Dear Editor,
Episode 11 in SN’s probing and revealing series titled “How the cost of living is hitting people” extends the dismal picture of real people in Guyana coping with real pain. My sense is that there will be multiples of the 11 pieces wonderfully compiled by SN to convey the hurts and fears, the cries and expectations of our fellow Guyanese. Episode 11 is about Parika, number 10 was Linden, and those ahead will be of the plights of people in other areas in Guyana. There is an enshrouding constancy in each new chapter of SN’s work. It is that the salt and stock of local society is suffering. The hurting are not from Bel Air or Republic Park or Oleander Gardens; they are from the unheard and ignored darkened sections of the domestic tracks.
A dozen Guyanese in this age of glitter had one voice: government must do something, and we need help from government, and we just cannot cope on our own; help us brothers in government. One female respondent said it better than I ever could: “I think the government need to do something about this high rise in food items because the lower cast of people can’t afford a pot of food when the day come.” To President Ali, I venture to say that that sister is neither a naysayer nor a troublemaker.
Of what value are our lush, curvaceous statistics, our sparkling promise, when this is our empty, growling and gnawing, underbelly? There is so much emphasis on infrastructure amid such a swollen multitude of indigents in this instance of incredible resource inspirations. I tender this crude arithmetic: if we get 60-70 cents for every dollar of infrastructure money (ignoring where the rest went), then taxpayers would have gotten value for their budget money. Now, if the poor and struggling in this country from Section 1 to 101 of SN’s series, could come close to 10 cents on each budget dollar in actual direct relief in their hands and pockets, I would say that President and Government both did well. I would cherish the opportunity to applaud publicly.
Editor, consider a development now imminent. China is poised to reestablish its full weight into the world of oil demand. Higher oil prices mean an avalanche of spiraling prices on consumer items across the board, inflicting the traumatic on the already tormenting. I watch for the reaction of Iran re that drone attack on its facilities at Isfahan. Beyond that I hesitate, but just dangle the possibilities for oil markets before those Guyanese who care to contemplate the significance. In a region where vengeful recriminations are the norm, that attack will not go unanswered, and which effects could be felt all the way here.
To wrap this up, I plead to President Ali: our brothers and sisters need help. They have stated their cases, bared their bosoms. There is nothing partisan or proud in citizens revealing their daily sufferings. May a receptive ear be given to their groans and grimaces… may this little writing touch a chord in someone somewhere.
Sincerely,
GHK Lall
