Only when the shoe pinches the wearer

May 02, 2012 Letters

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Dear Editor,
One of the objectives of the recent Budget cuts was to remove the inequities in earning among the specially paid Government contract employees who earn close to and over $1 million per month and those in the regular Public Service who earn under $100,000.  Another objective of the cuts was to force much needed reforms at entities such as the National Communications Network (NCN) and the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) in the interest of the people of Guyana.
The Alliance for Change (AFC)is concerned about all state employees and as it relates to NCN; we are satisfied, based on a letter by Mohamed “Fuzzy” Sattaur (March 19 2012), that NCN is financially robust, earning 90 per cent of its income from advertising and therefore, there is no need to cut any jobs there.
In this context, we note the sudden concern and hysterics of the PPP over the cuts to NCN and the Government Information Agency (GINA), and more specifically the 38 jobs the party says will be lost at GINA.
This newfound solidarity with the working people of Guyana by the PPP is however, nothing but the shedding of crocodile tears since there was no concern for: The 62 workers dismissed by RUSAL, the 77 National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) dismissed in Linden; when Government contractors doing work in Linden brought in their own labourers instead of employing Lindeners; the high cost of crossing the Berbice Bridge that affects persons from Region Five from receiving employment in Region Six and vice versa, disregard for the increased costs to the ordinary workers in Region Five who send their children to school in New Amsterdam.
There was no concern for the employees of CNS Channel Six during its suspension by the Government; when the government summarily dismissed Freddie Kissoon (a contract worker, by the way) and hounded his wife out of her job, knowing fully well their only child is still at the University of Guyana; over the Government’s removal of the subvention to Critchlow Labour College that resulted in the loss of jobs and ordinary Guyanese being denied an opportunity to further their education; for the three New Building Society (NBS) managers who were fired based on trumped up charges because they were only doing their jobs too well.
The government further had no concern for the staff of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) which was unlawfully “dissolved” by the Government; the four wrongfully imprisoned treason accused (including Mark Benschop) and their dependants, many of whom were young children; the 14 unlawfully dismissed Supreme Court workers; the many workers who remain unpaid by the Government for their services to CARIFESTA 2008; when the Government cut its advertisements from Stabroek News affecting employment there.  Nor for when that cut was extended to the rest of the private media stymieing their ability to expand and provide more employment; for the nine Enmore sugar workers who were summarily dismissed for theft without determining which of them may have actually been responsible; over the fact that the Government buys computers through “Barber Shop” type deals instead of buying those that are locally assembled, which would have created job opportunities for our young people; the fact that because of super-salaries paid at the Office of the President (OP) to people like Gail Teixeira and Odinga Lumumba who earn over $900,000 and close to $700,000 per month respectively, the Consultant on Climate Change and Advisor on Land and Development who each receive around $1 million per month, and the Advisor on Information Technology who receives $3 million per month, there are less available Government jobs to ordinary Guyanese.
There was no concern when the Government contacted the places of employment of Dr Tarron Khemraj, Sasenarine Singh, Carl Greenidge and Dr Janette Bulkan in an effort to get them fired (the latter two actually lost their jobs as a result); and over the general lack of job creation that forces our people to continue seeking their fortunes in foreign lands, where they are too often treated like second class citizens.
We can go on and on, but we believe our point is made.  If the PPP, however, since the death of Dr Jagan now intends to reawaken to the needs of the ordinary worker, we urge that the party establish its own propaganda unit (independent of tax dollars) and absorb the GINA workers.
After all, the PPP only up to November last could have afforded several hundred $50,000 vinyl scrolls and around a hundred $300,000 billboards for their elections campaign.
We are sure, too, that former President Jagdeo, with his monthly pension and who these 38 workers would have served faithfully, would be most keen to chip in like a Champion.
Moreover, most Ministries have their own public relations departments.  Giving GINA money, therefore, would have been paying twice for the same service.
As it relates to NCN, a subvention can be voted on at a later time provided there is meaningful reform, which includes among other things, that it would reflect the views of not just the Government, but those of the opposition and wider society as well; that there is respect for the political association of all employees, and that its revenue only be used to pay its employees and not phantom letter writers/bloggers (e.g. liveinguyana.blogspot.com) and party propagandists.
Finally, the AFC calls on the PPP to immediately allow the existing television stations to extend their signals. This would create more employment throughout the country. An expanded media sector too, would be able to absorb any vindictively fired Government media personnel, since the PPP is not above scoring cheap political points.

Gerhard Ramsaroop, Michelle Ramsaroop, Aurélie Griffith, Leroy Nelson, Rajendra Bisessar, Ron White, John B. Singh, Winston Argyle and Egland Gomes

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