Dear Editor,
Somebody help little Guyanese men and women, please. Especially considering the raw, unchallengeable context of that revealing table of prices in SN’s January 14th editorial titled, “Big Market inflation.” I looked at those prices, and ducked. I urge all Guyanese-primarily the President, Vice President, and Finance Minister, the man of the moment-to simply scan those prices, and recognize the plights and punishments of the poor in the population. Just scan, not study, for there is a harrowing reality contradicting officially concocted single-digit inflation numbers. This is what is lived with by Guyanese on the lower rungs of the economic ladder.
To all with their fancy spreadsheets, sophisticated financial calculators, and glossy numbers about how well Guyana is doing, I urge connecting to the reality of “Big Market inflation.” Of note, Big Market inflation did not include fruits, and fish; with medicines and more. Big Market inflation is net present value, and internal rate of return strangling Guyanese buyers who are confronted with a real basket of real goods that they need to exist, but which they cannot because it is either 100% more, or thereabouts. Out of 15 food items, a staggering 7 are at or more than 150% from a year ago. It would be interesting to hear what the Bank of Guyana has to say on this; or about its inflation calculations. Of the 15 items, only one (tomato) reflected a reduction, and I humbly beg to differ with SN’s excellent effort, for it may have been that at the moment, but is not indicative of what is consistently higher, and for uninterrupted stretches. I must also go a separate way with that 11% increase for sweet potato. Editor, thanks again for a superb effort.
It is all about food, and when prices have progressed (or deteriorated) to this traumatic state, then all the gaudy economic numbers, all the barrels of oil shipped today, and estimates for a few years, hence, are not worth a cold bucket of either spit. The President can boast and bluff about his roads and schools and infrastructure, and preparation for the future, but he should be forthright about anaemic Guyanese, who can’t afford to eat. The Vice President can pretend at astuteness with speeches about risks and commensurate returns for foreign investors, but if our people can’t buy, can’t feed themselves, then what is the point, for there is nothing riskier in this dazzling metropolis, this glorious oil civilization. Not when our poor must do without. How about a fair return for them, Dr. VP?
I think they have lost touch a long time now in understanding what poor Guyanese have to deal with, and then to summon the care to do something about it. I repeat so that there is understanding: poor Guyanese and their torments over food and prices, while leaders’ cabals of cronies and comrades grab and guzzle at the dripping, smearing fat of this land. It was the Vice President himself who came up with one of his slippery constructs: he was concerned about more money for the people fueling inflationary spikes, pressures. To the VP, I say this: they have not been given any kind of meaningful, sustainable money, yet there are those Big Market inflation numbers that are not an aberration. Rather, they are of an environment horror which restricts access, limits availability, in terms of what can be had, what must be gone without. It is survival of the hungriest, the weakest, and the loneliest. In defense of the President and his government, I make a case for the global supply chain, Ukraine, and the uncooperative Guyanese weather explaining away Big Market inflation.
Sincerely,
GHK Lall
