Freddie, KN and volunteers applauded for Coronavirus assistance

Apr 22, 2020 Letters

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Dear Editor,

As KN, Freddie Kissoon, and others have indicated, those on the front lines in the health sector to keep Guyanese safe deserve additional compensation than their regular salaries. In the US, they are slated for bonus pay.
I thank Freddie, Glenn Lall, and others who have advocated this cause and made commitment to contribute financial and material assistance to medical staff. Other (in particular big) businesses and individuals must join this effort as an expression of appreciation.
As others pointed out, some businesses are not generous in corporate social responsibility to help the poor or even health workers who put their health at risk to save others. As Ms Sandra Khan (KN Apr 20) stated, (some in) the private sector help the poor; recipients and those of us who have empathy for the working class are most grateful. (I applaud Ms. Khan for championing worthwhile causes and for her invaluable service among the dispossessed as well as promoting culture and ethnic harmony).
I applaud those in the private sector who plow some of their profits into community projects. But some big businesses have not given generously (of their huge profits) to ameliorate disasters like the pandemic.
Kaieteur News and some other private media outlets as well as other small businesses generously help during crises. Big business can take a lead from them.
If one were to conduct a survey, one would find that the smaller and medium sized businesses provide the most help in response to the pandemic. Those volunteering to make facemasks and Personal Protective Equipment are from the working class. Those volunteering to distribute masks and food are from the poor, working class.
Few among the big businesses and the wealthy class rise to the occasion. My queries reveal that a few big businesses help the less fortunate or support NGOs or sponsor the arts, but such assistance is far and between.
As Ms. Khan pointed out, private sector is the engine of growth in Guyana and the country needs businesses to grow. Anyone who studies economics would know that the private sector is largely responsible for initiatives and growth, not only in Guyana but worldwide; communism or socialism restricts growth. And in every country, including the US, small and medium sized businesses and cottage industries play the lead role in growth and generate the most revenues (some 70%).
Profit is indeed the leitmotif of business, including farming. But there is a big difference between the farmer (as well as working class) and big business. While both labour to eat, big businesses tend to eat greedily, leaving little for small business and the workers, especially during crises.
Big businesses can offer more assistance to charities or spiritual needs during this pandemic. Farmers tend to be generous. I remember as a child, after the rice harvest and milling, my father would send sacks of rice to share with relatives and the poor in the neighbourhood who did not grow rice. Other rice farmers did the same; it was a tradition in the farming communities.
Ditto after the harvest of vegetables, fruits and production of coconut oil and other homemade goods. Farmers in the village would perform a Jhandi or Katha or Koran Sharief, and feed the village, or farmers pooled resources together to perform same thanking the Lord for the produce. The (small) farmers also made generous contributions to the mandir, Masjid and church. So the farmers shared their earnings.
Ms. Khan is right in assailing the political class as greedy and selfish, but the political class is nourished and sustained by the corrupt (big) business class. Some businesses offer large bribes to the political class in exchange for various concessions. The concessions dwarf the bribes (investment) – a handsome return of profits of hundreds of percent.
Very little, if any, of these profits are shared with the poor. And politicians never share loot with anyone. The poor or middle class or professionals are not offered the same terms and incentives by the politicians for investments. And I don’t know of any case where the poor or working class or middle classes are encouraged to get into business or to pool their resources and purchase property.
I am aware that sugar workers offered to pool their resources and purchased the closed estates. They were rebuffed. And recommendations and advice to the previous administration to distribute land to sugar workers to go into business was also turned down.
As Ms. Khan stated, the resources of the nation are viewed as ownership of some in the political class. But not all in the political class benefit from corruption. Some politicians are decent, honest, compassionate, and caring. Regrettably, the poor and working class don’t always support politicians who stand for integrity.
I applaud Freddie for starting a fund for medical workers. Big business should join the list of contributors to help health workers and the dispossessed. I remember and applaud the lead role of CN Sharma during the massive flooding around 2005 and so many other calamities; others should emulate him and the likes of Glenn Lall, Freddie, and others for championing worthwhile causes.
I also laud the media for highlighting the contributions of volunteers and I salute those who give generously of time and service to help others during this pandemic.
Yours truly,
Dr. Vishnu Bisram

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