Dear Editor,
Since assumption to office as president, David Granger would have taken home approximately $50 million in terms of salary, a sum which excludes any of the additional significant sums he would have obtained from frequent overseas trips. Most importantly, however, Mr Granger has not paid a single penny in income tax, yet under his administration the Guyanese people have to pay more taxes. He could have had an amendment to the law passed for his salary to be taxed just like that of every other Guyanese.
Prior to May 2015, Granger made every possible promise under the sun to the Guyanese people in order to get elected – tuition free university for all students, guaranteed jobs for graduates within twelve months of graduation, no more blackouts, no more floods, significant reduction in crime, etc, but not once did he ever mention to the Guyanese people anything about paying more and/or higher taxes (over 200 more taxes and some one thousand percentile increases). Nor, incidentally, did he ever mention once prior to his assumption of the office of presidency anything about his intention to increase ministerial salaries and expenses if he becomes president. In fact, prior to his assumption of office, many of the chronic issues facing Guyana like crime, poverty and job creation, seemed to be described by him as an easy fix. Since becoming president, however, not only have these promises disappeared from the agenda but we now have the most expensive government in the history of our nation and Guyanese people are some of the more taxed in the history of our nation.
From President Granger’s salary and trips all around the world, it certainly seems as if he is enjoying “the good life”, but can the ordinary citizens say that they have seen any increase in their standard of living in the last two years? By all measures the answer is no.
In the end it boils down to one thing: why should Guyanese be made to pay more and/or higher taxes when the President does not pay a single penny in income tax?
Yours faithfully,
Charles S Ramson