Dear Editor,
There is never a dull moment when it comes to politics in Guyana, the most recent of which was the drama in parliament over the issue of whether or not the rented government bond had any tablets stored in it. I stand corrected but I think this may have been the first time when a verification was authorized by the Speaker during the course of a budget debate.
The findings of that surprise visit to the bond were most revealing, especially given the sums involved in rental and the front-loading of monies by the government to the landlord for what has been suspected were renovation works.
The Granger administration has much explaining to do as to why there was the need for extra bond space given the underutilized capacity at the Diamond facility. My own view is that the money could have been better spent on other badly needed drugs and medical supplies which are currently in short supply in nearly all of our hospitals and medical facilities.
Economists speak of the true cost of a commodity or item which is not simply the actual money spent on its purchase but the sacrificed alternative. Surely the true cost of an unnecessary bond is the badly needed drugs and supplies which that money could have bought.
Yet another embarrassing episode for the Health Minister who seems out of touch with what is going on in his ministry.
Yours faithfully,
Hydar Ally
