President Ali recently announced that every Guyanese household would receive a $200000 cash grant. This promise was quickly withdrawn when people raised concerns about what qualifies as a household and how it would not be a fair process especially for larger households. The people learned from the COVID cash grant. Distribution of the COVID cash grant was not a fair process. Many of us were left holding pink slips we could not cash. Where our envelopes with the five green notes went some may still be wondering. Some might have assumed that the pockets of some who were involved in the distribution process were overflowing with the green notes. A friend told me that a colleague from a particular community reported that they got double the COVID cash grant. Such allegations are troubling. In the face of disparity, we may be briefly enraged, but before long we comfortably sit back into our place in society whether that be with “the haves” or “the haves not”.
We have grown accustomed to the money games being played with the Guyanese people. To date over 239 billion Guyana dollars has been withdrawn from the Natural Resource Fund. We have seen various instances of millions of dollars in contracts being awarded to lucky ones or those benefitting from nepotism. Roads and schools seem to be two sweet spots. We have seen some of the poor work when the inexperienced and unqualified are given these great tasks. Sometimes also the work that would have been produced does not match the millions of dollars that were charged. But even in the awarding of contracts, we have seen the disparities in who builds roads and who cleans trenches and gutters.
In this season of Guyana, the wealthy will fly, and the poor will try their best not to drown hoping to emerge from the water, dry themselves and grow their wings. But when there is no will to fight, oppression becomes the norm. But who cares to stand? We have seen how the teachers after striking were betrayed and there was an agreement signed for a ten percent increase. Ten percent which according to some teachers is only six percent after taxes. In Guyana we are seeing that there are those who can be easily bought with thirty pieces of silver. The faces of the Judases are plenty. The endorsement of wickedness and corruption to be in the flying crowd is becoming more apparent with those thinking that those who are not willing to comply, or compromise will eventually drown.
After the announcement that the $200000 cash grant was withdrawn, it was announced that every Guyanese eighteen and over would receive $100000. Of course, this is a better deal for the population. Every Guyanese who qualifies should collect their money. There is nothing being given to children in this arrangement, but we can assume that the powers that be believe that the school cash grant given once a year is enough for the Guyanese children. Nevertheless, many are happy with the promise of the US500. The outpouring of praises for the ones bloated with power were seen across social media. There are those who seem to believe that the lives of the average Guyanese are about to be transformed to one of wealth and eternal prosperity from being given US500.
Are $100000 dreams supposed to end the suffering of the poor? Does the money belong to the government that they deserve to be praised? How easy it is for those who choose not to have a relationship with the truth to remain in bondage.
It is apparent that the $100000 will not fulfill the dreams of the average Guyanese or solve any long-term issues about poverty. However, the people may start to dream again and believe that finally their hands are touching some of the funds from our black gold. They may allow themselves to expand on their dreams – thinking that maybe this cash grant is just the beginning of the puppeteers’ hands directing the puppets to equitably distribute Guyana’s wealth. But the joke is often on the ordinary people.
After years of receiving oil revenues, with an election next year, the high cost of living, I suppose $100000 is meant to appease the Guyanese people, inspire them to be greater and believe in those who endorse their suffering.
What will $100000 do for Guyanese 18 and over? Some may invest in a small business, some may save it, some may buy groceries, and some may buy beers and steak. A hundred thousand is pocket change for those who have gotten millions from Guyana’s oil wealth whether they have done so honestly or dishonestly. A hundred thousand cannot buy a house or a piece of land. Dis time nah lang time when teachers could have purchased big homes on their salaries and buy cars. My paternal grandparents did it. A hundred thousand can pay someone’s mortgage or one month rent.
One day perhaps visionaries will emerge with a comprehensive plan on how to end the suffering of Guyana’s poor. Perhaps the cash transfers will continue. Maybe there will be special programmes to assist disadvantaged sections of the population like poor single parents. Maybe public assistance will be enough to buy at least a month worth of groceries. Maybe there will be unemployment benefits and food stamps to make sure no Guyanese is starving. We do not want a system where people who can work are totally reliant on assistances but perhaps visionaries can create programmes where those who can work can elevate themselves out of a state of poverty so they would not have to depend on assistance for a long period. Perhaps there will be more creation of jobs that adequately pay people and minimum wage will be a living wage; perhaps there will be price control so that the price gouging will stop. Perhaps every Guyanese will be entitled to a piece of land when they become an adult and the people in every space of our beautiful Guyana will be empowered.
Those who believe that the best is being done for the Guyanese people perhaps also believe that $100000 will compensate for the discrimination and victimisation many Guyanese have faced. Maybe they believe that the tears of those whose homes were bulldozed in places like Mocha will be dried. Maybe they believe we will forget about the unsolved murders. Perhaps the missing kidnapped will be found. Perhaps they believe that selling the Guyanese people $100000 dreams will erase all the allegations of corruption in government and the people will believe a dream that those bloated with power do not have.
