Dear Editor,
President Donald Ramotar is nearly three years into his presidency and seems to face in the immediate future the possibility of early elections. His background in the PPP is a tale of struggling on behalf of the working class. It is this element of his character that he needs to bring to the presidency at this crucial juncture. He has to reinforce and strengthen his working class credentials.
Steps that I humbly suggest that can be taken to do so are as follows:
1. Stop the yearly public service wage increase of five per cent close to Christmas and allow the true spirit and intent of collective bargaining to take its course. The right to collective bargaining by the unions was a lifelong struggle of Cde Cheddi Jagan. Demand that the unions and ministries conclude their negations in a timely and fair manner so the workers can enjoy their wage package.
2. Reduce PAYE or income tax by 13% for this year with a continuous yearly reduction of 5% until it reaches zero. The Value Added Tax of 16% is a fair and justifiable tax but if done in tandem with income tax is virtually a double taxation. The VAT is based on the principle that the more you spend and consume the more you should be taxed, therefore whoever consumes more pays more.
3. Reduce by 50% the tolls on vehicles used by the working class to cross the Berbice Bridge. Cars and minibus tolls are too high and this places a burden on the movement of the working class. The bourgeoisie can take themselves into the other category of vehicles.
4. Decentralize the issuance of documents such as birth certificates, passports, building certificates and business licences to the other two counties. It is cruel and unjust hardship for the citizens of Berbice and Essequibo to have to come to Georgetown for these everyday documents.
5. Voluntarily put a cap on his own presidential benefits. This is the moral and right thing to do and if he does need guidance or a point of reference to set the limits, he should just reflect on the way Cde Janet Jagan lived her life after demitting office in 1997 as President.
Remember the working class does not want to go to the barricades any more; they want to go to Disney World.
Yours faithfully,
Reggie Bhagwandin
