Dear Editor,
Today, I went to uplift my old age pension of $18,200.00. After putting aside my tithes ‒ my light bill was paid, my phone bill was covered and tomorrow my water bill will be taken care of ‒ and gas was in my tank, I went to market to purchase three items (onions, garlic and potatoes), and that’s it. It’s done. When I say done, I mean done to the last dollar. Yes, my pension could only do so much, and no more, as I had to leave the cheese alone.
I consider myself a modest (content) person and not very extravagant. I am now a great grandfather, and would have loved to leave a token from my pension for my great-grandson who is nine months old. But this was not to be.
All things being equal, I also consider myself very fortunate, being a Senior Pastor within the local curch. It means that at the end of every month, I receive an honorarium, to which I am entitled and for which I am thankful. Other tokens may come my way, within the week or month, and I would give my God and Lord Jesus Christ all the praise for his favour over my life.
I suppose some people may analyse my income to determine how I live. But before they do so let it be known, that I live and exist by the Grace of Almighty God who is faithful and just. Editor, the personal information I have revealed of myself is sufficient to convince our readers that this writer is well off. And that may not be far from the truth.
Nevertheless, there is a deeper truth, which I would like to express here and now, not for my own gratification or benefit, but for those silent sufferers, pensive pensioners and gullible Guyanese.
It must be known that I am not a specialist or expert at analysing or surveying national budgets, but being a conscientious and concerned Guyanese in my seventies, and being exposed to varying dynamics of economics and planning, I pride myself in knowing enough, to make a judgment on same.
Here in the 21st century, we as Guyanese are faced with a budget that will see more people on the breadline. Business will certainly be on the decline. Families will be decimated. Hardships will increase; homes will be in want; students will find it difficult to pursue their studies; income and salaries will be disproportionate; the lower class of wage earners will never get an opportunity to go on a holiday and general discontent will prevail over the nation.
Editor, there is undoubtedly a feeling in the air that is permeating the regions that this budget is not good for the average Guyanese, more so the self-employed and middle income. I am certain that the vibes I am getting are a premonition of a daunting and discouraging period in the history of Guyanese taxation, reminiscent of the early days of the eighties here in the Co-operative Republic.
The dynamics of this budget do not indicate a good life for us Guyanese. Therefore, I use my authority as an Apostle of Christ Jesus to beseech civil society, the business community, the religious bodies, the man in the street, the street vendors, mothers and fathers, teachers and nurses, learned professionals, pensioners, right-thinking Guyanese, the hungry and dispossessed, the diaspora and more importantly the Parliament of Guyana to raise their voices wherever they are, and let soundness and balance be sought for and delivered to this national budget.
If they don’t, they will have to ask themselves this pertinent question: Is the 2017 Budget malignant? If it is, then they must give the next generation of Guyanese the reason why they are allowing it to pass.
Further, I implore Minister of Finance Winston Jordan to consider reversing some of the measures laid out in this particular budget.
And finally, if my pension were rounded I would be able to put some cheese and chicken on the table.
Yours faithfully,
Apostle Vanrick Beresford
