Thousands expected to rally today against high cost of living at Burnham Basketball Court

This afternoon the Burnham Basketball Court, Parade Ground, at Middle and Quamina Streets, is set to come alive with thousands rallying against the high cost of living. The rally organised by the parliamentary opposition, the A Partnership of National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC), whilst planned before the reading of the 2024 National Budget, is timely given the general view the budget failed to address economic suffering.

Monday the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government presented a $1.146 trillion Budget, the largest in Guyana’s. Initial reactions to the budget saw widespread criticisms of government’s failure to address the economic woes of ordinary Guyanese and heavy emphasis, once again, of spending more on infrastructure.  The choice prompted Member of Parliament (MP) Amanza Walton-Desir to restate a criticism she made of the 2023 Budget, that is, more is being poured into concrete than people’s welfare.

Shadow Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde, said the budget is “uninspiring.” In conversation with Village Voice News, the MP said the Budget is not grounded in a meticulous understanding of the nation’s social dynamics, hence there could be no material significant improvement in the lives of people, particularly the masses, who should be equal beneficiaries of the oil and gas wealth.

Veteran trade unionist and General Secretary of the Guyana Trades Union Congress, Lincoln Lewis, told this publication the government “by its fiscal measures continue to demonstrate open contempt for the workers, past, present and future.” Condemning the $3000 increase in old age and disability pensions and increase in tax threshold by $15,000, the trade unionist said these sums will have negligible impact on workers’ lives. He questioned what is $3000 per month when the price of sugar, a year ago was $80.00 but presently selling at $200.00; oil was $2,600.00 but selling at more than $4,000.00; a 20-pound bag of rice was $1300.00 and is now sold for $2000.00; and a loaf of bread moved from $240.00 to more than $300.00.

According to Lewis, there has been no meaningful, no well-thought out measure in the budget to cushion the cost of living, many Guyanese would not be better off and will have to continue to supplement their income from the generosity of overseas loved ones, be it through money transfers or barrels. “In this oil rich economy, the average pensioner, the average worker, the average young person, will still face a grim future if efforts are not made to put people at the centre of development.”

Returning to the vexing issue of paying for university education when the Constitution of Guyana mandates free education from nursery to university, expressly stated in Article 27, Lewis lambasted the government for failing to respect the constitution and protect the rights of citizens. According to the trade unionist, “the government’s decision not only constitutes the transgressing of citizens’ rights and violating the law, but the lawlessness is underpinned by bad mindedness, the desire to hinder economic advancement and improve standard of living for workers.”

This regime does not want to create a level playing field for all, more determined to push or keep people in poverty or have them grovel for what’s rightly theirs, the trade unionist contended.  “They [the PPP] ought to know education is a vehicle to escape poverty and improve one’s standard of living, but these aren’t values they are interested in for all Guyanese.”

Last evening Dr. David Hinds of “Politics 101” and Mark Benschop of “Straight Up,” during their shows, urged persons to attend the rally and show their discontent with the high cost of living and poor management of the economy. Benschop said transportation will be made available to transports those desirous of attending from Linden, Berbice and on the East Coast of Demerara.

Leader of the Opposition Aubrey Norton and Leader of the Alliance for Change Khemraj Ramjattan are billed as the main speakers. The rally starts at 5:00 p.m. Coverage will be provided by Village Voice News.