The non-payment of the PSC donation to the Mahdia fire families and what it says about the gulf between rich and poor, government and people

May 28, 2025 Letters

Dear Editor,

The World Bank estimated that in 2019, 48.4 per cent of Guyanese were subsisting below a poverty line of US$5.50 per day. In 2011, PPP (purchasing power parities), and that ‘poverty and social exclusion– including limited access to basic services– remain in Guyana’s hinterland’. The World Bank added that in the half-decade since, ‘recent data to monitor progress in poverty reduction is not available’, https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/guyana/overview.

Since July 2022, the minimum wage for private sector employees is G$60,147 per month (USD 288).

On 20 May, the outgoing Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Komal Singh, declared: “I’m challenging anybody out there publicly who tells me they live in poverty, come to me. I’ll take you out of poverty within one to six months, providing you’re willing to do two things…” (https://www.stabroeknews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/21/news/guyana/outgoing-psc-chair-challenges-poor-guyanese-to-seek-his-help/ ).

We suggest politely that Mr. Komal Singh prove he is qualified to understand the ties and commitments of poor people before imposing conditions on them to get them out of poverty.

Mr. Singh and the PSC should reflect on the scale of poverty, on the coast and hinterland, even in the absence of data from the Bureau of Statistics. What is available since October 2022 is Subhana Shiwmangal’s 129 columns in Stabroek News on ‘How the cost of living is affecting people’ (https://www.stabroeknews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/26/news/guyana/how-the-cost-of-living-is-affecting-people-60/ ). The poverty described by a cross-section of Guyanese should be a national embarrassment, as these are working adults and pensioners who relate what the daily grind of poverty is for them and their families.

As GHK Lall noted, ‘It would have been inspiring if … Mr. Komal Singh had thought a little more of poverty and the private sector minimum wage, during his time as PSC chair’ (https://www.stabroeknews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/22/opinion/letters/perhaps-mr-singh-should-have-thought-a-little-more-of-the-private-sector-minimum-wage-during-his-time-as-psc-chair/ ).

So, how has the PSC actually been working to mitigate and alleviate the widespread poverty and distress in ‘the fastest growing economy in the world’? Let us consider one specific example.

Thanks to SN and Chris Ram, the public learned that under Mr. Komal Singh’s tenure, the PSC collected G$30 million (USD 144,0000) for the families of the 20 Indigenous children who perished in a fire in a government dormitory at the secondary school in Mahdia on 21 May 2023. Two years later, the PSC had not handed over one black cent, as Guyanese say, to the grieving parents (https://www.stabroeknews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/25/news/guyana/private-sector-commission-collected-30m-for-mahdia-dorm-fire-relief-but-didnt-spend-it/ ).

Editor, Mr. Singh and the PSC should hand over the G$30 million to the parents of the dead school children without any further delay. While money cannot bring their children back, that sum represents a tangible gesture by other Guyanese to reach across and share the grief of the Indigenous parents. One cannot say the same of the government’s disgraceful and tokenistic compensation.

Sincerely,

Janette Bulkan

Vincent Adams

Alfred Bhulai

Andre Brandli

Darshanand Khusial

Kenrick Hunte

Mike Persaud

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One thought on “The non-payment of the PSC donation to the Mahdia fire families and what it says about the gulf between rich and poor, government and people”

Mahesh Zagade May 31, 2025 at 3:58 am

Truly Inspiring work! it’s heartwarming to see such dedication and compassion in action, this post is beautiful reminder of that. At our NGO , we’re also committed to creating a positive impact in the community. Every contribution helps us reach more people in need. Donations are welcome and truly appreciated! For more information you can visit the given link.

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