This article was written by a young PPP supporter, Mahendra Hariraj. He is 27 years old and is an Adjunct Professor at York College, City University of New York.
Dear Editor,
[www.inewsguyana.com] – Guyanese are noticeably baffled about the steep pay increases for the just five months old APNU-AFC Government. How can a conscious and responsible Government rationalize personal pay increases, while the nation is in economic mayhem?
How can a minister of government find this justifiable? The said minister also atrociously support this justification by saying, the pay increase is necessary to avoid them from stealing. Is this the parliamentarians we want to manage our nation, our children’s future and livelihoods?
In just over five months, we have witnessed, economic downturn in the agricultural sector, stagnation in the private sector, threat to our border sovereignty and grave uncertainties in the solvency of many industries. To add to this worrying economic lookout, the investing world was also given the impression Guyana was bankrupted by this Government.
The results of such reckless disclosures and inability to develop strong and tactical diplomacies have pushed our economy in deeper turmoil and volatility. Despite all the alarming issues, this Administration is focused on pay increase, affluent accommodations, time-offs and benefits. These are dark signs for the welfare of Guyana and the livelihood of Guyanese.
We must be reminded it was same the APNU/ AFC coalition which campaigned on the notions of transparency, accountability, inclusionary governance and offered the Utopian idea of a good life. However, to date, their actions and policies have been contrary to these promises. As many of their programs, and plans are made behind closed doors. For example, their pay hikes were not disclosed to the public but rather gazette in secrecy. Another example of the lack of transparency is the forensic audits had no public tender rather millions were giving to particular individuals with obvious conflicts of interest.
How is this transparent? From the beginning, the agenda of this coalition was clear to usurp power at all means. Guyanese were basically used and lured by empty words and hopeless promises for their votes. Today, Guyanese across the length and breathe of our nation is regretting their decision to vote for this Government. They had promised the public sector a 20% salary increase but reneged on their words.
What have they done to help the ordinary Guyanese? They have discriminatory fired about 1900 Amerindians. They discontinued the $10,000 school voucher, stop the one laptop for family program, ruined the rice markets, and jeopardized the sugar industry’s future. Meanwhile, crime has amplified, businesses has seized and people are bemoaning the rising cost of living. Is this the change and idea of a good life? Yet, it is just for this five infant government to give themselves undeserving exorbitant pay increases.
If the budget and finances were insufficient for a 20% increases to public servants how can it facilitate millions in pay hikes for them. Editor, it must also be recounted the ANPU-AFC government claimed the PPP had bankrupted Guyana so where are they getting all this money now? The Coalition Government alleged the PPP of mismanaging public funds what are they doing now? In such far, the forensic audit has proved futile in showing how the PPP mismanaged funds.
Also under the PPP tenure there was little or no interest on pay increases. Editor, my views remain firm, why should the working class people of our country labor for pennies while their elected officials use the treasury as a personal penny bank? Guyanese must unite and stand strong against this blatant abuse and mismanagement of taxpayers’ monies.
Thank You,
Mahendra Hariraj – New York Diaspora
