Dear Editor,
The Renegotiationist Movement and spokesmen have focused on the notion that unless Guyana renegotiates all natural resource contracts, especially those in oil/gas and gold, to get more income, the poor will get poorer and the rich will get richer. We have two Guyanas – one filthy and deliriously rich comprising of Government officials and their contractor friends (an emerging local oligarchy) who live as every day is Christmas. The other Guyana is living hand-to-mouth in persistent poverty, praying that the nation’s oil wealth will make them rich soon. So far, this is wishful thinking. Guyana has been behind in every social development indicator after 60 years of both the PNC and PPP. Our currency is still lower than Haiti’s. While some progress is being made under the PPP, we have to run faster, longer, harder to lift the working poor out of poverty. This requires a structured “systems approach” not ongoing “random acts of improvement” and “Santa Claus” approaches. We usually say in systems theory that “the whole is not the sum of its parts.” Where is the 5 or 10-year National Development Equity Plan with strategies and timelines versus cherry-picking and piecemeal projects? We must give credit to the Government for increasing salaries for those in the military, health services, and public service. Free cement and steel are good things.
The PPP Government’s housing program is in overdrive and is its most outstanding accomplishment. Public infrastructure is moving along although they are suspiciously high-priced and shoddy work is being approved. But everything in Guyana needs fixing in a hurry and with oil, the people have rising expectations and are impatient. Poor people want the good life now because they see the oil people and rich people living large every day. The “systems approach” require Government to honour Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) and implement them on an ongoing basis, not impose arbitrary increases. The PPP/PNC’s contempt for unions must stop. Those CBAs have as much “sanctity of contract” as in the worst oil contracts in the world that the PPP/PNC refuse to change under the guise that those giveaway contracts have “sanctity.”
Government must develop structured ways to steadily increase Old Age Pensions, NIS benefits, unemployment benefits, benefits to the self-employed and private sector employees who get no percentage increases as Government workers get (farmers, taxi-drivers, boat workers, retail workers, etc.). We must design a system to give benefits to “working” housewives who take care of their families. Devise a system that delivers on an ongoing basis so the President, VP and Ministers are not in perpetual “Santa Claus” roles delivering goodies. The nation’s wealth belongs to the people. The wealth does not belong to politicians. Government functionaries are mere guardians and caretakers.
I suspect the reason why Government relies on Santa Claus approaches is because they want people to be beholden to them, and maybe show gratitude by voting for them. It’s the equivalent of someone putting a mala around their fridge every time they take out an item to use. The things in the fridge belong to you. The fridge is not giving it to you. In the same way, the nation’s wealth belongs to the nation. When politicians give out national resources, it’s what belongs to the people, not their personal resources. Guyana needs structured, sustainable plans and strategies for development. Government must stop playing Santa Claus and reveal a bigger “Equity Plan” for all 10 regions of Guyana. We look for change and better governance designs in 2023. Let’s work together for a “Happy New Year!” It’s our country and our wealth, and we must care!
Sincerely,
Dr. Jerry Jailall
