Dear Editor,
Before this government took over the country they were aware of the hardship facing the citizens and went around the country convincing people that they would make life better for us. They managed to secure a victory and the nation had to sit back and look on with awe as a few retirees were given positions and party members who were very active and qualified for ministerial posts were given positions so that they could stay quiet. Out of shame many of them remained quiet because they feared victimization or embarrassment to the coalition. Meanwhile, the ministers awarded themselves a hearty increase and told the nation that they spent considerable time debating amongst themselves over the amount. That took approximately five months and everyone accepts that, whilst a few condemn their action. Meanwhile the President justifies it by saying that those given the increase were earning more before their appointment. Although a few were retirees whom I am quite sure were not even earning half of what they are getting presently, no one seeks the confirmation from the now somewhat humble taxman to verify if those who were working before their appointment were indeed earning that amount and if they were paying their taxes.
Editor, before the election the media were constantly being bombarded with complaints about the public transportation system. With a change in government, gas prices have been dropped twice but commuters are still being exploited, and I am wondering if there will be any help for them. I have said before that because of the number of minibuses on the roads, they are not able to make enough trips to get the required money in a day, thus to reach the target, they resort to overcharging commuters. Without any options, commuters are forced to accept this exploitation. In the evening, at the Stabroek park, if you are travelling to the West Coast Demerara, you have to pay three hundred dollars when the regular fare during the day is two hundred dollars. Added to that, you have to sit four in a seat with some buses. At Vreed-en-Hoop, you are informed that the fare is one hundred and forty/sixty dollars to certain destinations when it used to be one hundred dollars. The previous administration never addressed this matter properly and I am hoping this administration will address it, because for too long people have been exploited and the way things are looking, we cannot afford that.
Yours faithfully,
Sahadeo Bates
