The President of Guyana is out of touch with reality

Jun 25, 2024 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

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Kaieteur News – The President of Guyana serves as a role model. He became one of the youngest Ministers in the government. Within a few years of becoming a Minister, he owned a palatial property worth tens of millions of dollars.

This suggests he has financial and career-planning advice to offer young people. However, his recent comments about a young Kaieteur News reporter were misplaced. Instead of making those remarks, he should have shared his success tips. It’s important to realise his path to success is not easily mimicked by others.

Young reporters, for instance, cannot maintain themselves and pay for a house lot simultaneously. Government house lots are expensive. Most young reporters would need to borrow from banks just to pay for the house lot. After that, they would need another loan to build the house. The high costs of building materials add to the burden of home ownership. This situation is not manageable for a young reporter.  The President needs to appreciate the effects of the high cost of living. This includes the cost of rent and owning a home. The government must appreciate the problems low-income families face. Rising prices are creating extreme hardships for the poor. When the ERP was launched in 1989, some public servants traveled from far places like Parika to the city for work. The ERP increased transportation costs. As a result, many workers from Parika found it uneconomical to go to work. Most of their salaries were spent on transportation.

This scenario is likely to repeat with the government’s plan to build 500 low-income homes on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway. This plan is flawed. Building homes far from employment opportunities is impractical. Beneficiaries would need significant funds to obtain these homes. Once they move in, they will face high transportation costs to and from work. Additionally, they need money for food. It makes no sense for poor people to live so far from their workplaces. This plan is unwise.

The President seems disconnected from reality with such proposals. He does not appear to understand the pressures faced by average workers. Paying for land, building a house, and maintaining a family is a daunting task. His own experience in owning his own home is not representative of the average citizen’s experience. Most people do not have the means to afford a house within two years of starting their careers. They struggle to make ends meet, even in this oil-rich economy that we read so often about.

The cost of living in Guyana is high. Prices of essential goods are rising. Housing, a basic need, is becoming increasingly unaffordable. Many young people find it impossible to buy a house lot and build a home. They are trapped in a cycle of renting. This drains their finances, leaving little room for savings or investments. The government needs to address this issue.

Rent in Guyana has become a serious problem. The high cost of house rentals is straining the finances of many households. It is also adding to the cost of living crisis. The government needs to intervene urgently to address this issue. Such interventions are essential to alleviate the financial burden on tenants and ensure that housing remains affordable

Rentals in Guyana have skyrocketed to the point where many newly married couples cannot afford even a modest two-bedroom unfurnished apartment. This escalating rental market is a direct consequence of the government’s lack of foresight and intervention, fostering an era of landlordism that prioritizes profit over people’s basic needs. The high cost of rent leaves young families struggling to find suitable housing, forcing them into financial strain and limiting their opportunities for growth and stability. Young professionals, like reporters, earn modest salaries. Saving for a house lot or building a home is out of reach. Loans, if available, come with high interest rates. The government must consider these factors.

Transportation costs are another major concern. Building homes far from employment centers is counterproductive. Workers will spend a large part of their income on transportation. This reduces their disposable income. It affects their quality of life. The government should build homes closer to job opportunities. This will reduce transportation costs and improve living standards. The President’s comments about the young reporter highlight his disconnection. He should use his position to offer practical advice and support. Encouraging young people with realistic plans is more helpful. His success, though commendable, is not easily replicable. Most people do not have such opportunities. They need realistic solutions to their problems. The President of Guyana needs to understand the reality faced by average citizens. His comments and proposals to that young reporter were ill-advised. The government’s housing programme is not as glamorous as the President may believe. It is not as affordable as he may think.

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• Guyana, important, millions, Ministers, President

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