Dear Editor,
I have nothing but the highest regard for Red Thread, its members and moreso Alissa Trotz, who incidentally brought honour and prestige to all Guyanese, West Indians and women in particular, when she delivered this year’s annual lecture in honour of Dame Nita Barrow, entitled ‘Caribbean Women Catalysts for Change’ at The Centre for Gender and Development Studies, UWI, Cave Hill, last week.
Red Thread has always been literally on the frontline, to bring attention to any issue that affects the well-being of all Guyanese, but particularly our most vulnerable; the children, the elderly, the women and the disadvantaged.
It was inexcusable that Raphael Trotman omitted mention of its tireless efforts to highlight the unconscionable burden of VAT on our most vulnerable, but I believe it is untrue and unfair that his omission was a deliberate attempt to silence Red Thread or women.
If persons believe that the AFC is late in highlighting the inequity of VAT, then their PR has not done enough to publicise either their views or their efforts, but surely the cause is important enough for us all to stand up and decry a punitive taxation that is causing anguish to our people. The tax was to increase the net and be revenue neutral, but it seems as though the net was cast for the banga mary and not the jumbo prawn.
Yours faithfully,
Beverley Harper
