Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jun 24, 2018 News
By Leonard Gildarie
This past week had me thinking how much of an uphill task we face in taking this country to another level.
We are facing some major changes across the globe now. The superpowers that ruled in the Cold War are finding themselves being threatened. The mighty US dollar is under threat, according to analysts, from digital currencies.
China, Europe, Mexico and Canada are flexing their muscles on the US for upping tariffs on their products. In China, that country is pushing for its trading partners to deal with their Renminbi, the official Chinese currency.
On Friday, in response to the US imposed tariffs on imported steel and aluminium, Europe slapped $3.3bn in tariffs on US goods. Some are calling it a trade war.
The big question that is being asked now is where does that leave all those trade treaties, filled with rules that promoted the global trade since the end of World War II? That is the big question and nobody knows the answers.
In Guyana we have to pay attention. While their exchanges could cause severe ripple effects, it could also present opportunities, in terms of trade for us.
We cannot insulate ourselves and say that the coldness in the room between the US and its trading partners, including the biggest one – China – has nothing to do with us.
China remains one of our biggest trading partners. They have been investing here. They have been funding our projects.
Last week, we were up in the Mahaicony Creek area. It is a good drive. You turn off Branch Road, at Mahaicony, and drive several miles to a point where you join a boat and head up the creek.
I like exploring Guyana. Young media workers…nay, let us say all Guyanese, should travel their country.
Right in the Mahaicony River, it is a whole different life.
The importance of dams, pumps that work, and drainage structures all are of significant importance to residents in the area.
The reason is very simple…the area is an agricultural one with numerous rice fields.
Children go to school in boats, and it is not unusual to see a woman maneuvering a boat with an engine chugging along. She even dons an umbrella. Such is life in the Mahaicony Creek.
A farmer in First Savannah is complaining bitterly. His farm is under threat because the dams which run parallel to the Mahaicony Creek are in a poor state. Waters, from rains, are flowing across the dams to the rice fields. He wants the regional drainage folks to send in their equipment.
No big deal…he pays his rates and taxes, he says. Never mind the cost of getting the equipment there and the miles that equipment has to travel.
Farmers are scattered in the area. The Mahaicony Creek area has always been prone to flooding from heavy rains.
Yet, farmers have battled the odds and stuck with it.
A few years ago, a few of them had accepted offers to relocate…the losses were too heavy.
I stop here on this one.
During the past few weeks, we were privileged to watch the many images that surfaced of the poor roads in the hinterland.
The Mabura area, sections of the Linden/Lethem road further up and other areas of the Rupununi savannahs are in bad shape. The rains were relentless and the roads, from little maintenance, have been suffering.
Vehicles were stuck constantly. Sections of roads were washed away. We even saw trucks toppling into the creeks. In one case, a truck carrying an excavator did the unthinkable – attempt to cross a wooden bridge. Access was cut off to the Rupununi for days.
What I am about to say will get people upset, but as a country that is preparing for takeoff, we must as a people start taking responsibility for our actions.
Our authorities must take the appropriate steps, timely ones too, to ensure we are heading in the right direction.
Let us take the Mahaicony Creek flooding situation for instance.
On Thursday, the Private Sector Commission held its Annual General Meeting.
Commissioner-General Godfrey Statia of the Guyana Revenue Authority disclosed that 300 companies account for 68 percent of the taxes being paid. Raised eyebrows?
Here is another shocker that nobody wants to talk openly about.
The majority of our farmers are not paying taxes. Yes, they pay their rates and taxes. But filing annual returns, very few do. The ones that do, understate their taxes so much that sometimes they pay as little as $10,000 annually. We have some clever accountants.
I pay more than $400,000 in taxes annually. I am by no means a rich man. And it aches my heart.
Yet you see some of the farmers’ homes and their assets, and they complain about bad access roads and non-functioning Neighbourhood Democratic Councils and about the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority.
Let us move now to the “bush” situation. Our roads, for its proper maintenance, should have measures that ensure that vehicles are not overweight.
Well, imagine on the interior roads where nobody is looking; excavators and vehicles that are above the normal weight restrictions traverse at will without fear of penalties, simply because nobody is looking.
Consecutive administrations have been singing the same tune. They are thinking of placing a toll system for hinterland roads. I believe from talks that it is nearer now.
We have the road from Linden that leads through Ituni to Kwakwani, Upper Berbice River. That road is key, and is used by truckers and residents alike. No tolls.
The Linden/Lethem road, save for crossings, brings us little monies. In fact, we are told the crossings are privately run. How much do we get from those crossings?
Here is where the story gets stranger.
When you pull the records of road users, you will find the majority of them pay little or no taxes.
Yet we are being asked dole our taxpayer dollars to repair those roads.
Yes, the hinterland roads are critical for the economic activities that they bring. Yes, the folks are our people too. But we need to start looking at these little things. GRA and the Ministry of Public Infrastructure have to be even more aggressive. I hate complaining.
The fact is we have allowed the situation where businesses are continuing their merry ways of shafting workers not only on NIS, but their taxes. We don’t care as we get ready cash in payment.
Annually, the rains will fall. Annually, the complaints will come about our roads and dams.
Annually, we will dig into our treasury and do the repairs.
Please share this to every Guyanese including your house cats.
Apr 19, 2024
SportsMax – West Indies Women’s captain Hayley Matthews delivered a stellar all-round performance to lead her team to a commanding 113-run victory over Pakistan Women in the first One Day...Kaieteur News – For years, the disciples of Bharrat Jagdeo have woven a narrative of economic success during his tenure... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – On April 10, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]