Something about standing in lines especially for a long time is distressing to me. Perhaps it is a little impatience in me, or maybe fatigue. Perhaps I think about the lines some of our ancestors were forced to stand in to be broken and sold. I also think about the stories I have been told about people lining up in the early 80s for items that were banned and that too has always disturbed my spirit.
Perhaps those are some of the reasons that seeing the lines of people waiting to register for the cash grant has a dehumanising feeling to it. I know, some will say that perhaps I am putting too much thought into it or that I am being too critical. There are always those who acquiesce to situations that cause avoidable stress, tension and anxiety. Where the elderly, the middle-aged and youth of Guyana should stand, should not be places where they must sweat and face discomfort just to receive a small portion of what belongs to them. The people of this nation should stand in places of power. We should stand where we are strengthened and unified. Our place in this nation is not to be like sheep waiting for wolves to have mercy and not eat us.
Nevertheless, I applaud the efforts that have started for the distribution of the cash grant because I know that many of our people who are struggling and suffering need it. Not much has been done to alleviate the cost of living and the price of food especially continues to multiply with no end in sight. The blood curdling screams might be silent when people visit the markets and supermarkets, but their hearts are palpitating wondering for how longer they can or must endure this little hell in which we live. The sanity of the people of this nation is being tested every day, but I suppose at this end of year time, into an election year time, the people must stand in lines to register, and photographs must be taken, and interviews must be done to demonstrate the benevolence of the beast.
A hundred thousand Guyana dollars is not a life changing sum of money but when one listens to some of the government and politicians’ cheerleaders; some of the ones whose mouths are filled with soup, those who scream that money has to be made and turn a blind eye to the injustices being done to the Guyanese people, skeptics of the reality many people are facing, one would imagine that the people will feed themselves until the election with the cash grant. Perhaps possible if someone were to invest in something like buying seeds and growing some crops, but let’s be honest, most of the people are not farmers.
I know that many people will put the money to good use, but I am wondering, isn’t there a better way the registration could have been done? What century are we living in? With all the technological advancements having people stand in lines, some distressed and weary, senior citizens in crowds at institutions like the National Insurance Scheme, is this the only way this could have been done? Did we think about the elderly and disabled? Are the existing databases useless? I guess the voter’s list is too bloated with the dead and the migrated or whatever other ghosts so maybe that was not an option. We heard about an app that would be created, is that idea dead?
One can conclude that the decision to give every Guyanese eighteen and over the $100000 cash grant was not well thought out. We have grown to expect and unfortunately accept that many of the decisions made for the collective are not well thought out. We uphold a standard of mediocrity in this country. At first, we heard it was $200000 per household and when many questions were raised about what qualifies as a household, and with a little noise from the opposition, the decision was made to give every Guyanese eighteen and over $100000.
Undoubtedly many Guyanese are grateful for the promise fulfilled or to be fulfilled of finally receiving a crumb of the oil funds pie. Some of us have never received a cent of any cash grant from Guyana’s newfound wealth while the rumour mill runs wild about large contracts being given to a small group of people and politicians enriching themselves and their families.
Little and late as it may be, the people are lining up because $100000 is better than receiving nothing, but the lines will not lead us to freedom. If anything, the lines should remind us of the long struggles that we have had to endure as a nation and the ones that are ahead. The abuses that began from the time we called ourselves Guyana to now where after almost five years of receiving oil funds the powers that be decided that all the people eighteen and over deserve something.
It was announced that the elderly and public servants would receive their cash grant first. I hope that all who qualify will receive their money if they want it and the pink slip scenarios where thousands of Guyanese did not receive the COVID cash grant does not recur.
The dreams we have been sold as a nation are recycled and too old to still be believed. Wealth will not be given to most of the Guyanese people. Many perhaps do not have the courage to stand in their power and do what is necessary to have a better life. The poor of this nation will not be elevated from their status of being oppressed or living like beggars with a one-off cash grant. There needs to be a comprehensive plan to tackle poverty in this country by empowering the people with opportunities. Make sure all the nation’s children have access to the same quality of education, foster equality and pay people decent salaries. Despite having oil wealth and other natural resources many Guyanese are still migrating for better opportunities while foreigners are coming to this country and in some instances having easier access to opportunities here.
For Guyana to truly thrive, there must be fairness and equality and leaders who truly have the best interest of the people at heart. But empowered people are not good for those who continue to steal from this nation and want to be seen as demigods. They prefer if the people are like sheep.
