A lot is happening, but to whose benefit

Jun 12, 2023 News

Dear Editor,

Kaieteur News – A lot is happening but to whose benefit. The crappy oil contract, condemned by almost all International Organisations, which both the Vice President and His Excellency the President said they have to renegotiate but have since changed their minds having attained power.

The recent ruling by the courts re the need for the parent company Exxon to give a written guarantee to take care of possible spills etc. was appealed by our government, which seems to be representing EXXON’s interests instead of Guyana’s.

I recall the VP saying he believes, imagine, he believes EXXON would take on the responsibility. Looking at EXXON’s international standing and entanglement with various courts we must be a country of mad people to believe that.

Then there is this ad hoc decision of giving of handouts and assistance with numerous complaints of corruption. Some, who were not supposed to receive, received and those entitled not receiving. Cases where the undeserving was paid but ensuring a drawback.

And all these overpriced infrastructure projects funneling our money into the pockets of cronies, all sort of friends crawling out and getting big contracts, which they immediately subcontract ensuring a good small piece amounting to millions in their pockets. Some of these projects are necessary but others not so, not at this time. One does not borrow to decorate, especially when one is already highly indebted, one borrows to spend to get returns to pay back.

All of this is being done while the people who really need are ignored. We suddenly decided to give out $40,000 to each child in school. Well, it would cover minimum transportation needs for the year but nothing else. In the meantime, there are children whose parents cannot afford to send their children to school. The dropout rate especially in secondary schools is high but those children and their needs are not addressed.

Pensioners were given a measly $5000 increase in circumstances where food prices have gone sky high. Persons with disabilities received a measly increase. It is my belief that with the level of poverty and economic marginalization priority should be given through a structured welfare system and not shared out both to the haves and the have nots. Those who have can get their share later when more money comes in.

Then we have the non-caring and gross incompetence; for example, the dorms that houses our children. Lives snuffed out because of an uncaring and incompetent administration. In any other country, heads would have rolled. They just do not listen. They come to you election time for your votes then your plight is ignored.

Local government elections coming up and the very local government minister and all wants your vote but it was their uncaring and incompetence that resulted in the death of those children.

But what can we do? The Opposition was responsible for the EXXON PSA in the first place. They collected and hid the measly 18m dollars they received. Other countries with far less oil, got far more, multiples of 18. The Opposition is silent. The Opposition never represents even its supporters for benefits. Whenever there are protests, it is for political power.

So, they are here again asking the seeming powerless electorate, the weak divided electorate to come out and vote for them. But look historically, has it ever made a difference. I say no.

What can we do? I recall in 1980 when the Burnham’s constitution was being put into play a boycott of the referendum was called and on voting day, a Monday, the place was worse than good Friday. Clear indication of how the electorate felt.

Well, we have another chance to demonstrate. Come Monday, we should just stay at home in silent demonstration of our frustration with the present governance of our nation. In areas where we have independents, we should go out in large numbers and vote for them alone and not these two parties which want to control everything.

Let’s use this election to demonstrate in no uncertain terms our dissatisfaction of how our country is being run. Stay home.

Sincerely
Rajendra Bisessar

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he believes EXXON, International Organisations, Vice President and His Excellency

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