There is widespread poverty in the world and Guyana is no exception

Oct 29, 2019 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,

Recent developments in Ecuador, Bolivia and Chile have demonstrated that the working class is not prepared to sit idly by and allow government to impose policies and programmes that impact adversely on their living standards.
In the case of Chile, over one million people participated in a mass rally to protest against increases in transportation costs. This caused President Sebastian Pinera to act swiftly in his attempt to change a number of anti-working class policies and increase pensions. He also changed several government ministers in an attempt to appease the tense political situation that has developed over the past weeks.
Chile has had a chequered political past interspersed between military and civilian rule. The assassination of the democratically elected leftist leader Salvador Allende in 1973 by the military has left a bitter taste in the mouths of a significant number of Chileans. In a twist of political fortunes, several of the leading players in the coup that ousted the Allende government were jailed including the ringleader and military strongman General Agusto Pinochet who eventually died whilst still on trial for human rights violations and other criminal activities.
People everywhere are standing up and letting their voices heard against economic injustice and social inequity. Despite significant advances in labour productivity, the gap in living standards between the haves and the have-nots continue to widen. It is indeed a shame that nearly one billion of the world’s population continue to exist on a daily income of less than US$2 per day.
There is widespread poverty in the world and Guyana is no exception. Despite an abundance of natural and mineral resources, we are still ranked among the poorest countries in the western hemisphere.
We now have an opportunity to correct this poverty syndrome which have characterized our existence over the decades. I am in support of direct cash transfers to the poor and the vulnerable. My view is that a significant part of the oil revenues should be used to lift the bottom of the income structure and to subsidize the cost of fuel and other items that impact directly on the poor such as electricity and water.

Hydar Ally

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