Dear Editor,
For Barbados to refer to a $50,000 US home as low-income housing is a slap in the face for all Guyanese. Our schoolchildren are on free meals and yet the government is offering land to people from Barbados to do farming. As the saying goes, “charity starts at home”. Until our people can feed themselves then and only then should we consider providing external help to other nations. Most of our population are less well off than those from Barbados. The current strategy being taken is not the best use of our resources. Instead, the approach should be to first help our citizens get stronger. The parents of the children on free meals are in more need of a helping hand than those from the well-off island of Barbados.
The Guyanese construction company helping Barbados is well known and has a good reputation. I am sure they will represent us well. Given that their team will be overseas and the current shortage of skilled labour, the call by His Excellency to recruit from Mexico is an opportunity awaiting. Fortunately, I do have experience in construction in Mexico in both industrial (meeting international requirements) and residential settings, and know of some very good companies and personnel that could be of service to our nation. If an opportunity presents itself the vacuum left by the local team and the skilled labour shortage can be filled. The only request I would have is that we are allowed to incorporate local talent so they may learn from the Mexicans.
With a focused effort from the government our people have an opportunity to take care of themselves and their families. Let’s all remember that Guyana is for Guyanese first and foremost. This will ensure that our homeland remains ours and is a source of our sustainable independence both at the individual level, the family level and the national level.
Best regards,
Jamil Changlee
Chairman
The Cooperative Republicans of
Guyana