Continuing his conversation with Village Voice News, criminologist, owner of 107.1 FM radio and host of ‘Straight Up’ programme, Mark Benschop wants to see “more energy from the Opposition in confronting the Government.” Benschop is referring to the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC), as singular or collective political force.
In a previous article the social activist bemoaned what he says is the declining quality of life for Guyanese in oil rich Guyana and a seeming unwillingness or inability of the Opposition to make serious stride in fighting back and ensuring their supporters get a fair share of the wealth.
World’s richest economy with half the population living in poverty
The International Financial Institutions have ranked Guyana the world’s fastest growing economy and the richest per capita. In this economy, the World Bank reports, approximately half the people live in poverty, and on less than US$5.50 per day or GY$1200.
In the same economy reasonably priced and basic amenities like reliable electricity, potable water and public transportation are not accessible. The cost of living is high. Wages/salary and pensions are insufficient to purchase a monthly basket of basic food items.
Guyana lags behind her Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) counterparts in education and health. A 2022 World Bank Fact Sheet reports that “a child born in Guyana today will only be 50 percent as productive when she grows up as she could be if she enjoyed complete education and full health. This is lower than the average for the LAC region and upper middle-income countries. The low human capital score is in part driven by low educational and health outcomes.”
The government controls the electricity and water sectors but the services are sub-par. Power outages and poor quality or interruptive water supply are the norm. Public transportation is controlled by private individuals but the fare structure is determined by the government. Yet the cost is not always within the reach of ordinary people. Government’s effort to control fares in some areas are not adhered to given steep operational costs like vehicular parts, fuel, bank loans, payment to drivers and conductors, etc.
Wages and salaries have not kept pace with the country’s wealth, particularly among the working class. Guyana’s public school teachers and public servants are in a protracted fight with government to engage in collective bargaining and pay livable wages and salaries.
The average Guyanese see greater opportunities for upliftment in migrating. According to a World Bank report, 89 % of Guyanese with a tertiary education migrate, which places Guyana as the country with the highest migration rate in the world for people with tertiary education.
In oil rich Guyana people live hand-to-mouth
Benschop told this publication with Guyana’s wealth, overseas based Guyanese should be rushing to return but many cannot envision a better future in returning. People are concerned in the oil rich economy they will live hand-to-mouth as many Guyanese are forced to do because of the People’s Progressive Party’s (PPP) bad policies, he says. “This is not a poor people’s regime; it is a corrupt, criminal, discriminatory, lawless and kleptocratic regime,” the social activist declares.
Elaborating further, Benschop says the PPP leaders are only interested in stealing from the people, silencing voices of dissent, forcing people to sing praises to their lies if they want to survive or get by. “They are not in me and you, the ordinary man and woman.” Guyana is a sick society he intones, reiterating earlier concerns about the Guyana Police Force being embroiled in internal corruption and not providing service and protection as promised by their motto. According to the talk show host some policemen and women are involved in ‘shaking down’ citizens, which is also giving the Force a bad name and causing citizens to lose confidence in its service.
PPP leaders corrupt, don’t care about people
Benschop says whilst he condemns the police;s lawlessness, he condemns the PPP regime more because “people are taking their cues from what the corrupt Bharrat Jagdeo/Irfaan Ali regime is doing.” Rhetorically, he asks “If there has been no investigation by the Police based on allegations made by Chinese businessman Su Zhirong that Jagdeo is the go-to man to get lucrative state contracts, what expectations must Guyanese have efforts will be made to stamp out corruption?”
According to the World Bank corruption is a human rights violation because it robs citizens resources needs for human development such as quality health care and education, decent wages, etc, that could positively impact quality of life and longevity.
In a United States-based VICE News exposé Guyanese for an insight into how pervasive is corruption in Guyana. The VICE News investigative team, posing as potential chinese business people reported that , “Su says the money we [the undercover journalists] pay him under the guise of legitimate business will actually make it to the vice president [Bharrat Jagdeo].”
Jagdeo was also caught in the same investigative interview speaking to Su and the undercover journalists about government’s contracts and the Chinese access. He was heard on tape stating “No, no, no I’m not getting involved in business. Su is my friend. He gets all the support. Su deals with all the agreements. I don’t. The thing is that my thing is that I’m in government, so I assist from government side.”
The vice president has admitted to a relationship with Su, making known he was a friend and tenant, but denied allegations of corruption. He had since filed a defamation case against Zhirong. The matter is still outstanding and whilst it is said Su cannot be found many in society believe the businessman is in Guyana and has the protection of the PPP government.
Zhirong has been awarded huge concessions by the PPP government in forestry, mining, etc. The government never announced what have become of these assets and whether they were repossessed by the state.
Opposition must provide greater representation, go into PPP strongholds, stop complaining
Benschop says the human rights violations and corruption in Guyana are overwhelming and the ineffectual responses from the Opposition to defend the people and protect the country’s resources which belong to the people, are appalling.
With disgust registering in his tone the social activist says in any other country, were similar things happening, there would have been mass protests, but the Opposition leadership is sleeping or busy doing something else. According to criminologist, he grieves every day for his beloved country and the absence of proper representation of the people.
People are suffering everywhere, even in the PPP stronghold, he says. “And I would like to see the Opposition leadership get off their bottoms and go into every community, including the PPP’s, and mobilise Guyanese against the atrocities and highway robbery committed against them and stop complaining,” he implores.
Calling for action in the presence of social, economic and political decline, the social activist says the Opposition leadership is fast asleep at the wheel, and it is time they rise and shine, and shut down the country down through mass protests.
He explains his reason for urging nationwide protest is evident in the fact “the whole world knows things are bad in Guyana, be it the installed regime, incompetent GECOM, high cost of living and crime, blackouts [power outages], dirty water, hunger; you name it the world knows it!”
“Wait man,” he continues, “if people like Rhonda Layne and the trade union can protest, what about the politicians?”
An evidently perturb Benschop says, “I am disgusted hearing leaders and their close allies celebrating the fight for betterment in other societies and other leaders standing up for their country and people, but are unwilling to copy the same attitudes in Guyana.” For better to come they must get up and get out into the communities and on the streets, he states.
