The Pension Bill is also for present and future Prime Ministers

Nov 25, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor,
I took a conscious decision to avoid responding to the comments made by Leader of the Opposition Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo and former Attorney General on the government’s propose legislation to grant to former Prime Minister Mr. Hamilton Green a long overdue pension. Since I view their comments as one that lack substance, void of objectivity and based on personality.
However, when the Guyana Human Rights Association could descend to the level they descended in their recent press statement, it precipitated my contribution to the discussion. Despite of our politics, leaders must demonstrate the level of political maturity to recognize and respect the contribution of other leaders despite their political affiliation. In this regard, President Granger and his government must be commended for amending the President Benefit act to ensure President Ramotar and President Samuel Hinds benefit from a pension under this act although the same was not done so that former President Hoyte could have benefited in his lifetime.
Former Prime Minister Hamilton Green gave his entire life in service to his fellow country men and women at a political level through the leadership of the Peoples National Congress and the Good and Green Georgetown/Guyana, at the governmental level as a legislator and Minister of Government during the period 1969 – 1992 and at the local government level as Mayor and Councilor of the city of Georgetown. During the period 1985 – 1992 he held the second highest office of the land, a period that Guyana saw fundamental changes in all facets of national life. He could have chosen a different career but he stood by his country men and women when very few saw themselves as Guyanese during the turbulent period of the 60’s. His singleness of purpose must be recognized.
Therefore this discussion should not be clouded by personality and partisan politics but an objective and patriotic discourse as to how we reward those Guyanese who would have served this country, particularly those that held public/constitutional offices. If the period during which these individuals serve and the alleged occurrences during the said period is the barometer use to measure entitlement to government’s pension, then the entire leadership of the former government who served during the darkest period of post independent Guyana 2003 – 2006, particularly former President Bharrat Jagdeo, Ministers Leslie Ramsammy and Ronald Gajraj just to name a few will automatically be disqualified.
It is unfortunate that the Guyana Human Rights Association’s contribution comes on the eve of Guyana marking the tenth anniversary of the brutal assault on press freedom with the seventeen months suspension of advertisement to the Stabroek newspaper for having a different view than the previous government. May I hasten to say that Hamilton Green was the second in command of the state apparatus when the freedom of the press was expanded and independent television and newspapers made entry to Guyana?
Therefore it is my respective view that the legislation is timely and will set the stage for future holders of that office to benefit. Additionally, I trust that similar initiative will be taken to consider those Members of Parliament and former Ministers prior to 1992, that give dedicated and distinguish service to Guyana and is currently surviving on less than a hundred thousand dollars a month in parliamentary pension. Individuals like Sir Shirdath Ramphal, Rashleigh Jackson, Eusi Kwayana Dr. Mohammad Shahabudeen and Isahak Basir who throw a drinking glass at the speaker.
Finance Minister Winston Jordon in his first budget presentation on page 42 paragraph 4.75 give an undertaking to “ examine the plight of Members of Parliament and Ministers, who held office prior to 1992, and, currently, receive pensions that are a fraction of those of the present occupants”…. I am confident that this legislation is part of a series of legislation aimed at addressing this vindictive and discriminatory posture call governance by the previous administration.
Bevon Currie

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