Dear Editor,
A recent news item reported that the pro-PNC union – Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) – is accusing the PPP Government of discrimination. (“Public servants suffering, while Govt. discriminating in relief distribution – GPSU says,” KN, August 1, 2022). While there are lots of room for improvement in governance, transparency and accountability, it seems unfair to accuse the Government of discrimination, especially racial discrimination. Many believe that the PPP at its worst, will always be better than the PNC at its best. After 33 years of the PNC, you know that the PNC will always try to rig. And in my view, Volda’s New Declaration of Sophia, was the lowest point of the PNC administration when she said, “Well I got news for you: The only friends I got is PNC, so the only people I could give work to is PNC. And, right now, I looking for a doctor who can talk Spanish or Portuguese and ah want one that is PNC,” (SN, November 30, 2018). For many people the hash tag is “#NeverAgain PNC.”
Patrick Yarde of the GPSU told media operatives that “amidst spiraling price increases, Government has ignored its responsibilities to Public Servants, while embarking on costly political excursions, mostly within its traditional political constituents.” The union said that the government has committed public coffers to billions of dollars in grants, aid and other financial benefits for what appears to be carefully chosen segments of the population, while allowing larger masses of the population to suffer from the constantly rising prices.
It would be true to say that all the nationwide cash grants given out including the COVID grants, “Because We Care” Grants given out by the Ministry of Education, GOAL scholarships, distribution of hampers, awarding of house lots, and building of roads and infrastructure projects, have been largely fair, with minor logistical hiccups. A special two-week tax-free bonus was given to 9,200 health care workers, who are GPSU members, even though the GPSU was working to undermine the Government’s COVID vaccination programme, including filing a lawsuit. We should not begrudge special grants to those flooded out and the vulnerable group of farmers, fishermen and sugar workers who face seasonal unemployment compared to public service workers with security of income and benefits. It would be disingenuous to claim there was discrimination. Truth be told, the PPP Government leaders – the most diverse cabinet we have ever had – have gone out into diverse communities in every region, in a frequency never seen before. They seem to make a special effort to reach out to communities that traditionally have supported the Opposition PNC, and whose votes they may never get in an election. They have gone to places such as Sophia, Melanie, Buxton, Linden, Bartica, Ruimveldt, etc., and promised many goodies and in a short time have returned to implement projects. The Government can speak for itself on that.
We probably can make a case that the PPP, whenever in office, tends to neglect its “votes farm” and take them for granted. We at the Whim-Bloomfield NDC are still waiting for all our streets to be paved. They like to do what some might call “appeasement” projects in Opposition strongholds, while their supporters’ communities especially in the rural areas languish for better roads, bridges, trenches to be dug, flood abatement, better schools, Internet access, healthcare, etc. Although the PNC has supported the call to add “Indian” to Arrival Day, the PPP has refused to do it. The PPP has refused to give national awards in its two years since being elected in 2020. It has failed to make additional new awards of Senior Counsel. It has refused to keep its promise to give “Guardians of Democracy” awards as it promised in a special nationally televised address to the nation. Many of these awards would have gone to some of its supporters.
The PNC unions and the PNC itself may do well if it utilizes the “James Bond” approach of constructive engagement with Government to secure benefits for their constituencies. Some PNC detractors in the Brooklyn Diaspora are spreading poisonous propaganda about discrimination. It is most regrettable that people such as US Congressman Jeffries is apparently acting on such misrepresentation of facts. Jeffries may have crossed that line and is in the zone of meddling in the internal affairs of a sovereign nation. His constituency is in Brooklyn not Guyana! If the GPSU, the other PNC unions and the PNC itself will commit to giving full support to the Government to renegotiate the bad oil contracts, we will get more money to do all the income enhancement measures for workers and infrastructural projects we need across Guyana. Will the GPSU and PNC support renegotiation?
Sincerely,
Dr. Jerry Jailall
