PPP Parliamentarian wades into two Ministers

Jan 21, 2016 Letters

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Dear Editor,
What is it about power that causes some politicians to become pompous, arrogant and egotistical? Are these character traits they cleverly hide from the electorate to win votes? Often, a slip of the tongue can be attributed to the inexperienced politician, but inexperience cannot be attributed to Attorney General Basil Williams and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan. These two seasoned politicians have been around long enough to know better.
Watching them debate in Parliament, I often wonder whose ego is bigger than the other. None is prepared to compromise their position even when it is obvious that they have made major blunders. Repeatedly in Parliament, our learned Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs have demonstrated that he is unprepared to hold this vital position. And although the former Attorney General, Anil Nandall have on many occasions and in good faith, pointed out serious flaws in the amendments to Bills drafted by the Attorney General, he’s never man enough to put his foolish pride aside, admit the blunders, and accept Nandlall’s generous offer to work with him to perfect the Bills before they become law. All of Nandlall’s recommendations and suggestions are ignored even when it is glaring that the Bills presented by the Hon. Basil Williams are seriously flawed.
But Williams is not the only one with an inflated ego. Time and time again we’ve seen Ministers so defiant on an issue, that it’s either their way or the highway.
The 2 am closure of clubs and bars without consultation is a classic example of how stubborn and self-righteous Khemraj Ramjattan can be. He’s never one to compromise.
When oil prices took a nose-dive during the latter part of 2014 from US$80 per barrel to below US$50 in January 2015, the then PPP/C Administration announced a 30% reduction in the price of gasoline that greatly benefitted motorists and commuters. GuyOil’s price moved from $995 per gallon to $695 per gallon, a $300 reduction. Diesel prices declined from $985 per gallon to $694 per gallon another 30 percent, while kerosene was reduced from $850 per gallon to $496 per gallon, a reduction of 42 percent. This meant that GuyOil was selling for less than $160 per litre of gas.
The Guyana Power and Light – GPL also caved in to calls from former President Donald Ramotar, and lowered electricity rates to consumers. The PPP/C had ensured that the savings in oil prices were passed on to the people as was previously done in 2008.
Now let us compare this to today’s drop in oil prices to illustrate just how insensitive the Granger Administration is to the needs of the Guyanese people. Oil prices have now fallen below US$30 per barrel, its lowest in 13 years. But in Guyana, this is not reflected at the pumps, and there is convincing evidence that this will not happen. According to Kaieteur News’ Peeping Tom (January 20), “The Big Question on everyone’s mind is why have prices at the petrol stations in Guyana not fallen. This is a question for the government, just as it is for the companies that import fuel. The government’s tax mechanism allows it to reduce prices, but the biggest reduction is likely to come from the decline in acquisition costs from the oil companies. Both must answer as to why Guyanese are still paying over eight hundred dollars per gallon for petrol at the pump. This is a rip-off.” Indeed it can best be described as legalized highway robbery.
Editor, I am appalled at the statement published in the January 19 issue of Kaieteur News by Vice President and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan to justify what appears to be an official position of the APNU/AFC Government that gas prices in Guyana is unlikely to be lowered, “…because there is a lot of expenditure we have to incur in relation to the social projects we have, the argument will forever be made that revenues will have to be taken in somehow, to carry them out.” This is the kind of careless, pompous arrogance on display that we’ve seen so often from this Minister that directly contradicts the Administration’s promise of ‘a good life for all”.
As a lawyer and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan is well aware that misappropriation of the people’s money and extortion are crimes, even when sanctioned by government. The current price of $860 per gallon is way above world market price, over $400 per gallon higher than that sold in New York. If this was done under the PPP/C, a forensic audit would have been ordered to ascertain how much consumers overpaid the Government for oil related products, and where the excess money went to. The economy is crying out and there’s no relief in sight. Thousands have lost jobs under this new Government and thousands more will perish when the Wales Sugar Factory is closed. The 20% salary increase promised to civil servants did not happen, and VAT still remains at a burdensome 16%. Where is the conscience of this Government? Where is the “good life” promised to all?
With their fat salaries and free gasoline allowance, Government Ministers are not the ones feeling the pinch, but that should not make the Administration insensitive now to the suffering and needs of our people whose lives they pledge to improve. I urge the Administration to disregard Ramjattan’s reckless proclaim and do right by the people. They deserve better!
Harry Gill, MP (PPP)

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