Dear Editor,
There are two things that baffle me as a humble citizen, and that is how those who are obviously bent on defending the government, treating us as though we are imbeciles. First, we hear from Dr Roger Luncheon and Mr Winston Brassington that the claim that NICIL has stashed away $5 billion dollars is an exaggeration. If they say so, they should at least by now state whether the exaggeration means it is really only $50,000, $500,000 or $5 million that NICIL holds. We need from them some precision. Mr Hamilton Green’s letter in Stabroek News of May 11 (‘NICIL owes taxes to the city’) shows the misbehaviour of NICIL which is not even willing to pay taxes.
The other matter is Vishnu Bisram’s letter (‘Critics of the former presidents benefits act…‘ SN, May 11) in which he tries to defend the extravagance of the former presidents‘ benefits act. As a lad, I heard the phrase ‘some comparisons are odious.’ How could this gentleman compare USA benefits (I have been told that the figures he gave are not accurate) with those of Guyana where the population in Guyana is just over ¾ million and the per capita GDP is US$2,501.70.
Apart from being the largest power in the world with a population of 311 million, the United States has a per capita GDP of US$48,100.
Apart from other circumstances in terms of the role that the former US presidents play in the social and cultural life of the United States, the above figures show the absolute absurdity of Mr Bisram’s letter. It is a vain attempt to deflect from the over generous package that the PPP dominated Parliament gave to one man, while the same Parliament gave no consideration to benefits for former speakers, prime ministers and ministers.
I hope this Parliament deals with this injustice.
Yours faithfully,
Eric Mosely
