. We have lobbied hard for a reduction of VAT and other taxes in order to stimulate our economy and put more money in our pockets to spend on our families.
3. We have proposed an Energy Plan that provides for alternative energy. We want to re-engage the Brazilian Government on its promise to help us with an Ethanol Plant. It has been four years and we still hear rhetoric from the Go-Invest Office on the subject.
4. The key issue on the Environment and what is needed on our Forestry and the reduction of carbon emissions has been proposed. We have to learn to negotiate better incentives for not cutting our trees down.
5. Many depend on the cheap calls over the internet to keep in touch with their families abroad. This is an acceptable practice all over the world. There is a move to shut down these services. The government instead should be working on how to legalize this practice, if so necessary, with appropriate taxes.
6. Many are still struggling to send their children to school, yet we have seen no move to implement public transportation for our school children.
7. Recent laws passed allow for the tapping of our telephone lines, instead of laws that will attract investors to our nation and create jobs for our people. Laws to recall parliamentarians that speak out against their parties have been the focus.
8. Millions disappear from NIS and our money used to invest in the Berbice Bridge at three per cent returns while private investors get 11 per cent and our pensioners are then put out in the pastures to suffer. We need to investigate this practice and focus on providing the benefits that are rightfully ours.
9. We have lobbied aggressively for the road to Brazil to be started and a feasibility study on a railroad for cargo along with the creation of a Deep Water Harbour. This alone will create thousands of jobs, yet our parliamentarians and government do not debate the “how” in their frequent sessions.
10 . Programmes such as the re-start of some form of a National Service to get our unemployed and young people to focus on new skills and training are yet to be debated in Parliament. A new land law that includes our young people must be addressed.
CONCLUSION
Our list can be much longer, but the goal is to highlight the pains that we the citizens feel, which do not seem to be the same pains for those in Government and Parliament.
We the citizens are connected by these pains we feel every day. Those that have been making $30K-$40K a month for years, wonder if they will ever get up there where they can become self sufficient.
It is time all of us that feel a pain – that feel the system can be more sensitive to our needs – realize that it is our hard earned taxes that keep these politicians enjoying the finer things in life, such as houses, cars, first class travel, an entertainment budget, drivers, maids, gardeners and concessions.
It is time we all become more active in our well-being, it is time we speak out, it is time we bind together and get these areas fixed. It is “our” nation of “many” people but with one destiny. We can improve our economics. It is not just a dream; it must be turned into a reality.
Until next time “Roop”.
Jagdeo giving Exxon 102 cent to collect 2 cent.
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