‘Plenty noise about democracy, but silence on equality’

Aug 04, 2022 News

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– Hughes says oil opportunities should not be allowed to widen the gap between  rich and poor

Kaieteur News – Attorney-at-law, Nigel Hughes has issued a clarion call for the Guyanese politicians not to allow the opportunities in the oil and gas sector to be distributed in a manner that widens the gap between the rich and the poor.

Addressing a pre-emancipation forum at Buxton, East Coast Demerara, over the weekend, Hughes sought to enlighten the crowd on the inequitable distribution of Guyana’s resources.  The lawyer noted that while it has been established that there is a notable economic disparity between Guyana’s ethnic groups as a result of inequitable distribution of opportunities and resources, this must not be allowed to continue.

Hughes told the gathering: “We have learnt now that democracy does not give you equality. There is a lot a noise by some about democracy but there is extreme silence about equality and [tonight] I want to talk to you specifically a new term that is going around called resource allocation;  it is basically how we going to share the corn… which is when you look at it the way the opportunities and wealth have been distributed in this country it has been most disadvantageous to [some demographics]….”

The lawyer noted that various ethnic groups have all played the part in the development of Guyana, but it is evident that just a select few have benefited from the country’s vast resources.

Hughes explained that “For example in the giving out of contracts, the money often goes into one community; which means that community gets employment and benefits…you give a  contract for $100M  to that community, then that community makes a profit and the contractor expands his business, he buys two  tractors and bulldozer…”

“The next time, when the bids open for a contractor it is a precondition that the man with the two tractors and the bulldozer is most suitable for the job. It means the member of the community that did not get, cannot qualify and nobody else from the other communities wins the bid because they cannot qualify,” he continued.

He stressed that: “The system has to change and we have to change the system and we have to talk to our leaders about changing the system.”

The lawyer noted there are enough resources and opportunities for all Guyanese to benefit from our resources particularly, the opportunities in the oil and gas sector. He pointed out too that so far, the opportunities for oil and gas supply entities are only given to a certain category of people in society those who already have wealth.

“…Nobody ain’t going nowhere, so we have learnt how to share the corn … We cannot continue to see the resources of this country distributed in a biased manner,” Hughes stated.

He continued:“ This Republic belongs to every single citizen of this country and if you’re going to say you’re not talking to the leadership of the African community which is the second oldest community in this country because you say they ain’t recognise you, then it’s going to be a new day. We will impose conversation on you.”

As it relates to efforts to lobby for a better distribution of the resources, Hughes who is also a former chairman of the Alliance For Change Party, told the crowd that they should call on their leaders to do the work.

“I am not a politician but your leaders have to advocate that every single community in this country gets a fair share. You cannot have equality and automatically expect peace. Can’t happen!” he said.

The attorney said too distribution of cash grants, some amounting to $250,000, should not count as advocacy for their fair share.

“That’s the highest level of disrespect…Let me tell why it is disrespectful because Hess, Exxon and CNOCC…the American President said so, made more money than God and you [the politicians] rolling into the community and giving out a lil $250,000”

Speaking about the recent high-level meeting of a Guyana delegation with United States dignitaries, Hughes also told the crowd not to get too distracted by the US’ new found interest.

“It’s not because they love us but is because they recognise that the amount of wealth that is in this country, they cannot afford to have it disturbed and they realise how precariously perched this country is,” he said. “The American government has realised that Guyana is in a precarious place. That’s why they [politicians] were summoned there. Those that went up to speak with them, went because of what we knew for a long time which is the inadequate allocation of resources that has now reached a precarious and dangerous state,” he asserted.

The prominent attorney’s remarks follows weeks after another group called for the underlying socio-economic conditions of Afro-Guyanese communities to be addressed. International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly-Guyana IDPADA-G in a recent statement had called on government to recognise the endemic socio-economic and political factors prevailing in African Guyanese communities and the challenges they continue to face.

 

 

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