Burnham had to restrict importation of food

Sep 26, 2010 Letters

Dear Editor,
I respond to an article “Burnham’s banning of food items was classic ‘cart before the horse’ thinking” by one Michael Maxwell (Kaieteur News 13th September, 2010).
In the 70’s at a discussion with representative of the IMF they had demanded that the Guyana dollar be devalued from $4.30 to $10.00 to US$1 dollar, so as to qualify for IMF loan.
Mr. Burnham then abandoned the meeting and declared that the IMF is issuing a recipe for riot. The government of the day had no choice but to restrict certain food items. This did not go for a special type of people, or a special class, but was country wide.
What Michael Maxwell is claiming in policy making 101 (1) (2) (3) & (4) that replacement quality and quantity before banning, I wish to make it clear that since 1973 the theme under the PNC was, “Feed, House and Clothes Yourselves by 1976” this was no cart before the horse. The people for political and other reasons failed to heed cash crop. Many turned to cattle; some even went on a mass migration instead of investing producing and processing food.
I wish to bring to the reading population that contraband food stuff was not taken off the restriction list by the PPP/C.
It was done by the PNC under the leadership of Desmond Hoyte, President of Guyana at the time.
I wish to state what Mr. Burnham was doing was teaching Guyanese to be self sufficient. The children of Israel in the Old Testament were not self sufficient, that is why they ended up in Egypt and became slaves for 400 years.
In the 80’s when Argentina invaded the Falklands (I am subjected to correction on where was invaded) England created air water and land embargo on the Falklands and because they were not self sufficient Argentina was force to withdraw giving victory to the British.
I also would like to mention that the banning and restriction of certain food items caused persons to exercise their knowledge and be creative e.g.
(1) Preserved fruits;
(2) the fruit juice;
(3) the salted meat kind e.g. beef, pork salt fish;
(4) Plantain chips, cassava ball;
(5) Lidco Milk;
(6) Colgate & Palmolive;
(7) Greco Amplifiers;
(8) GRL Freezers & Refrigerators;
(9) F.I.L batteries; just to name a few.
The PPP/C, other than food stuff, stop with local production, drained the economy by importing everything, that is why we have so much crime. When. Mr. Burnham died the currency was US$1=G$4.30, Today with the good administration of the PPP/C and its development, the rate is US$1=G$200. Judge for yourself roti, bake, bread is not development, we need security employment, better salaries.
It was mentioned at Watooka Club at the Cabinet Outreach to Lindeners, that since the PPP/C took office in 1992 they have serviced 60% of Guyana’s international debt, still our currency cannot float.
Please note that promises are comfort to fools.
Harrylal Jainarine

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