Dear editor,
IT is with much anticipation that I seek your favourable consideration and usual cooperation in publishing my letter below: The deterioration of the public treasury is fast in action as the APNU+AFC government races to reward friends and family in a piling list, already too long to handle. The intended legislation as reported by Demerara Waves to utilise annually over $16 million of our taxpayers’ dollars to reward Hamilton Green with a pension, other than that he already receives from Parliament is pure disrespect to public servants and Guyanese at large.
The David Granger-led Administration is in the habit of taking us for granted with its growing and continuous scandals, shifting promises, lack of transparency and accountability among the many other indictments since coming to office in May 2015. It is obvious that his government cares little or less about public perception, our concerns and opinions as it seeks to add to its already discredited record, a Bill that contradicts its position of having the right priorities, worse yet, in a slumbering economic environment where people are increasingly affected by hardships.
One would have thought that after receiving such stinging criticisms over the huge increases in the salaries, benefits and allowances of the President, Vice-Presidents, Prime Minister and Ministers, the government would have avoided the missteps of this distasteful choreography to enrich its friends and family. Perhaps it comes as no surprise to many that the government has chosen this path despite its pre-election promise to be lean, clean and mean. It should not hurt to have this Bill reversed and save the government from the embarrassment that stares it ahead, especially since its impending enactment of this Bill is of absolutely no necessity. The Minister of Finance, like so many of us experiencing the daily cries of a limping economy, should be extremely careful about contributing to an already volatile situation.
Regards
Dave Martindale