Dear Editor,
Reference is made to `Divergent perspectives on gov’t and opposition performances’ (SN letters April 18). I applaud Dr. Bisram for his attempt at conducting surveys to keep us informed of the population’s view of the government and their policies. No one else has attempted to provide this important service.
With regards to the findings of the recent poll, the economy has been a challenge for this government as it was for its predecessor. Yes, this government has been managing the economy better than the predecessor coalition and people have more confidence in the PPP than APNU+AFC. But the economy has been stagnant over the last eighteen months and the working class and the poor have been feeling the pain and hurting badly more than the wealthy and business class. Not much has changed from August 2020 to transform the lives of the people at the bottom. More needs to be done by government to improve the lot of the population or else it will be a one term government as the coalition was.
In spite of a change in government eight months ago, the economy has not turned the corner. Money has not been circulating. The $25K Covid grant gave a fillip to the economy during the Christmas season. But that was long gone after a week of purchases of goods whose prices have been steadily rising under this government. Goods are more costly than under the coalition in spite of a reduction or removal of VAT on many items. What is government doing about that?
The new budget has not begun to trickle down. Last year’s mini-budget made no dent in the economy as it benefited only a small group at the top and those with government affiliation or with high income. As under the coalition, only a small segment of the big business elite, perhaps not the same group of business friends as under the last regime, has been benefiting under this government. Small and middle size businesses have been suffering with no let-up in sight. The small man remains a victim as usual. His or her role, it seems, is only to provide votes for an electoral winner, not to benefit from government’s largesse or just to get government handouts like the small Covid grant.
Yours truly,
Thomas Whitehead
