The 2008 budget is out. What is government’s plan for the creation of new jobs annually for youths who complete high school and graduates of UG. I have seen no deliberate plan. It is time the Guyanese people wake up and make demands for economic change that creates jobs. All of our youths’ voices must be heard loud and clear .The adult leaders among us, for example religious leaders, leaders of social organisations and parents have a responsibility for ensuring that the next generation gets a fair chance. We must not sit idly by and allow those whom we vote into office, opposition members and the ruling party to collect a fat salary and even give themselves salary increases for doing nothing. If they are not doing the people’s business properly, and they are not, they should be told in no uncertain terms that we will not vote for them again.
Unless the public stand up and let their respective representatives know that they have to deliver or they are out, our country will remain with a small upper class and every one else in poverty. People must stop voting for individuals who make no contribution in parliament. It is our fault that some of them occupy various parliamentary seats. They do nothing to develop their respective districts, they don’t have any clout to attract investors local and foreign to open factories or new businesses in their communities and we still re-elect them election after election.
We need the type of parliamentary representatives who have vision for as we know when there is no vision the people perish. The tax and spend mentality of the government is killing economic growth and prosperity. Business owners are not motivated, instead all sorts of taxes are being imposed on them and they cannot get the rewards that their investment merits.
There are smaller countries in the Caribbean with less resources than our great country and these countries are economically better of.Why is this so.Our economists need to research and study the economic policies of some of these countries. While I agree that a stable country is necessary to attract investors we have only ourselves to blame for the instability that exists. Our government needs to have as part of its manifesto the creation of new jobs on an annual basis. Instead of raising taxes there should be tax credits for businesses that expand and create more new jobs on an annual basis. Also tax credits should be granted to businesses that create job opportunities for certain disabled persons. Business that export products and services thus generating foreign revenue should also get special tax credits.
It hurts when I think of the shoe factories we once had on the east coast of Demerara,the radio assembly factory, Jeans factory, canning factory, glass factory and other industries and how we lost them. There are many foreign technological industries that can be attracted to invest in our country since operation costs will be cheaper for those investors. The financial sector seems to be neglected also. There is opportunity for foreign trust companies to be attracted to relocate in Guyana. I can go on and on but I am sure I have made the point.
Finally I must add that the coastland seems to have almost the entire Guyanese population. Our country cannot continue to exist and grow with this trend in settlement. There must be a deliberate policy of economic development that aims to shift the existing settlement pattern .Only by so doing our youth will have scope to realise their greater potential. Georgetown cannot accommodate everyone. Such over population is likely to produce slum living conditions for the less fortunate.
Our overseas missions must now have economic investment as a major objective and they must be staffed with people who are competent.
I am hopeful that things can still change for the better. To our youth my advice is to speak up and demand that you be heard and taken seriously. When it is time for election once more forget about the existing political parties. Get advice and form your own party. Youth power must be a reality, all young people must come together to ensure you have youth representation in parliament.
Yours faithfully,
Linden Jordan
