Dear Editor,
Throughout human history, people have been burdened with leaders who do things contrary to their own self interest but more so, to the welfare of people they represent. To list the mis-steps of our present governing party, will consume many pages. The independent media has over time used the Editorials, Letter columns, and articles to expose the behaviour of this Government in accordance with the principles of decency and the practice of what we understand to be a Democracy.
This letter will simply highlight a few selected instances.
1. The woeful waste of taxpayers money on the sugar industry and the use of the well oiled propaganda outfit to present spurious excuses.
In any business enterprise or establishment, the key is having in place qualified and competent management. In the case of sugar, that means, a CEO with a management team with experience and the ability to make difficult choices to avoid waste. In the case of sugar, we appoint a CEO with little or no experience of the history, dynamics and demands of sugar, so we have spurious excuses about the weather, a weather pattern that has been with us for many, many decades and this is a problem. The Government seems content with putting square pegs in round holes, providing those persons are party faithful. A qualification that has resulted in the waste of billions of dollars every year as is the case of sugar.
2. A few weeks ago, on returning from the East Bank Demerara, I stopped by a fruit stall outside of the Albouystown Market to purchase mangoes.
The vendor showed me a large mango, and said the cost was $700.00 dollars. When I expressed surprise at the exorbitant cost, he said that for me, I can have the mango for $600.00 dollars, and the vendor further explained that other fruits were brought in from Brazil. Some other fruits, on his stand, he explained, were also imported.
Unhappy that in spite of all this talk, about food production, a vital area like fruits, are still imported. Concerned, I called to speak to the Minister of Agriculture, but was referred to a person who said they were senior. So I asked him, why not establish a Pomology Section at Mon Repos Agricultural Station or somewhere else. After a pause, and on the repeat of the question, it was clear that this senior officer did not know and therefore did not understand my suggestion to establish a Pomology Section, so that they can do research to improve the quality and quantity of fruits, e.g. mangoes, sapodillas, dunks, guavas, papaya etc.
I was saddened and surprised at that level, the Ministry of Agriculture senior personnel did not even know what the word Pomology meant. However, on a visit to Mon Repos Agricultural Station, I was impressed with the size of the hampshire pigs they are producing. Congratulations!
But it is apparent that they were also producing two-footed animals , with size but no brains.
3. We have a Government that goes to Parliament to pass legislation to get around a decision made by Justice Sandil Kissoon. A Government that beyond belief joins with the oil giants to appeal and overturn a decision favourable to all the people of Guyana. We do not mind the people who have come to extract our vast resources, oil, gas, diamond, gold and timber making huge profits but as the owners of those natural resources, we must seek a larger slice of the cake. That is the responsibility of any Government elected by the people. Something is wrong, when the Government gets only US$2 billion when the investors are carting away in excess of $US$11 billion, every month and every year.
It appears that hoisting the Golden Arrowhead has become meaningless to those now in charge of the ship of state.
4. Security is one pillar upon which the house of Democracy rests.
There are many honest and hardworking ranks in the Guyana Police Force, but we and they are burdened with a leadership installed by our political elite for no other reason than that of our government who exercises total political control of this vital arm of governance. So we are building schools with gay abandon, but teachers had to go on strike to obtain a living wage to cope with and out of control, high cost of living. We are building hospitals, while nurses are heading North and all of our public health institutions are understaffed and the machines and other equipment are not working and patients are being referred to the private hospitals, and in some instances, the Government doesn’t mind footing the bill.
Walk around Georgetown, parts of the North-West and other areas, you see Spanish speaking people at the instance of our government gradually taking over. So we have heard statements from the PPP top brass, of how we should help persons fleeing from the difficulties they experience in Venezuela but there is no immigration policy that should determine who and how many we let into our country. Every country has within its borders, persons with criminal propensities . There is an old saying ‘you don’t feed your neighbours’ children, while your children go hungry.’
From the information that I have read, with Donald Trump’s clamp down, we will see greater numbers and some already obtaining Guyana Identification Cards and Birth certificates from the General Registrar Office (GRO). When would we get a policy document to deal with Immigration?
Finally, when people protest against wrong-doings and speak up, they are targeted; by the powers that be. Once again, my Dear Guyana, where are we heading?
Yours truly,
Hamilton Green
Elder
