Dear Editor,

I recently read an article in Stabroek  News on January 14 about AFC leader Mr Raphael Trotman saying the Government of Guyana should “seriously consider” offering to assist in the re-settlement of survivors from the devastating earthquake in Haiti. Before I go further let me I extend my deepest sympathy to the Haitian victims and their families.

I am shocked but not too surprised by Mr Trotman’s statement since it is obvious that Mr Trotman is trying to gain political mileage and gain public support in the upcoming regional and   general elections in Guyana which are due next year.  The AFC knows very well that the country couldn’t afford any re-settlement of Haitians in Guyana at this time, and they should not use the national tragedy in Haiti for political mileage in Guyana rather than try to provide relief for the government and people of Haiti during this difficult time.

Guyanese have been running away from Guyana in their numbers since this government took  office in 1992, regardless of ethnicity, religion, etc, all because there are no job opportunities for our young people, no security, high crime, bad governance, mismanagement of taxpayer money, poor health care, extra-judicial killings, corruption, and the list goes on. How then can we as a nation support a short-sighted proposal for the Government of Guyana to assist in the re-settlement of Haitians? That would only burden the economy and social welfare system of the country, make it worse for ourselves, and do the country no good at the end of the day.

Mr Trotman should have thought twice before making such an imprudent statement. He hasn’t woken up as yet. Has he not learnt his lesson from the last general election results? If he has he should tell the Guyanese public what it has taught him.

Guyana can hardly help its own people. Any resettlement should be done in developed countries like the USA, Japan, China, England and Canada with free health care and free education from nursery to high school and better standards of living for their people. Bringing Haitians to Guyana is not in the best interest of the country since we can do so much more for our own people who are also in need of housing, better health care and a good standard of living. You can only give what you have. Guyana is in no position to resettle the people from Haiti.

Yours faithfully,
Rayvonne P Bourne