Only last week a regional leader noted that the Caribbean is a strange place. Haiti has never been allowed to control its destiny; many of the countries sought and gained their independence but still have to depend on the very people who were their masters.
Guyana is no different except for the fact that it is awash in oil money. But its people remain poor, this Caribbean leader noted. And indeed the people remain poor. The hardest hit were those who were lured by the promises of untold wealth.
Many were given contracts, some to build roads although they had never even built a kennel. They were promised even larger contracts after the elections. At the time they smiled and swore by their newfound godparents.
There were those who received motorbikes and other gifts. After September 1, 2025, the promises failed to materialize. The situation was reminiscent of the days when Trinidad was awash in oil although that oil was one-sixth of what Guyana is extracting. The average Trinidadian gave up what they were doing. Those who farmed stopped altogether. The result was that the people began to struggle when the oil dried up.
Guyana has not taken note. The people did not take note of the Trinidad experience. Many quit what they had been doing to earn a living and opted to depend on the promises. They are crying today. Meanwhile, the government is behaving like many mothers did in days gone by. Poor mothers opted for show. These poor mothers spent on things to make their homes attractive at Christmas. The blinds may have been cheap but they cost money that could have gone to do something else.
Like those mothers, the government is hell bent on making Guyana look impressive at the expense of the people. It boasts of roads and other infrastructure. The Bharrat Jagdeo Bridge looks impressive. It cost way more than it should have but it looks good to the people looking in.
It is the same with the road network. Visitors are impressed with what they see until they see the actual conditions of the people, many of whom are hungry.
Not much is being said about the projects that started but are far from completion. Money has gone down the drain, money that could have made life better for the people. There are water treatment plants for which money was allocated but on which nothing much has been done.
The biggest project that should have come on stream about two years ago is the gas to shore project. Numerous dates were given for its completion. However, a week ago, the nation learnt that the site for the gas station is swampy. The contractor said that it had taken a further US$100 million to stabilise the ground.
This was a project that was touted to cost some $US 800 million. The cost has gone past US$2 billion. Nothing is being said. Bharrat Jagdeo had made this project a talking point at many of his press conferences. Then one day he announced that he was going to say nothing more about this project. And he has kept his promise.
Surprisingly, the reporters also opted to say nothing. The political opposition also appeared to have dropped the project. But things like that don’t die like the Skeldon Sugar Factory. The contractors can and do speak. So we now know that Guyana is paying for the gas that has come to shore but it cannot use what it is paying for. When this project would be completed is anybody’s guess.
It is also anybody’s guess whether this project would immediately see a fifty per cent reduction in people’s electricity cost. The records show that Guyana has spent money that could have undertaken three gas to energy projects. With that cost it would not be surprising if electricity rates go up if and when the project is completed. This is what is happening even as people expect an ease to their economic woes.
There was a time when foreign entertainers came to this country at the drop of a hat. People thronged the venues. Not many have heard of visiting foreign entertainers in recent times. And this is because whoever was bringing in the artistes cannot see a way of making money. Attendance would be sparse.
And there is another issue that has nothing to do with the economy. This has to do with the Guyana Elections Commission. Commissioner Vincent Alexander has taken to the press to complain that meetings of the commission are not being held.
Alexander says that the GECOM Chairperson is of the view that the Commission is not properly constituted. According to Alexander, the Chairperson Justice Claudette Singh holds that a Leader of the Opposition has not been appointed.
He further accuses the GECOM Chairperson of contending that the Leader of the Opposition is required to appoint three members of the commission. That is a contentious issue since commissioners are appointed for life.
Alexander says that the Chairperson’s interpretation does not seem to apply to the GECOM Chairperson herself. She is similarly appointed following an agreement between the opposition Leader and the president.
In his letter to the press, he notes, “Let`s presume that the Honorable Justice is correct in her interpretation of Article 161(3)(b) of the Constitution: “three members to be appointed by the President acting in accordance with the advice of the Leader of the Opposition tendered after meaningful consultation with the non-governmental political parties represented in the National Assembly.”
How is 161(2): “The Chairperson of the Elections Commission shall be … appointed by the President from a list of six persons, not unacceptable to the President, submitted by the Leader of the Opposition after meaningful consultation with the non-governmental political parties represented in the National Assembly” to be interpreted?
How different is the chairperson`s appointment to that of the nominees of the Leader of the Opposition? None is changed with a change in government.
These are interesting times.
