Dear Editor,
Reference is made to Stabroek News of June 8, 2023., “GDF Captain Killed during Robbery,” Stabroek News of August 4, 2023., “Former Chief Education Officer Shot Dead…,” and Stabroek News Editorial of August 6, 2023, “Killings”.
The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) must be commended in leading the call by private sector organizations to curb the increase in crimes in Guyana. Trade Unions, which once formed the intellectual hub from where the blueprint of our democracy emerged, must also find a way to gain new traction and add their voices to this national issue which can hinder development. Development must be measured and always responsive to the socio-economic needs of the people. Roads and more hotels are indeed indicators of growth; but these are not reflective of true development. Tax justice, investor’s confidence and the way citizens perceive crime and security are true indicators of development.
Recently, free WIFI access was announced around the Stabroek Market area on the Facebook page of a Ministry. A common trend followed in the comments. Citizens agreed that it is unsafe to even walk, much less use a laptop or cellular phone around the Stabroek Market area. And the problem is not isolated to robbery and pickpocketing around Stabroek. The traffic situation in and immediately outside the capital city is horrible. It adds to increase downtime and the inability to predict travel time. One of the main reasons for the traffic situation is the lack of enforcement of the traffic laws. During business hours, there is no parking space on Regent and Robb Streets despite these are main commercial points within the City. Derelict structures are common features of our roads, together with vehicles parked for hours in no parking zones. Then there is the dumping of garbage at street corners and canals around the City. No matter its form or seriousness, such criminal acts affect true development. Investors and buyers are likely to take their dollars elsewhere and often times pay more at Malls outside the City to avoid localities affected by crime.
One of the focal points about tax justice is that there must be equity in the allocation of budgetary resources in meeting the developmental challenges of people. In 2023, GYD$58.6 Billion was allocated by Parliament to fight crime. This represents 7.5% of total budget. In comparison, the records of budget debates of the Parliament of Guyana revealed that between 2016-2019 GYD$52 billion was spent on a single Roads and Bridges programme within a department of a Ministry; while between 2020-2022 GYD$83.9 Billion was expended under the same programme. The statistics tells us that between 2016 and 2023, more priority in the allocation of State funds is given to roads and bridges than what the entire security programme receives in a fiscal year.
The case for equitable distribution of tax dollars for the curbing of crime in Guyana is even more pronounced when one considers that corporate taxation and personal income tax accounts for a greater portion of
revenues collected. In 2022, ‘private sector corporation taxes, personal income tax, and withholding taxes grew by GYD$16.9 Billion, GYD$12 Billion, and GYD$10.4 Billion respectively.’ This is the growth and not the final figures. Meanwhile, Guyana Police Force mid-year Statistic Report indicates that there has been an increase in the number of murders and road fatalities on the country’s roadways. Between January, 2023 and June, 2023 the country lost 100 persons due to road accidents and 82 persons due to murder of which 6 flowed from robberies. These numbers indicate that the private sector and personal income tax paid by working class citizens contributed significantly to the economy but that their businesses and lives are increasingly under threat from crimes.
Consequently, while roads, bridges and hotels are important, citizens must feel safe that they will not be shot or robbed while spending their monies at bars along these roads, and that their relatives will not be killed by a drunken driver late at nights on these roads. Allocation of tax dollars must thus take into account the most pressing developmental needs of the people as opposed to the need to record growth.
Sincerely,
Kevin. P Morgan
Attorney-at-Law
