Dear Editor,
Vishnu Bisram’s letter dated May 9, and published in the Stabroek News under the caption ‘Critics of the former presidents benefits act should look at what is done in the US’ exposes the wrongs of the act rather than providing justification for it.
Mr Bisram, in his attempt to provide support for the ‘Jagdeo’ Act decided to compare the benefits granted in it to those former presidents of the United States receive for their service. According to him this comparison is sufficient justification for the PPP/C to have used its majority in the parliament to pass this hefty package with Mr Jagdeo primarily in mind. He went on to quote in dollars the amount of money certain US presidents received in benefits for the year 2010. One might argue that maybe Mr Bisram, a supposedly well-informed person, should have taken the time to examine the socio-economic realities of the two societies which he chooses to compare before coming to his fallacious and illogical conclusion. One only has to examine the ‘middle class’ concept as it applies in the US and Guyana to glean a clear understanding of the vast difference in the standard of living in these two societies.
I am forced to believe that Mr Bisram’s attempt to find justification for the former benefits act by comparing it to the situation in the US was done because of political affinity to the PPP/C regime, and to provide a mere sideshow. How can Guyanese approve an Act to benefit any president which sees them paying tax to support the lifestyle of a man whose standard of living exemplifies the extensive gap between the rich and the poor. How can we even contemplate aiding a ‘rock star’ lifestyle for Mr Jagdeo when we can’t even afford to buy a concert ticket? How can we indulge one man with such riches when the majority of us are struggling to find a bus fare to send our child to school to get an education? How can we promote such inconceivable luxury for one man when the community called Plastic City, where people swim in squalor daily, exists in our very space? Is Mr Bisram serious?
I am quite convinced that had this act been passed under the PNC administration it would have received the wrath of the PPP and their friends, but of course ‘democracy’ has come to Guyana, and so we have the current act.
Guyana, owing to the very admission of the government during the intense budget debate, cannot afford this package for Mr Jagdeo or any other president, particularly at this time. I would also repeat that should this act remain as is, it will further emphasize how wrong government policies are; it will also raise again the question of inequity, unfairness and injustice. The parliament, therefore, has every right to act on the side of the people and repeal this legislation.
Again, let the benefits be commensurate with the prevailing socio-economic realities of Guyana. Further, it would be instructive for the government to provide the principles, guidelines and rationale which guided its decision to come up with the benefit package. Can Mr Bisram say how much Mr Jagdeo is earning for his many excursions and ‘Champion of the Earth’ trips around the world that he has been making since he left office? And, are those not capable of being categorized as ‘speaking engagements’? If so would Mr Bisram suggest that we apply the US principle he espouses, and decide that Mr Jagdeo is already earning sufficient to upkeep his luxurious lifestyle? Just a thought.
Yours faithfully,
Lurlene Nestor