Dear Editor,
Season’s Greetings to you and your readership! Kindly allow me to publicly express my commiseration to the bereaved families, relatives and friends of our recently departed servicemen, and my commitment to pray for the two survivors. As we prepare to welcome the 2023 Festive Season, I am aware that, in the midst of national grief, many Guyanese families continue to grapple with rapidly decreasing spending power as a result of poor management of our national coffers by the PPP/C government. Indeed, “ting nah regulah” in our beautiful nation. When I examine the performance of the PPP/C regime for the year 2023, I can only conclude that they have failed the nation. In fact, citizens have faced many critical issues since the return of the PPP/C in August 2020.
We can go as far back to the “flooding of lands in Success”, occupied by low-income Guyanese seeking to build their home; the deterioration of health care and education services provided to the average Guyanese, the current mismanagement of the influx of Venezuelans who have literally been allowed to invade Guyana; the utter chaos old age pensioners are being subjected to as they seek to uplift the $25,000 bonus; and the 6.5% salary “increase” for public servants and other categories of workers. This “increase” is ridiculous, disrespectful and a slap in the face of our workers grappling with the unprecedented high cost of food and essential utilities. I appeal to the Ali regime to respect the constitution (Article 147) and engage the workers’ legal representatives, using Collective Bargaining Agreements, for a better livable wage for our Public Servants.
Editor, I believe the Ali regime, has the fiscal space to pay Public Servants and all categories of workers, an attractive salary increase of at least 15% for 2023, instead of offering less (8% in 2021, 7% in 2022 and now 6.5% in 2023) The Ali regime has withdrawn monies seven times from the Natural Resource Fund (NRF), between 2021-2023, the latest being US$100M, equivalent to G$20.8B, in November 2023. How have those funds been spent? There is no evidence that the ordinary Guyanese are benefitting from this oil wealth. There has been much talk about development, but to-date, this has mainly benefitted friends, family and favourites who enjoy huge contracts to build roads, bridges, and buildings.
Coming on the heels of this 6.5% announcement, the Ali regime laid the fifth Supplementary Paper on Monday, December 11, 2023, seeking an additional $24B, which will bring Budget 2023, to a whopping $897.9B, from an initial budget sum of $781.9B in February 2023. Editor, from this, it is clear to all Guyanese, that this Ali regime is inept at managing the finances of our nation and they are NOT spending our monies for the benefit of all citizens. Further Editor, it was most disheartening to hear the utterances made by Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo at his last press conference, Thursday, December 14, 2023, when he boldly defended the 6.5% his regime afforded to hardworking, professional, and committed Public Servants of Guyana.
In my view, the arguments proffered by Mr. Jadgeo, are unacceptable and disrespectful to the workers of Guyana. Editor, for the year 2023, GuySuCo has benefited from $16B via the National Treasury, and through the Financial Paper, No. 4 of 2023, GuySuCo, through the Ministry of Agriculture is requesting an additional $2B “to meet additional operational costs.” As a Member of Parliament, I have serious concerns regarding the management of this entity. The PPP/C regime is yet to table a performance report on GuySuCo to the National Assembly, since they took office in August 2020. There needs to be accountability.
The current political head of the Ministry of Agriculture boasts in the National Assembly that GuySuCo is meeting its production targets and will make a profit at the end of 2023. However, my colleague, Hon. Vinceroy Jordan, MP, exposed the untruths being told by Mr. Zulifkar Mustapha. Editor, it is clear that this Ali regime has no intention of improving the livelihood and wellbeing of our Public Servants, who continue to provide exemplary service to the people of Guyana. I will boldly ask, why is the PPP/C regime so brutish and uncaring to Public Servants, while sugar workers benefitted from a $250,000 and $25,000 cash grants? Better must come!!!
Sincerely,
Annette Ferguson, MP
