Dear Editor,
It is almost impossible to count the number of times the President goes on overseas visits. He is by far the most travelled President/Prime Minister in the region even as our country remains only above Haiti as the poorest in Caricom. The latest overseas visit is reported in your January 12, 2009 edition which carries a release by the Government Information Agency (GINA) that President Bharrat Jagdeo is on a visit to Libya, Qatar and Greece that will last one week. He is accompanied by four other persons, two ministers, the largely unknown George Hallaq, Presidential envoy to the Middle East and Greece and the religious leader close to the government and some time civil society activist Fazeel Ferouz, President of the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana.
Weighed down by the yoke of flooding, high cost of living, ministers who in the absence of the President become even more unproductive, lawlessness and punitive taxation, Guyanese have a right to know the reasons, timing and the usefulness to them of such visits. Is it to meet with Guyanese nationals in those countries, to expand trade and investments or to seek diplomatic support for some major international initiative Guyana is launching? If it is trade, why not take a private sector representative or is that hat being worn by Mr Ferouz?
And we all know that when the President returns home, he makes no proper report as any responsible manager, let alone a country President would, but more often than not simply calls a press conference to discuss trite domestic issues which his ministers are paid to address, and little else.
And of course we must not forget cost. My information is that each overseas visit the President makes costs thousands of US dollars and somewhat less for ministers. How much is this visit going to cost taxpayers in total and would that money not be better spent on the poor and the flooded out in Guyana or on the numerous problems that drive Guyanese from the country?
This seems to be a perfectly legitimate question for our reporters who turn up like sheep at the President’s post-visit press conference to ask. Indeed it would be useful to know how much was spent on overseas travel by the President, his ministers and their entourages during 2008. Perhaps the Accountant General can provide us with this information, failing which I would like to see the Public Accounts Committee demand the information.
Taking full advantage of our system of electocracy, the government seems all too ready to do as it wants, when it is confident that it controls the instruments of disclosure, accounting, accountability and audit so that the public remains powerless and ignorant.
I hope that when next the government asks the inane question where the money will come from to pay living public sector wages, reasonable pensions to our senior citizens and better flood control measures, we will have several answers ready.
Yours faithfully,
Christopher Ram
My fellow bloggers I agree with almost all of you on this article, except “REDDY IN BARBADOS” because I think that he is in ” LA LA LAND ”
can’t Reddy read, hear and if possible see what the situation in Guyana is right now. Floods, crimes,drainage, drugs,no jobs, bad roads and much much more the citizens have to deal with so reddy get off your high horses.
What does Guyana have to do with Global Warming ? I think the government needs to help the citizens that are suffering so much with their lost due to the floods. Jagdeo needs to get out sooner than later because the country is going to get worse than it already is, it is ashame to see that the PPP/C have not done anything for that country since taking office. People are going to say that the government did a lot for the country but from me going home on visits I cannot and did not see any changes. I wish that the ” BRITISH ” could and would take back Guyana. Our Beautiful Guyana has turn into Our Ugly Guyana.
They are people here in America, Canada and London that would love to go back home and live not forgetting contribute to the country but they are afraid to do so, due to their safety. We have a lot of ” EDUCATED ” Guyanese living abroad that are capable of being Ministers and also a President, for e.g. one of my fellow blogger sent an email to the president’s office regarding obtaining a position with the government and never received a reply, he has the skills and knowledge to perform his duties when it comes to the drainage situation, I guess they do not want someone that can and will make ” OUR COUNTRY ” better and also will not take any bribe. Good luck to all my fellow Guyanese in achieving changes in our ” LAND OF MANY WATERS ” LOVE YOU GUYS.
LIVE IN LOVE
PEACE OUT
Those who have eyes can see ,tell your “EDUCATED” friends abroad to go Guyana and form their political party if they want to become President or ministers there is no back door
When president cheddi jagan visited the Middle East,he took Fazeel Ferouz also,i didn’t see what that mission accomplished,all i hear is he held talks with leaders of some Middle Eastern countries and then he visited the Vatican,president Bharrat Jagdeo is almost every month in New York,most of his visits were unannounced,the Donald pass through here lately and held a meeting with a few people,one of them would soon start a massive project at Lenora.
PEOPLE, YOU;VE GOT TO UNDERSTAND THE PRESIDENT IS LIVING OUT HIS DREAM OF BEING A WORLD TOURIST, BEFORE HE LEAVES OFFICE(if he leaves) HE MIGHT HAVE WELL VISITED ALMOST EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD
A comment here about global warming and Guyana.It is a real and present danger especially for countries like Guyana that are below the sea level. So let us not trash that point because of our frequent flyer Prezo. He should be at home more often and save the taxpayers money.Our country needs a leader badly
I’m not going to say anything negative, but i hope what the president do on his visits to those countries, guyana will benefit, and that’s all i will say.
The amount of soft loan and debt right off and millions of dollars coming from the Guyanese diaspora,Guyana should be paradise by now.
RDMAN you could not put it any better. Guyana indeed should have been in a better position with all the help from will wishers, Organizations, and with the loans been written off.
Mr Ram people like you with your ability have to expose these sorts of things. In other words find a way on the TV to speak about this to educate the masses.
Strange thing! I just completed and travel and expense audit for a global conglomerate. The scope was narrowed to the big boys and the purpose was to verify the legitimacy of all expenses submitted. The findings were astounding as were the expenditures. I have seen everything from lap dances to day spas and wine tasting dinners being expensed all in the name of “business”.
Sadly, there was one function that the audit didn’t explore and that was the benefits of the expense related travel. Had that been a part of the audit, it would have revealed that for a large percent of the travels there was nothing to show. No deals brokered, no new clients, no real exposure, nada. Just FFFFFC (Folk Flying For Free First Class)!
I wonder if this is the same situation that will be uncovered in a closer look at our world tourist.
Mr. Ram I wish to make a call on you to use your skills/knowledge to start a movement or something along that line to pressure this government of ours to reduce the income/vat taxes that is making the lives our people so burdensome.
This is another typical example of what an “oversized government” is all about.
Good question. I am glad you asked what is the usefullness.It is this. a minus sign,a zero,followed by a point, and seven other zeroes.