Trenchant Criticism of the Coalition Government

Jul 10, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor;
The Guyanese people got a big promise during the PNC (yes I said PNC – same old lady, just a different dress) election campaign.
The PNC was the opposition at the time, begging and canvassing the people of Guyana to help them unseat the PPP (the party in power at the time). Among the many, many promises that were made by the PNC in an effort to get the peoples vote, was a promise of reducing the VAT.that is at a rate of sixteen (16) percent.
The president in an interview, pointed out after a year plus in office, that “It is a major problem and there are other areas we need to give money ……. but we have not been able to reduce VAT because the money is not there.” Granger added, “… It is not as easy as it looks and perhaps it might have been imprudent to give ourselves a commitment at that point in time but I will say that philosophically, it is something we could achieve, but not now.” See KN article July 7th 2016 “VAT reduction promise was perhaps hasty –Pres. David Granger”
My fellow Guyanese, it was not hasty, when the newly elected Coalition Ministers gave themselves that big, fat, hefty 50% pay raise. There was no problem finding the monies then.
No other areas needed money at that time…. They all “ran to the bank” with fatter pockets. This is a burning shame and in itself, said a lot of what to expect.
This is the government that has raised taxes, fees on everything they could lay their hands on since winning the election – barely.
The trucks bringing bora to market got hit with high percentage raise in fees. The trucks bringing the beef to market got hit with high percentage raise in fees- you get where I am going with this.
Among the list of licencing fees which were extensively increased are hucksters who travel with a motor vehicle, hucksters who travel with a horse or other beast bearing or drawing burden.
They even proposed a tax as the Minister of Health described it on, “sugary beverages” – not sure if that has been implemented as yet? Each and every time the Coalition comes up with a plan, money comes out of the working masses pockets in the form of taxes and fees. Or whenever they implement any policy, less goes to the masses. As the case of lowering taxes of certain vehicles.
Some pointed out that this will bring little or no real benefit to low and middle-income earners. Those who are already PRICED out of the market. Many Guyanese were having difficulties qualifying as it is to get a $2M loan from the banks, much less, a loan for $3.5 and $5.8M….. KN Feb 5th 2016.
This is a slap in the face of every Guyanese who placed their trust in the Coalition, then voted for a party that have been taking our daily bread (hard earned wages)from our pockets. The “bottom line” Guyanese are having a harder time getting the basic necessities.
I know of a sure fire way to get that money Mr. President. Rescind that big pay raise that was so easily shared out. The public coffers will get a nice boost. Lots of areas will get the funding . Another way to get that money is to get rid of those Ministries within a Ministry. What on earth does Guyana need a Minister within The Ministry of Education? And the other list of Ministers within Ministries goes on. A waste!
Another practice that could have saved “tons” of money was not to have the Durban Park project started by one Ministry, knowing that there was incompetence abound then give the project in the end to the Ministry that had the resources all along. That was certainly a waste of tax payer’s dollars. Or as one Minister said, “peanuts”. Another waste of money was having a senior Minister travel to a foreign land describe as a trip to collect money owed. That could have been handled by the Diplomatic Corps. That is one of their roles and have the money wired. Guyana is not ever going get out of its present state, when policies are not geared to move the nation forward. We will be celebrating another fifty years of the same cynicism, if we fail to break out of this trend.
Muhammad Raoof, USA

1 thoughts on “Trenchant Criticism of the Coalition Government”

Surujpaul Rampersaud July 10, 2016 at 2:17 pm

This is always the case. Politicians make lofty promises on the campaign trail and as soon as they get elected, they began to give excuses for breaking them. It is just mind boggling that a country with with just under 800,000 people has so large a bureaucracy. Do we really need this or is it a case of reward for political loyalty. Whatever it is, it is just eating away revenues.