Alliance for Change (AFC) Leader and Member of Parliament (MP), Khemraj Ramjattan, did not mince words in his debate presentation, dissecting the economic “caste system” under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government, that has created “oligarchs,” “control freaks” and ‘second-class citizens.’ On Tuesday, the second day of the debate, Ramjattan pilloried the government, stating the 2024 Budget failed to set priorities that everybody can share in the country’s prosperity,
Given the oil and gas wealth Guyana is now considered among the world’s fastest growing economy and now regarded as a high-income country. Oil revenue this year is projected to be in excess of US $2.4 Billion up from $US 1.16 billion in 2023.
$121 billion for wages, salaries and pensions vs whopping $ 662 billion for infrastructure
Ramjattan forecast 2024 will be a difficult year for ordinary Guyanese and cost of living will increase. Not sparing the government a deserving tongue-lashing the MP chastised the PPP/C administration for spending more on construction than people. He drew stark contrast to the allocation of $121 billion to wages, salaries and pensions; and a whopping $662 billion to infrastructures.
Evidently peeved by the wide disparity, Ramjattan lambasted what he saw as intentional acts by government to relegate Guyanese to second-class citizenship, including their own supporters. He told the House on his walkabouts PPP supporters would approach him and express disappointment in the management of the economy.
Digging deeper into the Budget, the AFC Leader said construction contractors this year will rake in some 20 per cent profit for each contract, totalling $133 billion, a sum that benefits roughly about 1000 contractors. He urged a comparison of the $131 billion paid for 1000 contractors to the $121 billion that will be shared with 124,000 persons who represent 54,000 public servants and approximately 70,000 senior citizens.
Unrelenting in his critique the MP explained a caste system is being created in Guyana where the inequality is going to be so vast, and the few financially well-connected in the economy will be able to purchase friendship with the government. He further queried how the government could be spending so much on infrastructure when so many are poor. “It is a toxic combination,” he declared.
Poor efforts at crime fighting
Acknowledging the wealth of the nation, the shadow minister of public security blasted the government for not diverting revenue to tackle increasing crimes, particularly when the country can afford to. Ramjattan, who was minister of public security during the A Partnership of National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) government recalled efforts by the coalition government to reduce crimes which the current government has thrown aside.
He recalled the British Security Sector and Citizens Strengthening Reports which were submitted to the Government of Guyana in 2019. Making a plea to tackle crime frontally, the MP not only ridiculed the absence of s serious policy but poured cold water on Home Affairs (Public Security) Minister Robeson Benn’s effort to take guns off the streets by calling on persons to ‘toss your guns into police stations’ around the country.
Turning to the Government side, the fiery MP made a stirring plea to use the recommendations in the British and Citizens’ Reports because it matters not the administration has changed, what remains important is implementation.
Drawing another comparison to the coalition’s crime management policy, the AFC leader condemned the government for allowing the parliamentary Public Security Committee that was a product of constitutional reform, to become inactive.
He recalled during his time as minister he allowed the committee to function, which took questions and criticisms from the then Opposition, PPP, that is now in Government the PPP and shying away from similar accountability by the parliamentary opposition that includes the APNU+AFC.
Government Corrupt
Heaping scorn on the PPP/C’s management of the economy, the MP waded into the issue of and potential for “corruption,” a word Speaker Manzoor Nadir has prevented Members from using. Initially putting up a fight back, an undeterred Ramjattan referenced the massive mismanagement of funds in countries like Guyana when capital works are given big spaces. Ramjattan also alluded to Transparency International where Guyana continues to perform poorly on the Corruption Perception Index, under the PPP government and under said government and was ranked the most corrupt English-speaking country in the Caribbean.
Quoting from Oxford Professor of Economics Paul Collier’s ‘The Bottom Billion’ book Ramjattan drew attention to scholarly writing highlighting that the mismanagement of funds in the construction sector has been a dirty secret and a characteristic of countries with natural resources economy where cost of infrastructure is high, thereby reducing growth and these effects are large.
He also addressed the issue of crooked construction companies colluding with the government to win contracts through low bids, then finding ways later to get more money on points of details.
Decrying the deplorable state and continuing to make the pitch the for the masses, Ramjattan said Guyana deserves leadership that communicates genuine care and compassion for human beings, and alluded to the established fact the APNU+AFC government did lots more with less money, treated public servants better and delivered better infrastructural policies, quality of work and management of the economy.
In the midst of so much wealth, the shadow minister made known that people are complaining they cannot eat more than one meal a day, surmising that the situation amounts to a “monstrosity.”
