Things cannot remain the way they are

Jul 20, 2022 Letters

Dear Editor,

Having read Mr. GHK Lall’s letter titled “What else the private sector wants”, in the July 16, 2022 Kaieteur News. I was convinced to pen this letter.

I, like Mr. Lall, must wonder how far more back can Government bend for the private sector? In my mind, no business whether private or public really survives without the support of the State. I know I will ruffle the private sector’s feathers by saying that. But businesses in Guyana benefit from concessions, tax holidays, revolving funds, low interest and no interest financing and a plethora of other policies. Is that also not a form of subsidization? Dr. Jailall has spoken several times about the support given to the oil sector. He is right but many businesses here also receive similar benefits though they are more obscure.

But Editor it goes beyond that. The Government pays them to repair the roads and other infrastructure they damage and clean the drains that they, among others, help to silt up. Apart from that they are invited to take a front seat with Government to engage everyone under the sun while they benefit from the sweat of the Guyanese people. And for those benefits what do we the people get? Do we get the Mercedes Benz, BMWs, Audis and other fanciful vehicles the bosses get? Or do our children get the finest education in Guyana and abroad? And what about health care, what do we and our children get?

For me Editor, the most significant support the Government has given is its staunch anti-worker, anti-people policy. While many will disagree, can we sincerely say our lives have meaningfully improved? How much of the 50% and 60% economic growth has impacted us? How has living in the fastest growing economy in the world changed our lives? Today, the party of Jagan has turned its back on the working-class and practices the most anti-labour approach in the history of the country. Workers pay rates are kept low to keep cost of production cheap for the fat cats? Workers’ taxes are spent to build new roads and keep taxes low for the business class? And workers don’t have anyone to turn to! The Government all around, in my mind, is helping the business class to exploit and oppress workers! It has the Ministry of Labour in name only as it has put, if you ask me, an oblong pen and in round hole to lead that Ministry. And when workers try to get unionised the Ministry remains a meek mouse allowing the rich employers and their fancy lawyers to bulldoze workers.

I heard the Government is inviting the private sector to talk about cost of living in a few weeks time. The private sector in their ivory towers do not know how much baigan, ochro, callaloo, aloo cost. They don’t know the cost of bus fare or how much for a cheap shoes. The giant talk shop is undoubtedly another forum to dole out the peoples resources to a few.

But I am not saddened I am determined that things cannot remain the way they are. While the Government and business may have their friends in the media, in the legal fraternity and elsewhere, people are not stupid. People’s eyes are opening and if I can play a role to open a few more I certainly will. We need leaders who are for the people not against them.

I want to let the Government know if all the private sector and their allies vote for them they are not going to Shiv Chandarpal Drive. Let them know you can fool some of the people some of the time but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.

S. Rohan

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