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A NATION WONDERS

Oct 07, 2017 Editorial, Features / Columnists

From all indications, the country seems to be heading in a direction that the government itself does not like but is doing all it can to steer it away from disaster. The economy is struggling, private sector investment is at a standstill, tourism seems to be on the decline and cost of living has spiraled out of control. The crime rate is down, but there are serious concerns about a number of other issues, such as traffic fatalities, domestic violence and child murders. The poverty rate is increasing and blackouts continue all across the country. While the government appears to be waiting on cash inflows from oil to solve the financial woes and improve the well-being of the masses, the people are struggling to make ends meet.
Many are jobless and are hopeless about their future and their prosperity. And while the government has done a number of good things, including the cleaning up of the city, reduction in crime and the illegal sale of drugs and some minor improvement in infrastructure, it has not addressed most of the problems affecting youths. Manyare dumfounded at the way they are being treated by some members of the cabinet.
Their perception is that those in authority are aloof and are putting their personal interests ahead of those of the country. This is taking place at a time when spending has slowed, and many businesses, especially stores are facing hard times. Many have had to lay off some of their employees. Others have had to reduce the working hours of their workers in order to cope with the low sales situation. The future seems bleak for retailers and people in general.
The dollar is sinking, foreign currency earnings have reduced, borrowing has increased and the cost to pay the interest on the foreign debt has risen to over 65 percent of the country’s gross domestic product in the last two years. Money that should be funding our schools to provide a good education to students, our hospitals to provide adequate health care to the people, keeping our cities clean, and building shelters for the homeless are being spent on paying our huge debt.
It seems that constitutional reform, transparency and accountability which have been a major plank of the coalition’s campaign are now on the back burner.
It has not apologized for the alleged threat issued to a judge by the Attorney General and the President’s rejection of the Chief Justice’s pronouncement of “any other fit and proper person” in regards to the appointment of a Chairman of GECOM. Many believe that this was an attempt to undermine judicial independence and by extension the separation of powers as mandated by the constitution. The former Attorney General who had allegedly threatened the lives of Kaieteur News reporters has stated that threatening anyone is a serious offence, but threatening a judge and to rejectof the High Court’s decision arevery dangerous.
Legal experts have claimed that an independent judiciary is the sine qua non to a democratic society. Every legal system, either through a written constitution or conventions has created an institutional framework designed to protect citizens and strengthen democracy. The reality is agovernment that is not trusted by many and a president who seems not to have leadership qualities are operating as some unknown entity while the nation wonders.

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