– and why is it right for Corbin and Hoyte, but not Jagan?
The hypocrisy of the PNC/AFC and the opposition media cabal rears its ugly head to strike once again.
There are enshrined benefits and conditions – very substantial ones, being enjoyed by many persons who have held constitutional posts.

These include retired members of the judiciary, former heads of institutions, et cetera, amounting to a large chunk of our national budget.

All of these are being granted through no act of law, but it has become customary over the years because they were instituted by the primary law of the land prevailing during the times they were drafted – which was former President Burnham’s word, in order to ensure that PNC big-wig supporters, who were the only persons allowed to hold senior positions during the days of PNC governance, lived out their days in the lap of luxury.

The PPP Government never changed this because Dr. Jagan decreed no ‘witch-hunting’ when he took his rightful place as head of the nation in 1992, so the ‘witches’ were allowed to continue to fleece Guyana’s taxpayers in peace.

Dr. Jagan even wrote off substantial loans taken from GNCB (amounting to millions of dollars – shades of Globe Trust) that had established the businesses and luxurious lifestyles of PNC supporters, and ignored the large tracts of prime national real estate that had been hijacked by PNC powerbrokers, with not even a murmur of protest from his Party or support base.

It was Burnham’s word that decided what the benefits and conditions for former Presidents should be through the package he created for Former PNC President Arthur Chung and for himself because, although his occupancy (I would not use ‘term’ for obvious reasons) in the presidential seat ended abruptly as a result of his demise while he was relatively young, and although he had constructed mechanisms to ensure that the PNC never left that office, he was also a practical man who was conscious of the fact that it was merely a matter of time before the very people who facilitated his occupancy of the presidential seat would take a hand to reverse the decision, given all the then prevailing variables of the socio-economic and political construct within the country, which had sent this nation plummetting to the bottom of the global developmental charts.

It was the same package of benefits and conditions that former President Desmond Hoyte had enjoyed during his lifetime under the law of Burnham’s decree.

However, the importance of legislating these customs surfaced only when the need for Mrs. Joyce Hoyte to continue enjoying the benefits arose, and the lack of legislation proved a deterrent.

The PNC/AFC duo was strident in its demands for Mrs. Hoyte’s rights – no considerations for taxpayers had arisen then, because it was for one of their own. To their credit the PPP never demurred once, but took the necessary steps to legitimise the process through an Act of Law.

Legislating the benefits and facilities for former presidents is merely an extension of that exercise, and it is only a coincidence that Bharat Jagdeo would be the next to benefit – so why was it right for former Presidents Arthur Chung, Forbes Burnham, Desmond Hoyte, but not for Bharrat Jagdeo?

But the hypocrisy of the PNC/AFC duo and the opposition media cabal does not end there.

While they are protesting that Bharrat Jagdeo should not enjoy the benefits that his predecessors did, their own leader, Robert Corbin, is being provided with the best medical care at taxpayers’ expense – amounting to millions of dollars, which he could very well afford to pay for himself because of the lavish emoluments and benefits he has been enjoying at taxpayers’ expense, as Opposition Leader.

And while the PNC/AFC/Opposition media combo were attacking Bharrat Jagdeo on the basis of the Former Presidents Benefits and Facilities Bill they did not inform the public that ‘the PNC had bargained for Robert Corbin’ the following:

** vacation allowance for himself and wife;

** medical treatment for himself and family (which he is currently benefiting from)

** technical, clerical, and other staff

** furnishings and office rentals

** vehicles (in the plural) owned and maintained by the state

** tax exemptions on goods

** scholarship for family members

** personal security

** security for home and office

** clothing allowance for himself and family

** entertainment allowance

However, for the duration that Dr. Cheddi Jagan was robbed of his rights through rigged elections, and was unjustly relegated to the status of Opposition Leader – 28 long years, the PNC never saw it fit to grant him any of the benefits that the PNC Opposition Leader currently enjoys under the governance of a PPP-led Government.

So why are rights allowable for PNC leaders and not for PPP leaders?

The hypocrisy, greed, dishonesty, and sheer vindictiveness of the PNC is recorded in so many instances within this nation’s history that the volume overwhelms.

Its satellite – the AFC, is faithfully following suit.
The vindictiveness of the PNC in claiming that the President is the highest paid official in the land, and that PM Sam Hinds is receiving the benefits of a former President is nothing short of venomous lies, because, given their obsession that only they should have rights to enjoy official benefits and facilities it is improbable that they are not aware that the Presidents’ pay is a mere pittance compared to what some other post-holders are enjoying; and that the Prime Minister is only receiving the pay and benefits entitled to his current position.

And anyone who knows of the simple, utilitarian personal lifestyle of Bharrat Jagdeo, even while he is Sitting President and entitled to much more than he takes, has to be aware that he is too conscientious to abuse any situation or system.

Passing the bill is only legitimising what already exists under Burnham’s decree! Nothing more is being added. Demonizing Bharrat Jagdeo would not change this fact, but is an evil attempt to mislead the gullible.