Lamentations on things that are wrong in Guyana

Sep 27, 2016 Letters

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Dear Editor;
Since the change of Government, Guyana did experience a change, some of them were for the better and some for the not so good (modest opinion). I must admit that Guyana has never been so clean at least for the past 30 years or more. I’ve also observed that Guyanese are not so cooperative in keeping the country clean like in overseas countries and maintenance of the city’s cleanliness and appearance is also an uphill battle for the M&CC. I’ve also noticed smoother roads and street lights in many communities that weren’t previously there.
However, contrary to the growth in the economy reports, I can see many of the economic struggles experienced by the average Joe and the business community in Guyana. I didn’t expect any less since the result of a change of Government will net these results. The closing down of the Chinese logging Company was not a good decision in such an economic crisis and will result in too many people on the bread line.
This Government is moving a little too rash as it relates to closing down or stopping industries in Guyana. We must understand that even if the companies are operating outside the legal perimeter we should give them time to regularize, because that is the life they got accustom to, and immediate closure will mostly affect the workers and lead to even more crime and poverty
Too many people are punishing as a result of many different tightness in the system. Used tires ban will result in thousands of people being affected. How can you ban used tires and on average a taxi ride is about $500. Picture this; on average one pays about $80,000 – $100,000 car payment a mouth, after paying $800,000- $1,000,000 down payment on a Japanese used car which most of the money is duty anyway. Why are we forced to buy a new tire when we are already forced to pay Guyana Revenue authority $ 1,000,000 on a car that only cost $200,000 and $340,000 freight?
I don’t understand how a driver’s licence is not accepted as Identification in Guyana as previously mentioned in the remigrant’s letter (Sunday edition) but it is true. It is very sad as a Guyanese to say that Guyana is very backward in many policies that we have. We live in a country where smuggling chicken is a million dollar business; motorcycles pay 100% duty; 2500 cc and above vehicles pay 200-300 % duty. A self-confessed drug lord said that the CANU is corrupted and an audit concluded that his allegations were without merit. I think that the audit is without merit. Lands and Survey and GRA staff still got a bad attitude and they pushing people around daily. EPA taking more than a year to issue permits and the staff attitude is the worst on the planet.
GPHC emergency room is still in a mess and dying patients being told to sit down wait their turn; GOINVEST hardly investing; Housing Ministry never got a house lot for poor people and the waiting list is 5 to 10 years long; fire engines coming to the fire with little or no water; banks are asking for too many documents making borrowing almost impossible- opening a bank account in Guyana is a long process; marine police and the coast guard still working with pirates in the Demerara River; parking meter still coming knowing that people can’t afford it.
Last but not least, the US embassy waiting list is now 3 months for holiday visa, the longest I’ve ever heard, that can only mean that hundreds of people waiting to leave Guyana and many of them not to return, it is a sad reality. I urge people not to overstay in America as it will result in your family not being eligible to visit the Unites States.
I heard Minister Gaskin said that policies are not in place for foreign investor, well the policies needed must be put in place immediately or allow them to come. The fact is EXXON MOBILE was negotiating since in the 90s and the exploration started about 2 years ago. Big investment takes a long time to negotiate and even longer to set up, so if they don’t hurry no big investor will start up any business in Guyana in this 50th year Independence.
Please be advised that all of these representations made above are personal experiences and not hearsay and I will not be surprised when someone replies to this letter saying that some of these representations are inaccurate. But that’s Guyana for you; nobody accepts liability. What I can say is that, if one does not admit that there is a problem then they can never fix it or receive help to fix it. This is the first step of recovery, accepting that there is a problem. Those are some of the issues we face presently. Until next time – love one another, stop racism and segregation, unite and life will be easier and better for all!
Local Observer

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