Dear Editor,
As the elected District Leader, and the highest ranking official of Guyanese origin here in Little Guyana, Richmond Hill, Queens, New York City, I have been asked by my Guyanese-American constituents to respectfully request that the Guyana Government disburse the promised GY$100,000 in Richmond Hill, and in Flatbush, Brooklyn. This “bringing Government to the People” concept aligns with the “One Guyana” mission. It is a most realistic and compassionate idea, and follows ongoing, impressive initiatives by the Guyana Government in its recent NIS, Investment, Documents and other outreaches here in New York City, USA through its Consulate and Mission.
Most of these requests have been made by a substantial amount of Guyanese who cannot travel to Guyana, and will be unfairly excluded due to their circumstances-pregnant mothers, bereaved families, disabled, undocumented Guyanese, and others who cannot acquire leave to travel. Others will lose their jobs, which were acquired by grit, determination and perseverance. Indeed, this initiative will be more cost effective, and fiscally prudent for all concerned. Living in American has never been a bed of roses for Guyanese. Most only left their navel strings buried in beautiful Guyana because of the extant hardships previous regimes inflicted upon them, but their undying love for their native land has never waned. Moreover, no one can realistically expect a Guyanese expatriate, however patriotic he or she may be, to spend many times the cost to collect his/her cash grant of GY $100,000.
Collectively, we have been, and will continue to be, the first defenders of Guyana’s territorial integrity and national sovereignty, as we have demonstrated in restoring democracy to Guyana, and in galvanizing help from the US President, Secretary of State, Congress and other pillars of power here in our ongoing crisis with Venezuela. Editor, it will be unconscionable, nay, a travesty, not to distribute the grants in the diaspora, called Little Guyana, now officially in NYC data, and aptly referred to as Region 11-Guyana. Indeed, with the rapid, modern transmission of currency across the globe today, it is a realistic goal, and the right thing to do. To require that diasporans travel to Guyana to receive a part of their heritage, will actually be counter intuitive to what the Government promised to “not discriminate against our people based on residency.”
Sincerely,
Albert Baldeo
District Leader, Richmond Hill, NY, USA
Former Magistrate, Senior State Counsel
and Police Legal Adviser, Guyana
