Actions that are morally wrong and economically disastrous
Friday , October 16 2015, Source
THE vicious nature of the APNU+AFC regime is now on full display. The same people who took the oath that they would govern ‘without fear or favour, affection or ill will’ are showing how easy it is for them to violate the sacred oath taken. The regime arrogantly gave itself huge increases in pay. Reports suggest that these increases are higher than what is paid to persons in similar positions in countries far richer than Guyana.
They took the increase even after telling the Parliament during the recent budget debate that the treasury could not afford the $10,000 grant that was previously given to each child in school,; that it could not afford the subsidies paid to pensioners for water and electricity.
They even reneged on their own promise made in their own manifesto to set up a committee to look at salaries of ministers and constitutional office holders.
The criticism of the regime has been almost universal. Some commentators who have been noted as their supporters have stated that the timing was bad. Even they found the move hard to defend/justify.
In light of this universal criticism, the regime decided to strike back. This time they are threatening to repossess lands and properties bought from the government between twenty to five years ago.
It is clear that this is aimed at depriving persons who they feel are opposed to them of their legitimate property.
This is only the beginning. If they are allowed to succeed, then it means that any person who was allocated a house lot by the PPP/C government between 1992 and 2015 faces the possibility of having it repossessed.
The AFC+APNU regime can identify anyone, for whatever reason, whom they dislike, and take away their property. This is what such actions will lead to.
The regime is determined to rule (as it is clear they are not seeing themselves as a governing body but as rulers of the nation) by instilling fear in the minds of the people of our country.
On the West Coast Berbice, they are also moving to retake agricultural lands granted to genuine farmers, which they will hand over to PNC hacks in the area. This is because the MMA management had granted lands to farmers who were being exploited by PNC hacks who controlled defunct co-op. Now they want to give it back to their “comrades.”
The regime is clearly not thinking or they have clearly lost reason.
In the first instance, they may immediately achieve the goals they initially have, but in the medium and long term, they will seriously damage the country’s economy.
People will be fearful to invest, since the attitude to personal property, including private property is clearly callous. They are giving themselves the right to confiscate people’s legitimate property – a very dangerous step.
Not only will investors and entrepreneurs not want to invest, but many people will take their money out of the country. That means that we can have a major capital flight from Guyana.
That, of course, will impact on the economy and the quality of life for our people.
Managing by vindictiveness, spite and hate is not only morally wrong, but economically disastrous.
People must stand up now against this terrible behavior of the rulers who intend to destroy and not build.
By Donald Ramotar
