The year 2020 was mixed with advantages and disadvantages

Dec 31, 2020 Letters

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Dear Editor,

If the APNU+AFC provided an earful to listen to the downside of our beloved country Guyana in the leap year 2020, then, the PPP/C Party did provide a mouthful to talk about on the other side of the coin. To narrate on the upside of this dear land of ours in a trying and testing year when it is easy to conjure only negative things happening, it is a relief and change to welcome anything beneficially positive. The best thing that happened in Guyana was the swearing in of a new and legitimate, duly elected president, Dr. Irfaan Ali, replacing a “Sanctimonious Gangster” for a caretaker president, Mr. David Granger, who had to unwillingly demit the office of the president, after squatting in office for five months and being ordered to “step aside.” This good turn materialized due to the PPP/C Party winning the General and Regional Election held on March 2nd and defeating the APNU+AFC to form the new government.
But this would not have been possible had it not been for many stakeholders condemning and preventing the APNU+AFC and some GECOM officers and employees from attempting to rig and defraud the election process. Guyana has a better reason to smile because many people, places and parties contributed to uphold democracy and to support the Guyanese people in the struggle to prevent dictatorship, defend freedom and maintain peace. Those playing significant roles include diplomats from the ABCE, CARICOM, OAS, AOL, ACP, UN, The Elders, all the then opposition parties, the vigilantes keeping watch on the ballot boxes, most local organizations, media personnel and the people of Guyana at home and abroad. One of Guyana’s proudest moments remains in the fact that, not a single Head of State for any Regional or International country supported Granger and his APNU+AFC in their fishing expedition, when they attempted on numerous occasions to deny the freewill of the Guyanese people and to undermine democracy in the country. Responding to Granger with, “The truth hurts” according to past Chair of CARICOM, Barbados Prime Minister, Mia Motley. The world did not budge but stood beside Guyana to fight against APNU+AFC’s tyranny and bullies. Also, Granger could not find an ally from any of his CARICOM friends who turned their backs on him.
On another positive note, it was good to see GECOM Chair, the honorable judge (retired) Claudette Singh, enforcing her power to direct the CEO, Keith Lowenfield, to produce a final report as per the findings of CARICOM recount election result, which enabled her to declare the PPP/C as the winner of the election. On a high note was to see so many women and young people appointed as MP’s by the PPP/C and the APNU+AFC. Guyana rejoiced also in the dismissal of APNU/AFC’s victimized charges politically motivated, brought against President Irfaan Ali, AG Mr. Anil Nandlall, Finance Minister Ashni Singh and Winston Brassington.
Definitely, climbing up the scale was the PPP/C government successfully piloting an emergency $330 Billion budget to cover the remainder of the year from September to December’2020. Guyanese had a lot to cheer about on learning that the many taxes imposed on them by the APNU+AFC government were removed, reduced and reversed to the status of 2014 when the PPP/C was in government. The Granger government had punished the nation for five years and, the revenue demanded and squeezed from the people’s blood, sweat and tears were squandered by the callous and unscrupulous administration. Guyanese had to pay to upkeep the exuberant and exorbitant good life style of the APNU+AFC. The Value Added Tax was removed from a number of goods and services including water and electricity rates, exports, hinterland travel, medical supplies and building and construction. Fees for the rental of agricultural land, irrigation and drainage have been reduced to 2014 figures. 50,000 house lots have been identified for housing and the MIR was increased to $30 Million. The three sugar estates closed by the APNU+AFC government will be opened incrementally and some $7 Billion was already disbursed to Guysuco and already almost a thousand workers were reemployed. The 25 percent corporate tax on educational institutes was removed and the uniform voucher allowance was doubled to $4,000 per child. Also, a cash grant of $15,000 will be made available for all public school students, effective from Jan.1st. The PPP/C government announced that 20,000 scholarships will be available and education should be free at UG from 2024. The indigenous people had a lot to cheer about with some $800 Million allocated to the ADF and, the reemployment of some 2,000 CSO’s who were fired by the APNU+AFC government. Pensioner’s allowance increased to $25,000.
Guyanese applauded on learning from President Dr. Irfaan Ali that there will be massive development in infrastructure transformation plans, including new schools, hospitals, roads, highways, police stations, a new Demerara River high-span bridge, bridging Guyana and Suriname, and a deep water harbour. A new city along the Linden-Soesdyke was also announced and the construction of more international hotels and another airport in Lethem. A hall mark achievement in 90 days was the liberalization of the telecommunications sector, bringing an end to GTT’s 30 year monopoly in Guyana. A professionally structured committee was implemented to handle the COVID-19 pandemic and a cash relief of $25,000 was disbursed to over 150,000 Guyanese householders so far. Suriname’s new President has already visited Guyana, US Secretary of State, the United Arab Emirate and many other financial investors from around the world, all interested in investing in Guyana. Guyana has earned US$200 Million in revenue from its controversial oil industry and plans are afoot for the gas to shore project. The mining, bauxite and forest industries have started to expand with previous established companies.
Guyana should be proud to end the year on a happy and high note to learn the International Court of Justice ruled that, it has jurisdiction on the matter over the border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela. The PPP/C government’s generosity was extended to include bonuses to the Police, the Army and front-line workers. After suffering, struggling and suffocating from the strangulation of APNU+AFC’s knee on Guyanese neck, Guyana was privileged and heartened to know that Guyana still has many kind hearted people who genuinely care and are concerned about the welfare of the poor, underprivileged, handicapped and less fortunate. Many announced and unannounced Guyanese reached into their personal pockets to take care of their fellow Guyanese from all walks of life, from all villages and all ethnicities and, to share in their plights. The PPP/C Party and government, employers, organizations, institutions, houses of worship and private citizens gave generously in cash, clothes and food hampers to the needy in society in all three counties. The APNU+AFC was limited and selectively involved. This charitable drive was caused by the hardship brought on by the APNU+AFC administration and the COVID-19 pandemic. This 2020 leap year did share its pros and cons with Guyana and served its advantages and disadvantages. The expressed fear of a leap year myth did materialize and pervaded with its perilous qualms, psalms singing, open palms for help, distribution of alms, a calm after the storm, curious peeping Toms, not wanting to bid salaam and a jam-packed program for the next year. While many are sadly not with us to ring out the old year, hopefully, you may find something to cheer to ring in the New Year. May God bless all. Happy New Year Guyana.
Yours truly,
Jai Lall

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