Page 4
Kaieteur News
Thursday December 12, 2013
Letters... Where your views make the news
Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
Money seems to be in short supply The air in the country is one of protest. Just about every worker is protesting one thing or the other. There are the former employees of the Guyana Telecommunications Corporation who say that when the company became privatized they were promised certain terms and conditions. Today, those terms and conditions are so ridiculous that the cleaner and the former managers are getting the same pension. Then there are the protests sparked by Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon’s announcement that public servants would receive a traditional five per cent pay hike. Public servants led by the nurses attached to the Ministry of Health have been protesting almost daily. They all believe that they deserve more since inflation has made their pay irrelevant. But the government is insisting that the pay hike which started out to ensure that inflation did not erode the pay is serving that very task. The government recently said that inflation is way below the five per cent that the public servants would get, reality is that some goods actually cost so much more. What makes the situation more inflammable is the fact that the public servants at the bottom of the pay ladder say that the same five per cent has a different meaning for those at the top of the ladder. And so the political opposition is insisting that in parliament they had voted for money to pay at least a fifteen per cent increase. The Finance Minister says not so and this has sparked another issue that could further inflame the situation. The Finance Minister says that the money voted was to compensate for earlier pay increases. Now comes the call for a detailed explanation of the money voted. The government says that in cases where there appeared to be reduction in staff and an increase in the pay roll it was simply a case of a Ministry or Department hiring a more qualified person. When the heat of this discussion dies down, and that may not be anytime soon, someone would then turn to the amount of money spent on a number of projects during the past year. A lot of money has been spent on the Amaila Falls project. When that project failed in the face of political opposition and the pull out by the contractor, Sithe Global, the government said that it would continue the road project for the benefit of the miners and other hinterland developers not yet known. Then there is the Skeldon sugar factory that has consumed some US$300 million. This is also money wasted because instead of boosting Guyana’s sugar production, the government is presiding over Guyana’s worst ever sugar production. Despite the talk, it is not known when there would be an upswing in Guyana’s sugar production. The public servants see money being wasted here and believe that such sums would have been more than adequate for a living wage. Indeed, the national planners had calculated that with the various investments then the national coffers would have swelled and there could have been enough money to pay increases of various levels. However, there must not have been proper planning so the nation not only lost the money that would have ensured additional funds for the coffers; it lost money that would have been better spent on the workers. Yesterday, the Guyana Sugar Corporation found itself in an even worse situation that it thought it would have been when the year started. Its production has further declined; its ability to satisfy its foreign markets is being threatened and its earning capability has diminished. Its workers now want more. So there is the company earning less, producing less and being asked to pay more. This situation could be expanded to include other companies in the country in the face of the blacklisting by the Caribbean Financial Action Taskforce. Companies would have a harder time moving produce; would have to negotiate with individual countries and maintain a level of earning that would see its workforce happy or begin the downward spiral to collapse.
Mr. Mandela has left us richer than anything money can buy DEAR EDITOR, The world has lost a great freedom fighter and statesman with the death of South Africa’s first black President, Nelson Mandela. All is not lost however, for he has left us with a great legacy and left us richer than anything money can buy. He lived his life by virtues of truth, honesty, knowledge, caring and sharing with peace. We are indeed saddened by his passing but he lived a great life, touching the world with his genuine love, kindness and compassion,
having taught us much, so let’s celebrate his life.”Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live.” Mr. Mandela died at his home in Johannesburg, South Africa, at the age of 95. The world has lost democracy’s most loyal friend and advocate for freedom and justice. Nelson Mandela was the 20th century’s icon of freedom and liberty. He inspired us to believe that no obstacle is too large; no walk is too long, and no enemy of freedom is so powerful, that we should ever consider giving in. He has
lived a life not only for himself and the people of South Africa, but the entire world. He has lit the candle for the world to see freedom. His life will surely become one of the most epic stories in world history, of the true depth and strength of the human spirit. He inspired us with his life, his words, his work and his triumph. Mandela will forever be remembered as a man who fought for freedom and won it for millions, around the world, without once compromising his beliefs or his principles. He has
