Dear Editor,
Your editorial in Monday’s SN (28.4.08) and also Wednesday’s (30.4.08) dealing more with Haiti but on the same subject in part, are timely and informative. Why, I ask, is Haiti a member country of Caricom not assisted with food from its member states?
Guyana is fortunate with its large land mass to be in an enviable position to be able to feed itself and I can foresee no riots for food, despite the high cost of living. We will have to change our taste for foreign food and other expenditure in addition to helping ourselves with a kitchen garden no matter how modest. Flour will continue to be the main import and I would expect the government to assist in keeping the price down. Our rice producers stand to make huge profits, but I trust that some will trickle down to the masses.
Burnham gave us some harsh measures during the ’80s which today stand to help us survive this food crisis. I call on the energy authorities to fast-track their plans for cheaper electricity with the oil prices escalating out of control, and of course a review of the VAT. Let’s show the world that a poor country like Guyana can survive this global food crisis.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address provided)
