Dear Editor,
I have recently moved abroad to the USA. I am still reading the news through the internet as I need to know what’s going on in Guyana, as do thousands of Guyanese living here.
I love Guyana but had to leave because of the crime. I couldn’t sleep properly, or go out to clubs I love or anywhere because of fear some shoot out might occur and I might be there at the wrong time.
When I compare the USA with Guyana it makes me sad as it’s not easy here. I get angry as I see lots of Guyanese here not doing as well as they used to do in Guyana, but they refuse to go back home. Why? I don’t think I have to explain as it will not take a rocket scientist to figure out the answer.
I have read about VAT which is short sighted. Over here, there is a roughly 8% tax on items. But the money people work for here can manage. The least someone works for is US$10 an hour (recently passed in Congress). Eight hours a day means $80 a day. That’s $US400.00 a week.
I hate to debate politics, but I read recently of the Opposition plans to proceed on a 2 day “shut down” which they claim is the only way forward. If I was there I would have been a part of their “support” plan. I mean it’s not something I fully approve of but why is the government mismanaging the country? Why are they allowing their citizens to flee to countries like Canada and USA?
I recently did the Driver’s Test here. It was not that difficult! Once you can read and write, that’s okay. I have bitter memories of Guyana, sad but true. I remembered when I passed the written test in Guyana, I went to do the Practical [Driving], and was deliberately given a fail as I did not “pass” any money to the guy. Of course, because I needed my Book, I passed something the second time.
As I am typing this e mail, it’s 18 degrees Fahrenheit, and it was announced that the temperature will drop to 9 degrees Fahrenheit in the next few hours. For those of you who don’t know, that’s below the freezing point of water, as water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit, so imagine what it is like when it’s that cold!!
I pray to God for Guyana to get better, but it seems as if this will not happen soon. Please Guyanese brothers and sisters, over here is not a bed of roses. It’s a hard country. Don’t get me wrong. You can make it here like others living here, but we all are praying that Guyana gets better!
God please let us have back beautiful Guyana the way it was like ole’ time.
Yours faithfully,
(name and address supplied)