sacrificed his life for freedom. The legacy he has left us is one we shall always celebrate and we shall always thank God for Nelson Mandela. The prayers, love and support of the Board of Directors, Executives and members of the Humanitarian Mission of New Jersey Arya Samaj Mandir, Inc, its Guyana and Toronto Chapter are with his family and those dear to him. May he rest in peace knowing that he leaves behind many who will continue his fight and carry on his legacy. Pandit Suresh Sugrim
DEAR EDITOR, All it requires to halt the decline in this country is will and self-respect. The nation is apprised, after departure, of the fact that the President left for South Africa on Sunday, 8th December to attend Nelson Mandela’s funeral. This contemptuous treatment of the citizens has become a norm in this society. The President and the Leader of the Opposition hold the nation’s two premier political and constitutional offices. By virtue of these offices, they are expected to set the tone for the society to embrace universal acceptable norms, principles and courtesies, values that are key to nurturing positive human and national development. The holders of these offices are elected by the people and paid by the people. But what we continue to be subjected to is constant disrespect, yet at the same time, they expect us to embrace universal values. As children, our elders taught us the cardinal principle of doing unto others as you would like them to do unto you, and nurtured us on values with the expectation that as we grow older we will not depart from them. In the realm of public leadership, such is extended to being respectful of the people to whom you have offered yourself to serve, and are being paid to so do. Even the cake shop in the most remote area informs its patrons when business will be opened and closed. And this mark of selfrespect is informed by courtesy and value for the customer’s support. The universal ethic of accountability by office holders is being replaced with an attitude where they think
they harbour no sense of duty to inform the nation prior to departure, including the nature of the visit and, on return, submit a report. If we recall our childhood we would remember our elders admonishing us that such behaviours are unmannerly and anti-social. Our family, religion and community were/are the moulding blocks for whom we are and later become. Lest we forget, this ethic was upheld by former leaders, namely, Forbes Burnham, Cheddi Jagan, Desmond Hoyte and Robert Corbin in some instances. The people of this country must stop settling for less when we know better and deserve better. And the composition
of the President’s delegation is a reminder of everything the man whom he is going to pay homage to fought against i.e. absence of humility and rights and the presence of political/racial divisions and pettiness. Where other countries in paying homage to the life and work of Mandela have reached across the political aisle, Guyana remains mired in political crassness. Trinidad’s Prime Minister has reached out to the Leader of the Opposition to be part of that country’s delegation. The United States announced that all its living presidents shall form its delegation. Regardless of what one may think, the PNC, which is currently in
opposition, is the party that was in government which led the way in mobilising this nation in the anti-apartheid struggle and contributed to paving the way for Mandela’s release from prison and his ascension to the presidency. Our leaders’ approach to governance is more about making good sound bites. These sound bites are very rarely supported by actions. The President’s correct articulation of what Mandela stood for and made his life’s work is unfortunately not being emulated in his management of the nation’s affairs and treatment of its people, in as much as he said these qualities are deserving of emulation. Lincoln Lewis
We continue to be subjected to constant disrespect
Dr. Singh must respond to the legitimate issue raised DEAR EDITOR, The leader of the AFC Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan is clearly on to something. Why this “higgledypiggledy” position from the Ministry of Finance on the issue. I speak of the call by the AFC Leader for an explanation on how the funds allocated for increases in the workers’ wages over the last five years, were utilized. Dr. Ashni Kumar Singh is one of the more brilliant minds in Guyana. So how did this gentleman end up in this reputational cul-de-sac? Why this determined effort from the Ministry of Finance at subterfuge and deceit like a brume? Why make wild allegations on every issue that is irrelevant to the debate rather than do your duty and respond to the legitimate issue raised – a statement
from the Leader of the AFC that some G$8 billion approved by Parliament over the last five years for wages increases, has been mismanaged? Why is it so challenging for the Ministry of Finance to respond pointedly to this statement from the AFC Leader with evidence and facts? Should this not be a “walk-in-the park” for the Ministry, since they are the custodian of the nation’s numbers? What is deeply concerning for me as a Finance professional; is the Minister’s dogged attempt to complicate a very simple question by importing irrelevant issues into the debate as a decoy to not respond to the core issue. What is he trying to hide? The Minister would want us to believe that the budget
category defined as “Revision of Wages and Salaries” included the “cost of new recruits”. How much more ridiculous can he get? The Boston University clearly explained that Revision of Salary means – provision for salary increase. Plus the Oxford Dictionary explains that the term “revision” as meaning - to change or modify. Every Ministry has an established strength and thus there should always be resources provided for the established strength in the “Wages and Salaries” category of the Budget, not in the “Revision of Wages and Salaries” category, so this statement from the Minister of provision of funds for new recruits is just a red herring. This political exchange between a man who is known (Cintinued on page 5)