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The increase toll on the harbor bridge is totally unacceptable

Dec 22, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor,
It is very obvious that the successive governments in Guyana are bent on pauperizing Guyanese. This has become even clearer as the political, three card game (this you win, this you lose, trick), continues to be unleashed unabated on the hapless, weakened, demoralized and mentally weary, Guyanese people.
Now the government will raise the Demerara Harbor Bridge (DHB) toll. They are doubling it! We all know that this was coming because earlier this year Prime Minister and 1st Vice President, Moses Nagamootoo suggested it and remarked then, that it was a “slight” increase. Imagine they are doubling the fare across the only passage that thousands of persons must use to access their homes and work places, and they are terming it “Slight”.
This is ridiculously unfair to the folks who live on the Westside and who have to commute across that bridge, on a daily basis. Now, in addition to the new taxes outlined in the budget, they are saddled with an unjustified, additional, doubled cost, that they are demanded to pay, only because of where they live or work. This cannot be right!
However, what is even more laughable is the hypocritical appeal from the PPP. They are asking that the DHB fare increase be rescinded. This same PPP with whom the current government had to fight to lower the toll on the Berbice Bridge; this same PPP that said they are concerned with the folks in Berbice but fought to keep those exorbitant fares on the Berbice Bridge, is now pretending that they are concerned with matters relating to tolls. This is laughable.
The Guyanese people are watching as these two major political parties yank us from side to side. Mr. Jagdeo and his cronies make enough money to lower the cost for crossing the Berbice Bridge. They are all billionaires. Yet they will not lower those fares because of their intrinsic, colossal greed and total disregard for the Guyanese people. Finance Minister, Mr. Jordon, admitted that the coffers of the Consolidated Funds have grown significantly since the PNC/Coalition took office.
He boasts also of the significant growth of the country’s $US reserves. If that is the case, why continue to squeeze the poor Guyanese people?
This administration is making sure they take every cent they can from the people of Guyana. It is as if they do not want us to have any disposable income to spend as we please. It is as if making us and keeping us poor somehow satisfies the egos of these politicians. Those of us who have travelled to neighboring countries – Brazil, Suriname and French Guiana – would know that there are several bridges that link parts of those countries, yet not one of them has a toll. Even the bridge that spans Guyana and Brazil (that the Brazilians built) is free to traverse.
Why is it that the people in the country with the poorest, hungriest, most underpaid workforce must be taxed so heavily? Why do successive governmental fat cats – those in the PPP and the PNC – seek to squeeze every penny out of us? And if these sacrificial responsibilities were shared we would be willing to understand. But all we see are the politicians, their family, friends and cronies becoming more wealthy, driving their fancy SUVs and living large, while the average Guyanese is made to saddle the rising costs, additional tolls and mounting taxes. This is not right!
Dr. Vishnu Bandhu

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