Dear Editor,
The economic squeeze of Covid-19 brought an untold pressure on the Guyanese people, can the much talk about oil money save us? The cost of living is running away and poor people have to tighten their belts to withstand the pressure. The Government is implementing measures to cushion the impact, such as lowering the consumption tax on gasoline and diesel and increasing taxes on kero-sene. A random check at the various gas station will reveal the increase in kerosene oil over gasoline and diesel.
Editor, a random check as to who are the users of kerosene and who are the users of gasoline and diesel, will reveal the already rich and well-to-do are the users, and the users of kerosene are the poor Guyanese who use it to light their flambeau and lamp and to light their fireside to cook. Can the powers that be justify why the poor always have to remain poor and the rich get richer? Every measure that the Government puts in place to bring down the cost of living, is only making the business people richer and the poor poorer because those measures are not trickling down to the ordinary customer. A check in the shop, supermarket and the market will reveal the steep rise in consumer goods.
Editor, let’s take the rice farmers in this country, for example. These farmers are reaping the hog out of the poor people. For example, every problem they encounter, the government has to intervene to bail them out. They want subsidies on fuel, manure, fertilizer and pesticide and weedicide chemical to spray their field, they want increase in paddy and rice price. Editor, is the Government cognizant of the fact that these farmers who plant large acres of rice, hardly pay any tax or contribute to their own development? Rice is produced in Guyana in large quantities, but not quality. A check in the market will reveal the quality of rice that is being sold to poor people.
Editor, large millers purchase the best grade of paddy, and the rejected, the farmers take it to the small millers and process as rice and that is being sold in the local market at fantastic prices, is the government aware of this? Editor, the poor workers of this country are working for Government’s minimum wage, and sometimes less than that – taxes are taken out of their salary before they receive their salary and they are expected to face the market like the one who do not pay tax but enjoy the good life. Editor, this country is in serious economic squeeze because of Covd-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war will have its economic impact on Guyana.
Editor, I suggest all patriotic Guyanese who claim to love Guyana, and are working for over one million dollars a month to take a cut in their salary to help save Guyana. It should start from the top down to Ministers and Government Corporations. The economic squeeze of Covid-19 is having its toll on the Guyanese population, can the Oil & Gas make a difference?
Sincerely,
Ram Mangru