Dear Editor,
As the festive season approaches, Guyanese will be looking forward for their government to ease their economic burden in the hope that their families have a fairly decent holiday. I therefore wish to ask the government what plans it has to ensure that Guyanese families, especially the children, are spared the wrath of their economic burden this season? I read a few weeks ago that the government was able to recoup over $16B revenue from the Value Added Tax (VAT). This high percentage tax (16%) has been one of the major contributing factors to the harsh economic realities Guyanese continue to face; it would, therefore, be a welcome gesture if the government abandoned this tax for those consumer goods that Guyanese are likely to purchase during the festive season. Top of the list of VAT free items should be toys for children. Too often we are taken up with those things that matter more to the ‘visible consumers’ and neglect the silent minority (our children) who are only recognized when they take part in some unthinkable act. But we fail to recognize that our own inadvertent neglect contributes to a decline in their self esteem, self confidence, values and a sense of self worth.
The government must realize that many Guyanese families are struggling to cook a basic meal and, therefore, will find it even harder to buy toys to warm the hearts of their children, even when there is no VAT tax. I therefore urge the President and his administration to respond positively to these real challenges Guyanese families are facing. In the light of the global economic crisis countries all over the world are initiating tangible economic relief projects such as increased food stamps to bring some kind of short term relief to their people. The fact is, Guyanese families have been facing economic hardship long before the global crisis, so it is understood that our burden will only be greater. To help our people at this time is not only necessary but will be in keeping with the goodwill theme associated with the season. Let us bring some smiles to the faces of our children, as we demand VAT free holiday shopping. This cannot be too much for a struggling people to ask.
Yours faithfully,
Lurlene Nestor
