Latest update January 10th, 2025 5:00 AM
Latest News
- Jagdeo-led PPP supported tax waivers to Exxon without seeing terms of oil contract
- President stomps Nandlall’s plan to appeal $24M awarded to Quindon Bacchus’ family
- More than 46,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israel-Hamas war, officials say
- Benn flags citizens lax approach to fire safety
- Chinese man missing after falling off new harbour bridge
A glaring contradiction
Dear Editor,
Less than two years ago our government deemed it necessary to ban importation of vehicles older than eight years. They justified this decision by stating that it was part of an overall policy towards a greener economy since new vehicles had better emission efficiency than the older models.
Many a small man has suffered because of this policy. This is especially true for hinterland locations where the “old model” buses and pick-ups, which are best suited for those conditions, were outlawed in favour of the new model highly electronic vehicles.
This same government now turns around and imports aircraft which are way beyond the stringent regulations that were imposed on vehicles.
Is our government aware that aircraft cause higher pollution than vehicles? Are they also aware that a 40-year-old plane will have much less emission efficiency as against a modern day aircraft?
The argument behind the purchase of these “old” planes is that they are ideally suited for our conditions. Well what an irony! For it was exactly the same reason that many wanted an exception to the eight-year rule but were bluntly denied.
Or how about their other justification – it is what we can afford. Umm, isn’t that what many of us also said when we were informed about the eight-year requirement? Yet we were completely ignored.
So what message really is our government sending by purchasing such old and outdated aircraft? That they abide by different rules to the general populace? That only the populace needs to make sacrifices and spend more in the interest of a green economy while the government is allowed to continue to pollute?
And it is not only with the purchase of old aircraft that our government is showing scant regard for the policy of a green economy. Is there any minister driving a low energy hybrid vehicle? Heck no! All can be seen driving gas guzzling monster SUVs. It is more about status and symbol than it is about the environment.
Oh how this country screams for leadership which sets the example! But at the end of the day it is all about the common adage – “Do as l say, not as l do!”
M. Abraham
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
The unconscionable terms of the PSA establish a case for renegotiation
The unconscionable terms, The unconscionable terms Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- The Production Sharing Agreement (PSA)... more
Forget Begging Rich Nations: Caribbean Countries Should Act to Save Themselves
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- It has long been evident that the world’s richest nations, especially those responsible... more
Weekend Cartoon
