Dear Editor,
It is unnecessary for me to defend the latest assault by the Editorial and column writers in the State controlled Chronicle on independent media, the likes of Stabroek News, Kaieteur News and others. They are quite capable of defending themselves. One example of the absurdity in the fulmination of the Chronicle and PPP top-brass is that the housing drive only started under the PPP. What about Melanie Damishana, Dazzell Housing Scheme, (which land the PPP has given to private developers), Agnes Bend-Kirton Court, Shirley Field Ridley Square, Roxanne Burnham Gardens, Amelia’s Ward Housing Scheme, Linden, Esse-quibo Coast and many others? But Editor, for now I refer to a single matter.
Today, I simply give two examples as a result of personal experience. We have to rely on certain medications, such as eye-drops, imported for the public institutions, monopolized by friends of the Govern-ment and which burn the eyes in most cases. I wrote about drugs like eliquis, and others not available for cardiac conditions in the fastest growing economy. Editor, when next your reporters interview the top-brass of this government, ask them to explain this and other medications not available in the public hospitals and health centers, and sometimes the high cost to ordinary folks is oft times beyond their reach in the private sector.
This latest announcement by Irfaan Ali to dole out sums to pensioners and public sector employees is a monumental insult. So the government decides on hand-outs, like ‘Father Christmas,’ ignoring the decency of consulting the trades unions, representing public servants, teachers, nurses, etc. Look around Editor, look around citizens, we are having the emergence of a nouveau riche class, compliments of the PPP. When I listen to our present crop of leaders in Government I don’t hear the echo of Cuffy Accrabe, Edun, Critchlow, the Enmore Martyrs, Jagan, Burnham, Quamina, Pollydore and those who fought to break the yoke of colonialism and imperialist domination.
For all I hear in dealing with the management of our country in particular our oil and gas sector is reminiscent of his master’s voice, where the clever puppeteers behind the screen manipulate and direct the puppets in high office. So with Christmas coming when figures show from oil and gas alone, each family should earn an additional half of a million dollars per month. We dole out a pittance which goes back into the pockets of the mercantile class who, with few exceptions support the PPP. If the Government is to be true to its lofty words they should first make all education free from kindergarten to university and be provided a credible health service where ordinary folks can obtain quality medicines and service and not either go abroad or die.
Sincerely,
Hamilton Green
Elder
