Latest update May 7th, 2024 12:59 AM
May 05, 2014 Letters
Dear Editor,
It has been more than three weeks since the Budget was passed in Parliament but was only assented to in the last hours before the deadline expires. What was he waiting for? Is this how he intends to govern the nation? And why the majority opposition and the masses are allowing a minority government to dictate to them? His actions are clear indications that he and his party do not care about the poor, the elderly and the youths of Guyana.
If they do, then the Minister of Finance would have presented a budget that would create jobs for the tens of thousands of youths who are unemployed and are forced to eke out a living through illegal means, including robbery and the sale of illegal drugs. Due to the high cost of living, the Minister should have increased the pensions of senior citizens from $12,500 per month to $15,000 per month and provide a 10 percent across the board wage increase for workers. As the country goes about the painful task of waiting on the minority PPP regime to get anything done, care must be taken as much as possible to protect the poorest and most vulnerable in society.
But even as the government takes steps to work on a strategy to develop the economy, there must also be the cold realization that whatever is done must have as little negative impact as is humanly possible on those 40 percent at the bottom of the economic ladder. The poor are on the brink of starvation. Times are extremely hard for them and it will even get much harder as the economy continues to weaken to the stage where the poor will eventually face hunger and death through starvation. Very soon, the poor will have nothing else to eat but the rich.
As much as the nation yearns for tangible and sustained economic growth, it would not come immediately because we have a government that is slow to act on behalf of the poor and the working class but they do act swiftly when distributing the country’s resources to their friends and relatives. And, as they do, the negative effects are likely to be immediately felt by the mass of the population—the 40 percent at the bottom rung of the economic ladder. A country will not develop when more than 40 percent of its people are in extreme poverty.
We believe that a regime is playing with dangerous fire when it marginalizes a large section of its population thus leaving them in utter despair and without hope. The poorest, unemployed and most vulnerable must be made to feel that society and its government cares about them and is acting in their interest. But this is not the case in Guyana where the regime has abandoned the 40 percent at the bottom rung of the economic ladder.
Impoverishment, anger, resentment and hopelessness can make for a most poisonous chalice leading to social unrest — which Guyana cannot afford but it will happen sooner rather than later if the government does not stop its practice of marginalization, nepotism and cronyism. We are telling this uncaring and selfish regime that the youths are at a breaking point and they cannot take it anymore. The pressure is building up and there must be an escape valve to release their pressure or else.
In that respect we call for a partnership among the Government, the Opposition and Private Sector bodies to join forces and create jobs and thus strengthen the social safety net of our youths. The suggestion is not new. Indeed, we urged such an alliance before but time is running out. This must be done and done urgently.
Any government which ignores the plight of poor and the working class is doing so at their own peril.
But as the 40 percent at the bottom rung of the economic ladder tried to make ends meet with the little resources at their disposal, there are deliberate attempts by this government to deny them their basic human needs. All this government has done so far is to respond to the needs of their supporters and their wealthy relatives and friends.
Their approach is the reverse of “Robin Hood’s” practice that is to take from the poor and give to the rich. In Guyana, 80 percent of the country’s resources is being utilized by 20 percent of the population, most of whom are friends and relatives of the regime.
It is often said that people are a nation’s greatest asset. We would suggest that in the case of Guyana that is little more than a useless cliché. Fact is that, this rogue government has adopted a “starve or feed” policy, that is those who do not support them will be denied resources and those who do will receive as much resources as possible. A classic example is that most of the government contracts are dished out to friends and relatives of the ruling party. Experience, qualifications and the character of persons do not matter. And most of the villages with street lights, proper drainage, decent schools and good roads are where their supporters reside. That has to change. Guyana is for all Guyanese irrespective of their party affiliations.
Dr. Vincent Nauth
Derrick Arjune
Asha Balbachan
Dr. Devita Khan
Aubrey Reteymer
Chandra Deollal, Esq
Dr. Reginald Watkins
Rohit Misir
Dr. Terrence Simon
Donna Mathoo
Noel Moses
Harish S. Singh
Vicki Rampersaud
Guilianna Jacobs
Asquith Rose
GRA catch EXXON trying to hunch GUYANA over 11 BUS dollars in one shot!!!!
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