Suck salt and be patient

And it’s in this context, of Public Servants being inundated with PPP demands for patience, that we remind, similar demands aren’t being made of sugar workers. For this is the uncomfortable truth, sugar is without viability, evident with it being in the economic doldrums, for multiple decades. Where the underpinning reason is, the cost at which sugar is being produced, US$747.38 per tonne, is double the world market price, US$388.57 per tonne.

As a result, with such an unprofitable equation, the Sugar Industry operating at a massive economic loss, represents a burden to the wider economy. Therefore, with the industry failing for multiple decades and reasons, any rational mind would’ve considered, downsizing and diversifying. But PPP guided by politics rather than economics, continues to bailout the failed industry, with tens of billions, even as it shows no evidence of a turnaround. And while they bailout the Sugar Industry with tens of billions, the demand on Public Servants is, suck salt and be patient.

So even as the Public Servants suck salt whilst exercising great patience, they couldn’t resist casting starved eyes, on PPP contractors. For what the salt sucking Public Servants observed is, multi-billion dollars infrastructure contracts, are being awarded to those associated with PPP. Where case in point is, Tepui Group Inc., with no prior experience in construction, being awarded the $865M contract, to construct the Belle Vue pump station. But with six months counted since the contract was awarded, Tepui Group Inc., failed to initiate works on the pump station in question. Nevertheless, Tepui Group Inc. isn’t the only PPP aligned contractor, awarded contracts then failed to undertake the necessary works.

For Satar Mohamed & Son Construction & H/Ware, secured an $868 million contract for the Meten Meer Zorg Pump Station, but after six months, minimal works have been undertaken. However, these two aren’t isolated cases of rogue contractors, awarded hundreds of millions, then failing to undertake the necessary works. For this is the reality, many such rogue contractors exist, but being in PPP corrupt books means, they continue to enjoy multi-millions in infrastructure contracts, whilst the very PPP is demanding that Public Servants, being remunerated pittance, suck salt and be patient.

Mark’s Take

Having said that, Public Servants who are struggling on pittance, would’ve voluntarily suck salt whilst exercising patience, if there was a level playing field. But the reality is, they are the only ones facing demands to suck salt and be patient, since such demands aren’t being made of sugar workers. In fact, such demands aren’t being made of farmers. As a matter of fact, such demands aren’t being made of PPP contractors. Nonetheless, PPP with their discriminatory demands, would want us to believe, all in these 83000 sq miles are on a level playing field, standing as equals, in a fantastical One Guyana. However, this is our observation; we are all equals, but some are more equal than others. For it’s this equal inequality, that’s reflected in infrastructure contracts, where those awarded contracts are from a particular ethnic group and political persuasion. As a matter of fact, this equal inequality is also evident in road works, where their undertaking, once again reflect an ethnic and political bias.

Thus, we reflect on our reality, where we the discriminated many, are being made to suck salt whilst exercising patience. But in so doing, we observe with much pain, sugar workers enjoying their slice of the economic pie. Farmers enjoying their slice of the economic pie. PPP contractors enjoying their slice of the economic pie. PPP communities enjoying their slice of the economic pie. However, Public Servants are being forced to accept pittance, even as they face demands to suck salt and be patient. And it’s for this reason, Public Servants will join the teachers’ picket line, to send the unambiguous message, we are tired of PPP demands to suck salt and be patient. We demand our slice of the economic pie.