Gargantuan waste is possible under the PPP with our new wealth

Aug 15, 2024 Letters

Dear Editor,

In response to a letter writer in another section of the media regarding the potential for Guyana to follow China wasting national resources in its thrust for development, this is indeed possible, and has been the case with the PPP’s now unheralded sojourn in government.

In his grand scheme to enthrall Guyanese that ‘development’ is here, Irfaan Ali posed with his ‘master plan’ to build a $6.0 billion proposal, quite obviously not seriously considered or been advised, and sought to address the problems peculiar to the economic and social plight of single parent moms as a specific class/target group.

By his proposal Irfaan quite openly admits to the trenchant housing challenges of this group, a consequence of the encroaching economic constraints sponsored by the PPP, which include under-education, under-employment, domestic stress in extended family homes and the potential for abuse at the hands of derelict dads ready to make the next child.

It’s quite easy to see an economic solution that involves monthly stipends to provide financial stability, counseling, nursery services and accommodation for involved children, re-education/skills training to provide opportunities for higher income jobs, where ever these may be. This is a classic example of alternative policy options/choices that demonstrate ill-advised policy, the scale of misallocation where the needy remains in need, that have been part of the PPP’s approach to economic development, a phrase they see on paper but quite likely are seriously impoverished as many Guyanese literally are, in understanding or responding to. Their programmes with few exceptions have been political gimmicks. Like keeping sugar workers institutionalised on financially busted estates for their votes at taxpayers’ expense. A grand idea, the Berbice Bridge has become an albatross around the necks and lives of Berbicians with no let-up in sight.

Going back to the $6.0 billion Irfaan Ali homestead, it is very easy to envisage a 100, 500, 750 mothers and their children living with their fathers visiting them looking for a place to stay if possible perpetuating abuse, the filthy environment of ghetto life that accompanies economically depressed communities. Adequate water, lights, schools, health centers, jobs available in surrounding communities? Or they have to bus themselves to Linden, Georgetown, the East Bank, etc.? Undoubtedly gargantuan economic waste is possible, and underway with the PPP, going back even before the US$40.0 million Fip Motilall Road To Nowhere (Amaila Falls) along with kickbacks was built. There’s the CJIA project that almost never ended, the sawdust in bags saga, and all those road projects that are forever in need of repairs wasting taxpayers’ money. Not to mention those over-budget construction expenditures.  These days I spend my spare time trying to estimate the amount of kickbacks collected.  Corruption money.

But that can be changed come November 2025.  Just like in 2015.

Sincerely,

Craig Sylvester,

Democratic National Congress

• Craig Sylvester, Democratic National Congress, Gargantuan, Government, Wealth