Dear Editor,
I salute Sandra Hanover and Sharon Chase, the two city council nurses who have been denied their salaries for five long months. Clearly, their suffering seemed to have stemmed from the ongoing political haggle between the Mayor and City Council and the PPP/C imposed Town Clerk, Carol Sooba. These nurses have endured economic hardship and have had to protest for their own salaries. How can any caring government sit and allow this situation to get to this level? Where is the Minister of Local Government? Is this how his government demonstrates that it cares for ordinary Guyanese? These two nurses have families to sustain and bills to pay; did those responsible for their plight not understand or appreciate the unfortunate situation they placed these hard-working public servants in?
Nurses Hanover and Chase should be paid an additional sum of money for the pain and suffering they have endured over the last five months. The Minister of Local Government should also offer both public and private apologies to these honourable and decent public servants. Failing to do this will only underscore the unconscionable, insensitive and uncaring attitude of this regime. My heart goes out to the two nurses, whom I consider to be outstanding public servants. I am indeed sorry for the hardship they endured at the hands of those in authority. I applaud their stance on making this issue public by organizing their own protest action. Their action demonstrates leadership and reflects great responsibility and citizenship. No person should be made to work and not be paid. People must be respected and their work must be valued and rewarded without delay.
Something is wrong with how we treat people in Guyana and no one seem to care. Where is that care, concern and compassion for others? Are these no longer part of the human psyche of our people, particularly those who call themselves leaders?
Yours faithfully,
Lurlene Nestor
