Dear Editor,
For a long time it had been my intention to put pen to paper to laud Mr Ramon Gaskin on his social commentary. His erudition, apparent lack of fear and forthrightness of an anti-governmental nature is vital to the development of Guyana. We need views and debates from more technocrats, including sociologists and psychiatrists, to address our social ills. Gaskin often comments on the ever widening gap between the rich and the poor. According to him, 1% of our population controls more than 50% of the wealth and approximately 200 people control 90% of the country’s wealth. I cannot corroborate his statistics, but I am sure that he has convinced us that he does his research.
He speaks on the issues that matter to most of our citizens, eg, the distribution of wealth, major unemployment, wages being among the lowest in the world, resulting in the exodus of many citizens even to countries with much less resources. He made a valid point that the money used on the Marriott Hotel could have been better spent on our sole university. He states that the PPP/C has blamed the opposition for the failure of many projects but that blame was unjustified, given the previous administration’s misspending, for instance, on the Linden-Lethem road, the Amaila Falls Hydro Project and excessive investment in the sugar industry, among others.
He spoke on the previous government not even having faith in local institutions which should provide essential social services. He stated that no leaders of the PPP/C went to or sent their family members to the University of Guyana or the GPHC. He shows that our former leaders’ children got scholarships to attend recognized Western universities hence they are unabashedly awarded top jobs by the administration on their return to Guyana after qualifying.
Another important issue he has touched on is the access and depletion of our resources by foreign companies without adequate compensation.
The myriad issues that Mr Gaskin has addressed prevent me from identifying all in this letter, but his erudition is unchallengeable. His range of knowledge of the workings of all aspects of the Guyanese economy is commendable. His expertise and bluntness combine to produce hilarity and make his interviews truly entertaining and educational. Mr Gaskin, should continue to monitor that vital institution of government and make suggestions for the benefit of us all. Also, kudos to Mr Christopher Ram for being instrumental in so competently conducting dialogue with Gaskin and evoking his opinions and making his own monumental contribution.
Yours faithfully,
Conrad Barrow
