It is a fact that the PPP’s Government performed well

Oct 02, 2017 Letters

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Dear Editor,
According to the Bank of Guyana’s Key Macro Economic Indicator, Guyana enjoyed nine consecutive years of economic expansion under the PPP/C, averaging 4.6 percent; despite severe global economic and financial crisis that have seen the collapse of other economies around the world. Guyana was indeed on the rise with the fastest growing economy in the Caribbean. But this was short-lived.
In 2015, under the APNU+AFC, Real Growth dropped to 3 percent although the Bank of Guyana in its 2014 Annual Report; projected the Guyana economy to grow by 5.3 percent.
But without the prudent management of the PPP/C, the Guyana economy has been on the decline since, and continues to limp along as evidenced by the meagre 2.2 percent expansion in real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) posted for the first half of 2017 (Source: Bank of Guyana and Ministry of Finance).
This precipitous decline was not because they were clearing out drug money from the economy or because they inherited a bankrupt economy, but rather, because of ineptitude, bad leadership and poor policies.
I have nothing but empathy for the likes of Jerrick Rutherford who feel they have an obligation to parrot the lies of the APNU+AFC propaganda machine without knowing the facts, for I have walked that road before. But the fact is, Guyanese were much better off under the PPP/C and all this talk of a ‘better life’ under the APNU+AFC has been nothing but an elusive dream to Guyanese who voted for ‘change’. Undoubtedly, the Guyana economy is once again in serious crisis. But don’t take my word for it.
The following was taken from a rare Kaieteur News Editorial of July 8, 2017: “Many, including the opposition, have already expressed their disgust over the 50 percent increase in salaries of some Ministers who were in office less than three months, the $1.2 billion D’Urban Park project, and the millions spent in tuition fees for two junior ministers.
So, there is no need in revisiting such reckless spending of the taxpayers’ money, except to say that the President and his cabinet should lead by example and end the wasteful spending that they have foisted on the nation. It is worthy to point out that all this is happening, at the same time the government is closing several sugar estates and putting thousands of sugar workers on the breadline.
If the people thought that such extravagant spending was bad enough, the government has made a public spectacle of itself with the rental of a house for $500,000 per month for a Minister…
Unfortunately, ministerial perks and benefits, especially the frequent overseas trips by ministers during the past two years have put a dent in the country’s finances.
This contradicts the criticisms leveled against the last administration by this government when it was in opposition. This lack of transparency and accountability could tarnish the government’s image.
We are under no illusion that the government should stop spending or that everything should come to a screeching halt because of the economy which is in dire straits, but the nation is steep in debt, its GDP has declined, imports have increased while exports have reduced, and except for the mining sector, production in the other sectors has fallen sharply.
It simply does not help matters for the government to continue to borrow and pile up more debt at this stage. A careful look at the 2017-2018 estimates shows that the government will spend more than 60 percent of its GDP to service the national debt. It means that in the absence of anything short of a miracle, there will not be enough funds to improve education or provide adequate health care and social services to the people… In these difficult times when the livelihood of many, especially the poor, is seriously threatened, it seems as though there is no end in sight to the reckless spending of the taxpayers’ money by the Granger administration. It seems that we are condemned to repeat the mistakes of our errant past.”
The Editorial forgot to mention the rental of a drug bond for $12.5 million monthly; the approximately $40 million it cost taxpayers to renovate Prime Minister Nagamootoo’s official residence; $20 million for the Office of the Prime Minister: Over $10 million in furniture for the PM’s office; $22 million budgeted for his new luxury vehicle; and the tens of millions being spent to renovate the Ministry of the Presidency and the construction of the presidential green wall.
It must also be noted that the Kaieteur News is no friend of Bharrat Jagdeo or the PPP/C, but I respect the frankness and honesty of this editorial in holding the government accountable for the reckless way they are spending taxpayers’ money.
I was asked to use ‘accurate facts and statistics’. But now that I’ve done so, would this really change the perception that Jerrick Rutherford has of the PPP? Or would he remain a pathetic apologist for the PNC/APNU.
Harry Gill
PPP Member of Parliament

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