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Let us see real atonement in this Republic

Apr 09, 2012 Letters

Dear Editor,
A group referred to as a ‘Christian Community’ invited citizens by modern methods to a Good Friday service for “Atonement,”  interestingly, outside the High Courts, where justice should be dispensed, but ask those who are not well connected about their experiences,
First, the majority of those who attended  and spoke are obviously good, honest Christians; however, or those who can measure events in today’s Guyana could easily measure how much this event was either State  sponsored or even PPP inspired.
The venue, the large number of buses used to fetch people from many distant places—a rather costly operation, the identical mobilization of certain election rallies.
The theme was supposed to be “Atonement”, but somehow the subject was not emphasized; even H.E President Ramotar avoided the purported purposes of the theme.
Atonement means expiation or making amends for wrongs done to someone. Today we must be wary of words like atonement; we want to see deeds.
President Ramotar made a pitch about  sacrifice, poverty and social evils. But where do we see evidence of sacrifice by this administration, and a real concern for the poor. The late Dr. Cheddi Jagan and Janet Jagan’s daughter has said enough.
One can assume that the day to day pressures disallow the H.E and his colleagues to see the need for atonement.
There are some concrete things that can be done in a matter of days. This example is sufficient.
Travelling to East Berbice for the first time I experienced the hour-long wait for traffic to flow over the bridge. This allowed me to meet a cross-section of car and truck drivers, even as the Presidential entourage travelled over the bridge going west.
Without exception they felt the bridge toll to be exploitative. One truck operator said that he would likely pay $30,000 to cross, and have to pay on the return trip if he has goods.
The “Jeep” I travelled in would pay $200.00 to cross the Demerara Harbour Bridge. For the Berbice Bridge we are required to pay $4,000. This is a whopping 20 times greater.
Fact, this toll is the highest in the western hemisphere. To cross much longer bridges in the United State we pay US$6.50 or $1,300 Guyana dollars. Why this massive benefit and apart from NBS who are the beneficiaries?
We see NBS has raked in many millions for their involvement in the Berbice Bridge.
The harsh toll is a wrong done to us. Take some of the largesse and give to old age and Government pensioners something to smile about.—that will be atonement (By the way, you can neither cycle or walk over the Berbice bridge. You can over the Demerara Harbour Bridge.)
Atonement ensures that billions spent on medical drugs reach ordinary folks, instead of making certain supplier multi-billionaires. The coffee company,  Vaitarna Log Exports—if their gains from this and similar exercises were mobilized, these resources would allow for free transportation for workers and schoolchildren, who live in East Berbice and use the bridge on a regular basis—that’s atonement. The heavy toll is a wrong.
Others who daily rape our patrimony (with apologies to my namesake) can do likewise.
No need to burden this letter with many other examples, save to note it appears that the architects of the many instances of exploitation, injustice or plain greed may be those who pulled the strings for this Good Friday rally.
Let us see real atonement in this Republic.
Hamilton Green

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