Latest update January 1st, 2025 1:00 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

From sugar to oil: Begging as a way of life

Apr 19, 2013 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon

When the EU subsidy on Guyana sugar exports was to be removed, there was a mad scramble to beg the British Government to help. The British Government was unmoved. A little bit of generosity came from the EU – it agreed to provide some assistance for the loss of income.
When the Government of Guyana lost out on the sugar subsidy, my column on the issue remarked that even though Guyana will lose billions, it will not affect the financial waste and extravagant spending that characterize the way power is used in Guyana. Nothing has changed since Guyana suffered the loss of those billions. In fact it has got worse. The State’s gas bill has tripled (not doubled but tripled).
If you look at the way money was spent by the Guyana Government before the stoppage of the subsidy and after, nothing has changed. It is called post-colonial mendicancy, which has its origin in the psychological destruction that colonialism brought to the Third World. Describing this permanent habit of begging, the British High Commissioner to Kenya referred to it by saying; “They vomit on our shoes.” With regards to Guyana specifically, then Jamaican PM, Bruce Golding said that Guyana is an embarrassment to CARICOM because of its panhandling ways.
From begging the British, the PPP Government has moved to the Chinese and Venezuelans. It was an act of insensitivity when Ministers, including President Ramotar himself, expressed concern about the future of Petrocaribe while President Chavez was on his death bed. There is a mad scramble again. This time not for sugar money, but oil funds. The result will be the same as for sugar. Petrocaribe will not continue under any future president in Venezuela, including the current president-elect
Any preliminary reading of the Venezuelan economy will reveal that is it situated on top of an angry volcano. It came about because of fourteen years of misplaced policies by Hugo Chavez. Populist leadership is essentially marked by personality cultism and Chavez was a graphic example of it. He ignored the fundamental principle of helping the poor. Do not buy fish for a poor villager. Buy a net for him, spend money to teach him to fish and he will never go hungry.
Chavez put oil money into the hands of the poor. The first Venezuelan president to do so. But he did so literally. He didn’t follow the path of setting up a bag factory in the village so they could make their own bags so school children won‘t have to buy them. Chavez bought the bags for them. When the money ran out, there was no more to give. It is certain that had he remained president, he would have cut back on the billions he was giving away. Petrocaribe would have been a casualty of his foreign aid reduction.
Petrocaribe is doomed. But do you think it will affect the way the Guyana Government spends money? In a country that begs for financial assistance, young white volunteers working on the LCDS programme based in the Office of the President received a monthly salary that they would not have earned from the American Government or any EU government. Three million Guyana dollars is the equivalent of $15,000 American. Which young consultant gets that from any government in the developed world?
The trade union NAACIE revealed the details of the actual salary of the head of GPL plus other benefits. His counterparts in the EU and Canada and the US do not collect that sum. APNU parliamentarian Rupert Roopnaraine disclosed in Parliament two weeks ago the sum that will be paid to the incoming CEO of GuySuCo and it far exceeds what his counterpart will get from any other government in the world, including the oil-rich states. If you are living in Guyana, ask your friends in the US and Europe the types of cars the Ministers drive and you will find out that the Guyanese power-wielders drive the same models. Yet these Third World high-flyers, when begging, vomit on the shoes of the rulers of the developed countries.This is the same government that is hoping and praying that the new Venezuelan President does not abolish Petrocaribe.
I will leave you with a fantastic story. A friend who once worked at New Thriving told me one evening the Champion of God knows what and a number of his intimates rented the special, reserved room. After hours of expensive drinks and unlimited food including lavish seafood, the bill was $900,000. That is almost $5000 American. Did they vomit the next day on the shoes of the ABC ambassadors?

 

 

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | December, 2nd, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Keevin Allicock – the next torchbearer for Guyanese professional boxing

Keevin Allicock – the next torchbearer for Guyanese professional...

Dec 31, 2024

By Rawle Toney Kaieteur Sports- In the rich tapestry of Guyanese sports, few names shine as brightly as Keevin Allicock. A prodigious talent with the rare blend of skill, charisma, and grit, Allicock...
Read More
Guyana Harpy Eagles begin Fitness Preparation for 2025 CWI Regional Four-Day Tournament

Guyana Harpy Eagles begin Fitness Preparation for...

Dec 31, 2024

The business end has arrived, a place in the final is at stake tomorrow night

The business end has arrived, a place in the...

Dec 31, 2024

Thirteen-year-old benefits from Project “Cricket Gear for young and promising cricketers in Guyana”

Thirteen-year-old benefits from Project...

Dec 31, 2024

Milerock stop Winners Connection 9-3 behind Drakes 5 goal spree, Botafago humble Capital Fc 8-3

Milerock stop Winners Connection 9-3 behind...

Dec 31, 2024

Dharry reigns supreme with second-round KO against Ramirez

Dharry reigns supreme with second-round KO...

Dec 30, 2024

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]