Today is the ‘D’ Day – the Day of Standstill

Today is a ‘Day of Standstill’ All Guyanese are beingaskedbythepublisher of this newspaper to stay away from work This columnisthassuggestedalso another challenge: do not buyanythingtoday

The‘DayofStandstill’is not a political protest; it is not opposed to any political party It is supportive of Guyanese taking a stand to ensure the country’s gets a better deal for the exploitation of their natural resources.

Butwhyshouldordinary citizens take a stand to ensurethisobjective?Today

Iwanttoletyoutheordinary citizenknowthatthisisyour fight and your fight alone, becauseifyoudonotletyour leaders know how you feel, they will continue to allow the looting of our natural resources.

It is these resources which can allow you and your children to enjoy a prosperous future. How it is that Guyana is designated a high-income country but 90% of its population are receivinglow-incomes?

The reason is simple: Theoilandotherlarge-scale mining companies here are receiving the hog’s share of the country’s wealth.This is why the country is designated a high-income country but the people are poor Thecountryisrichbut the people are poor because the foreign companies are creaming-offthewealth.

Concernshavelongbeen expressed about the equitable distribution of the benefits of the exploitation of our natural resources

Concerns have also long been raised about the negative environmental impact on the country and the health of citizens as a result of the operations of foreign companies in our naturalresourcesector

A‘DayofStandstill’will send a message to our leaders that citizens are concernedaboutthenation’s naturalheritageandensuring thatitservesasacatalystfor theirprogress.

It is the citizens’way of saying that we should get a better deal and we should better protect the environment.

For too long we have been shortchanged by foreign companies One company came here, extracted millions of ounces of gold worth hundreds of billionsofUSdollarsandyet never declared a profit.This meantthatGuyanesedidnot benefitfromanycorporation tax for a company which once flew in, by helicopter, KFCchickenforitsstaff.

A fairer distribution of revenue from natural resources will mean that every Guyanese can benefit from a cheque every month inthepost.Itwillalsomean better education and healthcare for our people. By staying at home on this day,citizenssendapowerful message to the government and foreign companies that they demand an end to the exploitation and wish for a moreequitablesharingofthe nation’swealth.

A better deal for Guyana’s natural resources could result in increased government revenue, thus enabling government to allocate more funds in areas thatdirectlybenefitcitizens,

Dem boys seh...

includinghighersalariesand pensions With a fairer distribution of resource revenue,thegovernmentcan invest in poverty alleviation programs This could include cash transfer programs, subsidized housing,andhomecarehelp forthesickanddisabled.

The ‘Day of Standstill’ serves as a warning to our leaders to ensure that our health is not endangered by the use of dangerous chemicals in our natural resource sector Already there is concern about the use of mercury in the gold miningsector,muchlessthe use of more dangerous chemicals The reckless plundering of resources has the potential to irreparably damage these delicate environments, leading to devastating consequences fortheenvironment.

These activities can pollute the air, poison our waters and kill our fish and wildlife.Bystayingathome today and not making any purchases, ordinary citizens demonstrate their commitmenttosafeguarding theenvironment.

Todaywetakeastandfor our future We do so peacefully and orderly by staying at home and challenging ourselves to not make any purchases. In so doing we are signaling that we, the people, have the power to make a difference that we are not helpless and willnotbetakenforgranted.

Let us therefore join Glenn Lall, by rising above ourdifferencesandenvision a future where our children can inherit a nation where all,notonlyafewcanenjoy a decent and comfortable