I AM completely dumbfounded at the cuts the Opposition made regarding GINA and NCN’s budget allocations. They both received $1 each. I watched with empathy also, as the journalists, and other staffers of the two entities, along with reps from the One Laptop Per Family and the State Planning Commission in tow. They too, are recipients of the same $1, as their budget allocation.
GINA and NCN’s reporters; and other staff members, led by their entity heads, Director Neaz Subhan and CEO, Mohammed Sattaur, respectively, protested the cut!
For these professionals to be out in the sun protesting budget cuts, as against doing what they do best, is in itself a tragedy, one that pulled the rug directly from under everyone’s feet.
It’s bad for business and sad, that these folks, unless they’re married, have little or no social lives, because of the hours they dedicate to contributing to the betterment of the people of this country, when they report the news.

For an opposition party, with a one seat majority in Parliament, to take the government to the cleaners the way this opposition does, is tantamount to selfishness and being power drunk.

For the life of me, I cannot understand why one would even entertain the thought of being so cruel to public servants, guilty of doing the jobs they themselves applied for and were hired to do – that is to cover the President and his Cabinet’s daily itinerary; and report same to the Guyanese public, the taxpayers who deserve the right to know what’s happening with their lives.

Here is another interesting point – every single employee of GINA is hired, regardless of their political persuasion, as long as their qualifications are up to speed. There is no one who has, or ever will, ask a potential employee of GINA about their affiliations in order to get a job. GINA is, pure and simple, an equal opportunity employer.

So the flurry of innuendos hurled at GINA, are really unfair and uncalled for.

I am therefore appealing to the opposition, to be less callous, and allow basic commonsense to prevail. All the people who stand to get hurt in this masquerade, I guarantee, will also include folks from all the political parties, not just the PPP/C.