Today is the ‘D’ Day –the Day of Standstill

Jul 31, 2023 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

Peeping tom…

Kaieteur News – Today is a ‘Day of Standstill’. All Guyanese are being asked by the publisher of this newspaper to stay away from work. This columnist has suggested also another challenge: do not buy anything today.

The ‘Day of Standstill’ is not a political protest; it is not opposed to any political party. It is supportive of Guyanese taking a stand to ensure the country’s gets a better deal for the exploitation of their natural resources.

But why should ordinary citizens take a stand to ensure this objective? Today I want to let you the ordinary citizen know that this is your fight and your fight alone, because if you do not let your leaders know how you feel, they will continue to allow the looting of our natural resources.

It is these resources which can allow you and your children to enjoy a prosperous future. How it is that Guyana is designated a high-income country but 90% of its population are receiving low-incomes?

The reason is simple: The oil and other large-scale mining companies here are receiving the hog’s share of the country’s wealth. This is why the country is designated a high-income country but the people are poor. The country is rich but the people are poor because the foreign companies are creaming-off the wealth.

Concerns have long been expressed about the equitable distribution of the benefits of the exploitation of our natural resources. Concerns have also long been raised about the negative environmental impact on the country and the health of citizens as a result of the operations of foreign companies in our natural resource sector.

A ‘Day of Standstill’ will send a message to our leaders that citizens are concerned about the nation’s natural heritage and ensuring that it serves as a catalyst for their progress. It is the citizens’ way of saying that we should get a better deal and we should better protect the environment.

For too long we have been shortchanged by foreign companies. One company came here, extracted millions of ounces of gold worth hundreds of billions of US dollars and yet never declared a profit. This meant that Guyanese did not benefit from any corporation tax for a company which once flew in, by helicopter, KFC chicken for its staff.

A fairer distribution of revenue from natural resources will mean that every Guyanese can benefit from a cheque every month in the post. It will also mean better education and healthcare for our people. By staying at home on this day, citizens send a powerful message to the government and foreign companies that they demand an end to the exploitation and wish for a more equitable sharing of the nation’s wealth.

A better deal for Guyana’s natural resources could result in increased government revenue, thus enabling government to allocate more funds in areas that directly benefit citizens, including higher salaries and pensions.

With a fairer distribution of resource revenue, the government can invest in poverty alleviation programs. This could include cash transfer programs, subsidized housing, and home care help for the sick and disabled.

The ‘Day of Standstill’ serves as a warning to our leaders to ensure that our health is not endangered by the use of dangerous chemicals in our natural resource sector. Already there is concern about the use of mercury in the gold mining sector, much less the use of more dangerous chemicals. The reckless plundering of resources has the potential to irreparably damage these delicate environments, leading to devastating consequences for the environment.

These activities can pollute the air, poison our waters and kill our fish and wildlife. By staying at home today and not making any purchases, ordinary citizens demonstrate their commitment to safeguarding the environment.

Today we take a stand for our future. We do so peacefully and orderly by staying at home and challenging ourselves to not make any purchases. In so doing we are signaling that we, the people, have the power to make a difference that we are not helpless and will not be taken for granted.

Let us therefore join Glenn Lall, by rising above our differences and envision a future where our children can inherit a nation where all, not only a few can enjoy a decent and comfortable life. Stay at home on the ‘Day of Standstill’, not just for ourselves, but for our children. Today we rest our bodies and purses!

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of Kaieteur News.