Bring home what makes the American Dream

Mar 17, 2018 Letters

Dear Editor,
From the Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo’s column titled ‘Good Morning, Guyana!’ in the March 11, 2018 Guyana Chronicle, it was pleasing to hear that Mr Nagamootoo was on the road to recovery and was being keep abreast of developments.
The Prime Minister revealed that he was able to traverse through farmlands in Iowa as farmers, at this time, are readying to resume work as winter is coming to an end.
Mr Nagamootoo said, “My heart pumps up with optimism. What has become celebrated as the ‘American Dream’ could become the Guyana reality, where we could have both food security and job-creating economic growth.”
Indeed, that is a lofty goal that we should aspire for. But, I wonder, whether our Prime Minister knows that one of the major reasons that the Iowa farmers are able to live the American Dream, as he puts it, is because of the support they receive from the US Government.
The EWG Farm Subsidy Database points out that between 1995 and 2016, the US Government provided subsidies to farmers amounting to US$349 B. In the more specific case of Iowa, those farmers received nearly US$30 B over the period.
While Mr Nagamootoo has expressed his desire to have similar feats repeated in Guyana, at the same time, the Government of which he is a leading member, is reducing subsidies to the sugar industry and closing down estates and putting people out of jobs.
Mr Nagamootoo, the Guyanese-version of the American Dream you so heartily desire cannot be done when you chose to put people out of work in the interest of reducing subsidies.
Well Mr Nagamootoo, let’s see if what so impressed you in Iowa you can now take steps to begin effecting a programme of action to see a similar-type reality in Guyana. I humbly suggest that you begin by continuing the financial support to the sugar industry as is being done with the farmers in the Iowa.
Yours sincerely
Patricia Persaud

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