The strong alliance between the PPP/C and the PSC is very clear for all to see

Dec 12, 2011 Letters

Dear Editor,
The crisp engagement of the Private Sector Commission in Guyanese politics, in general, and in the 2011 elections, in particular, is very worrying.
The Commission asked Guyanese to accept the results while neglecting to call on GECOM to answer questions of glaring discrepancies as reported by the OAS observer mission. It also appeared to have been dismissive of the call for the verification of Statements of Poll.
It is clear that the sudden appearance of the Private Sector Commission on the political scene and its engagement in the 2011 elections is about one objective- to protect their business interest; not the interest and rights of the people who continue to suffer at the hands of some of its very members and the ruling party.
Therefore, the call by the Commission for Guyanese to accept the result of the last elections is really another way of saying let us get on with our business, which is to make money. Money or the lack of it has always been the problem in Guyana and it is because of the way the country has been governed for the last nineteen years. The business sector has aligned itself with the ruling party to advance their own interest. Simultaneously, the ruling party needs the business sector and its investment to show that it is developing Guyana. But people continue to suffer.
In Guyana, money has been flowing in one direction- in the accounts of big businesses- while there is a high incident of poverty in all ten administrative regions of Guyana and particularity among our women. Many citizens do not have access to proper sources of clean water, electricity, garbage disposal and other basic facilities.
Many members of the local private sector pay unbelievably low wages to their workers. Some workers are forced to work in very harsh and unhealthy conditions of dust nuisance and poor lighting and ventilation. In some stores, conditions can be likened to sweat shops.
Even paying taxes is a major challenge for many members of the private sector. Look at the many cases that were taken before the courts by the Guyana Revenue Authority and the Mayor and City Council over the last five years just to get businesses to pay their taxes. Yet they sit at press conferences and talk about accepting results.
Interestingly, the Private Sector Commission has not used its influence to forcefully call on GECOM to do a verification of statements of poll. (APNU, a main contender has asked for this.)
It has not asked the police to investigate the public misconduct of certain members of the ruling PPP/C, on Election Day. It has not asked the police to investigate the abuse of the Presiding Officer and the Observer, by Mr. Odinga Lumumba, in South Ruimveldt, on Election Day.
It did not chide the ruling party for their use of state resources, including NCN and Chronicle News, for partisan party purposes. It has not asked GECOM to publish its Standard Operational Procedures for the conduct of the election. But it is calling on Guyanese to accept the results of the elections. The stance taken by the Private Sector Commission is as unfair as the just concluded elections of 2011.
The strong alliance between the PPP/C and the Private Sector Commission is very clear for all to see. In the end, it is about interest; their interest. However, when such interests infringe upon the rights of citizens it becomes a problem not only for one group but the entire society.
James Martian