Dear Editor,
The issue of cash transfer is very topical. I do not think, or rather I know I am not qualified to argue cash transfer with Prof. Thomas. Having said that, I do believe that should not deny me the right of an opinion.
I have written and spoken, ad nauseam, about my impoverished background. Five orphans boys being brought up by an unemployed 22-year-old aunt. Many days we hadn’t food to eat. Ragged clothes. Our house had fallen with no water or electricity. I studied under a shop light. At that tender age I could not comprehend why I was experiencing this harsh life. Now I do understand. It was a preparation for who I am today.
When I was experiencing the harsh reality of poverty, if I were given the option of cash transfer or a good education, that would have been an easy choice. I would have chosen a good education.
So that is my position, rather than providing households with large wads of cash, I would argue for investing in education. Have equality in education regardless of the state school you attend. Increase teachers’ pay to a liveable wage so that they do not need to have extra-lessons. Invest in technology in schools. Discard blackboards. Have electronic white boards. Have computers.
Comfortable benches and tables. Air-conditioned class rooms. Free healthy school lunches and snacks for all. Take education out of the class. Class trips to national sites to consolidate the in-class lessons learnt.
Invest in education, so that education takes place at home. Single and poor parents that have to do two and three jobs can have financial subsidies. Since they will now spend less time working, then they can spend that time with the kids, revising their school work, supervision and keeping them off the streets.
Invest in vocational education and give it equal status with academic education. Some of us are gifted with our hands. Utilise their gifts. Give them the tools to take Guyana forward. Excellent builders. Excellent electricians. World class plumbers. Par excellent painters. Guyana needs them to build our Dubai-like skyscrapers.
I think you get the drift of my argument. From an impoverished orphan, I am now an established medical consultant at one of the top teaching hospitals in the UK. What got me here? Not cash transfer but that passport to freedom that Malcolm X spoke of – an education.
Again, I will say when it comes to the field of economics, I am not good enough to tie the lace of Prof Thomas’ shoes. That I do recognise but I also recognise that I’m entitled to an opinion. This is what I have just articulated. Give a man a fish and you will have to give him a fish every day. Give him a hook and you have empowered him to be his own man. I’m for empowerment and not dependence.
Yours faithfully,
Dr Mark Devonish
