What have we achieved after 44 years of independence?

Dear Editor,

If we are honest with ourselves we can ask the following question: What have we achieved as a nation after 44 years of independence and political struggle?

The introduction of 16% VAT makes it more difficult for the poor man to survive against a mere 6% increase in wages. The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. While our politicians eat the best food, drive the best Prados and Tundras and live in houses valued millions, half of our population lives below the poverty line. Most of our politicians and their children can afford overseas medical treatment but our poor Guyanese citizens have only the public hospitals.

Many of our high school graduates and university graduates walk the streets selling goods and clothes and even doing odd jobs. Our government failed to create job opportunities for our graduates and academics, thus forcing them to leave the shores of Guyana never to return in search of a better way of life. Billions are spent on education yet pupils writing the Grade 6 examination can barely read or write. Many writing CXC can hardly read because teachers are limited in schools today. Parents have to turn to private schools and private lessons to help their children. How can a teacher attend UG 3 days per week and barely appear in a primary school classroom to teach 2 days and want to get a full salary at the end of the month? Lots of our school teachers are collecting free salaries while pursuing degrees at UG. What has really become of our education system in Guyana?

Reading and writing has become a problem in almost every home in Guyana. Under the British education system we produced some of the greatest scholars in the world such as Shridath Ramphal, Forbes Burnham, Martin Carter, Wilson Harris, Cheddi Jagan, etc. Today we have produced so many failures we have become ashamed of our system of education. The removal of the GCE ‘O’ level and ‘A’ level exams really created some serious problems in our education system. The CXC examination is a very complicated and difficult exam for the average student, while GCE is a more recognised and comprehensive exam. I note with interest that very few schools are teaching great literature, History, Geography, French, Latin, etc. The study of literature and history is really a foundation to build a student’s mind to study English. Very few schools have good libraries so that students can read and do research. A formal education is the key to a nation’s success, but we have failed over the past 30 years where that is concerned, and are still guessing our way through.

Crime and drug-pushing is on the increase because of illiteracy and the get-rich-quick syndrome. Corruption is the name of the game in Guyana. What’s our GDP? Why this high cost of living? A baby chicken that was selling for $100 last December is now selling for $175. Why this sudden high price for one baby chick that will die in less than a week or will barely grow in 7 weeks? We are seeing that chicken price and feed are said to go down on the news, but we are faced with the opposite. I think the big businesses have robbed and exploited this whole nation.

VS Naipaul wrote: “‘Nothing was produced in the Caribbean.” I think he is correct. We have not produced a better economy to keep and sustain our brains and skills in Guyana. More and more people are leaving every day. More and more the line for passports is getting longer. People are running out of Guyana legally and illegally. Why the mass migration if we have a stable prospering economy? People need better wage increases and living conditions. House lots are given but millions are needed to build a house. How can the average man afford to build a house worth millions?

We still suffer from severe blackouts throughout Guyana but the light bills are getting higher and higher. I only see water from GWI 3 or 4 times per week for a few hours. Residents have to pump the water to fill their tanks because the water cannot fill a very small bucket at a 2 feet standpipe height. Now residents have to pay a big GPL bill for pumping water and a big GWI bill. Why all of this incompetence and mismanagement over 44 years of poor administration? Why is it we cannot get water 24 hours per day and pay one yearly water bill divided quarterly? What’s the purpose of the water meter that’s hidden from residents?

In an age of technology we are faced with more and more economic problems in Guyana and have failed to deal with real issues in our economy to keep our people from leaving. What we need are lower light, phone, and water bills; cheaper housing and an increase in the purchasing power of the dollar; more job opportunities for the young and old; and more software technology for our young people that will give every home a cheap computer and cheap internet access. When our bills exceed our salaries then we have deteriorated drastically. We have fallen morally, intellectually, and spiritually. So what’s the purpose in celebrating independence? What have we really achieved?

Yours faithfully,
Rev Gideon Cecil