Dear Editor,
I read in all the dailies that HE President Granger’s travel expenses over the past three years totalled $209.4 million which is relatively higher than that of Mr. Ramotar. Mr. Jagdeo kept his numbers a secret. That figure seems a lot but I paused before I rushed to conclusions since I lack critical information which may be confidential.
Unfortunately some of my friends on social media are regurgitating what they were told without critically analysing the numbers and the facts.
I travel from Britain to Guyana relative frequently. Of recent the cost has significantly dropped. And no, I have not now chartered a plane like Mr. Jagdeo.
The cost for air travel is affected by many factors. These include but are not limited to:
1. The price of the airline ticket which can be influenced by where you are travelling, what time of the year you are travelling and the number of airlines travelling to that destination. Supply is inversely related to demand and ultimately cost.
2. The cost of travel insurance. This depends on your medical history which some may choose to keep confidential. The older you are, the more likely you will have health issues hence your insurance will be significantly higher.
3. The number of support staff you are travelling with. This may depend on where you are going. The President may not know all the facts and details. No President does. That’s the reason why support staff are needed. If Mr. Granger is travelling with ten coffee makers then that would be unacceptable. I don’t think that was the case.
4. Accommodation expenses. I doubt whether this is a cost that a host can pass on to a guest but strange things happen in international relations.
5. Guyana will be producing oil soon. This is a recent development. This was not the case under
Mr. Jagdeo or Mr. Ramotar.
May 2015, if I remember correctly was the first date of the first oil find. The President has to travel, not to discuss oil per se, but promote Guyana as the new Oil and Gas power house.
I am quite sure there are many more reasons. So clearly, there are variables that could affect that $209.4 million. What is needed is an audit to determine if anything unscrupulous has been happening. Raw numbers don’t mean a thing.
For those obsessed with numbers. Break this down for me. How many millions has Jagdeo been receiving since 2012? Is that justified?
By the way. Thanks American Airlines. With you guys now travelling to Guyana my cost has dropped.
Finally, Guyanese people, take my stupid advice. Be thinkers not just blind followers. Critically analyse what you are told by your leaders.
Yours faithfully,
Dr. Mark Devonish MBBS MSc MRCP(UK) FRCP
(Edin)
Consultant Acute Medicine
Nottingham University Hospital
