Mismanaging public funds

May 19, 2011 Letters

Dear Editor,
The most crucial point in this debate on sugar workers severance pay is: “No discussion was held in the National Assembly” to find out where this money is coming from to pay severance to the sugar workers, who were left in abeyance for more than a year.
Without any hesitation one welcomes the announcement to pay off the Diamond sugar workers. The workers had to force their trade union, GAWU, to take some action following the setting up of the “Diamond-GAWU Action Committee”.
I and Norris Witter, now President of the Guyana Trade Union Congress (TUC) helped to form this group, contrary to advice from a certain political party to set up a breakaway union. We advised against taking the matter to the Courts, but that is exactly what GAWU did – and created further frustration among the workers.
This hurried announcement by President Bharrat Jagdeo tells the whole story about the level of misrule, corrupt practices and total disregard for established procedures and the rule of law. Dr. Cheddi Jagan would have called this action squander-mania during the Burnham era.
Our problem here is that the official opposition parties in Parliament are the last to comment on these matters – despite the access to so many news outlets to get their messages across – in a 24 hours news facility. I hope that they can seek an Emergency Motion to discuss this matter at the next sitting of Parliament. I have lost faith in those who sit in that rubber-stamp – passed off as a talk shop.
Mr. Corbin will be recorded as the worse opposition leader this country has ever had and his reasons for acting in this way has to do with the supposed secret deals he is alleged to have made with Jagdeo; what other reasons could one advance to understand his sluggishness and impotence.
In the upcoming elections, the electorate must examine the ability, physical and mental health, and the all encompassing level of education of the respective individuals who are going to put themselves up for important leadership positions – members of Parliament and local Councillors included.
All Guyanese are aware that the sugar industry has been in perpetual crisis and it will continue to be like that until the Board of Directors are elected by the sugar workers (field and office workers), which means that they will have total control of the day to day management of the industry.
GAWU must make this one of their demands and campaign for it, now, not tomorrow. It would mean that the workers would have a direct hand in setting the targets for production and productivity and not left to the PPP and Jagdeo and his cohorts.
There must be a direct separation of the workers organisation and the political parties – that is the only way we are going to develop genuine industrial democracy and the effective functioning of the industry.
Both the PNC and the PPP are guilty of this political culture of control. We need new forms of politics where people will be educated and trained to directly manage their enterprises and their lives.
The rice industry suffers the same set back. It is totally controlled by the PPP and all the elections have been rigged to ensure total control. Rice farmers have no direct say in the running of the industry.
The failure of the PNC not to transform the industry – to form co-operatives and allow the rice farmers to control the silos and factories was a huge mistake – which must be corrected when the new people’s government comes to power.
Mike Rahman

Latest News

Mismanaging public funds

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | December, 2nd, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

GBBFF boss reflects on milestones and leadership transition

National stars shine in GCF End of Year Chess...

Two more young cricketers benefit from Project...

Tonight: Sparta Boss goes up against Bent Street...

Botafgo pummel Milerock, 11-7, to become new UDFA...

BCB player transfer window opens for 2025

Features/Columnists

Democracy thrives on dissent and plurality

Breaking the Chains of Poverty: A need for political will

In the spirit of Christmas: from me to Excellency Ali

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

Mismanaging public funds

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | December, 2nd, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]