Dear Editor,
Any contract between a government and its people is predicated on trust. Look therefore on how that trust has been breached by the present government in five short months:
The President promised a government that was “not a bogus civic alliance.” Yet within days of taking office, they breached the Cummingsburg Accord. If they could do that to their own coalition partner, how could the people trust them on any issue? And the President has offered no explanation for this.
They promised a “significant” salary increase for government workers. They gave them a significant 5%.
They promised to “immediately implement” a phased reduction of VAT. But this will be “reviewed” next year.
They promised the implementation of a Code of Conduct for Parliamentarians. We are still waiting for this.
They increased old age pensions with one hand and took back pensioners’ water and electricity concessions with the other.
The President himself promised “to bring an end to ….cronyism.” Yet we are witnessing blatant cases of “jobs for the boys.”
They promised an accessible government. Three months ago one minister told me his secretary would call me back; I am still waiting for that call. Two weeks ago I e-mailed another minister concerning a sensitive matter; I have got no response.
The government promised inclusiveness, fairness and gender equality. Yet they tried to foist on the people a number of biased and male-dominated boards.
They promised the Guyanese Diaspora inclusion in governance. The Diaspora have become frustrated waiting.
The President himself promised the people of Region 9 that contracts would be given to contractors living in the region so as to benefit the region. Yet four contracts have been recently awarded to persons outside the region, one without the necessary Compliance Certificate.
The government promised honesty in government. Yet, weeks before a certain official was appointed, an illegal business deal was being arranged with an overseas-based Guyanese.
They promised us freedom of the press. Yet the Prime Minister thought it necessary to chide a journalist about what he had written.
They promised openness, transparency and “consultation with the people.” Yet they clandestinely published ministers’ salary increases without public discussion.
Finally, in their Manifesto, they promised to replace “dictatorship with democracy.” Yet, even in the face of the overwhelming public outcry over the 50% salary increase issue, the government has been arrogant, obdurate and dismissive.
Now they ask us to trust them again. They need to be told, as Nicole Cole suggested in her letter, that trust is not a refillable commodity.
Yours faithfully,
Clairmont Lye
