PEOPLE’S Progressive Party (PPP) Executive Member and Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira, amid loud heckling painted a dim future for Guyana when she addressed workers at a Labour Day rally in the National Park on Monday. But her views were countered by Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman, who said the country was being aligned for takeoff.

Teixeira, who spoke on behalf of the Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, said the economic and political situation in the country, leaves Guyanese uncertain about the future. “Workers from every sector and people from all walks of life are apprehensive and profoundly uncertain, not only about their daily existence but more importantly, about their future, their children’s future and the future of our country. These fears and apprehensions are well founded. They see their conditions and quality of life deteriorating every day, and, they are confused,” she stated.

The Opposition Chief Whip added that many of achievements made by the working-class after years of struggle are now being threatened as she pointed to the Sugar, Rice, and Bauxite Industries. “Every productive sector is on the decline; in the sugar industry, estates are being closed and thousands are being dismissed; in the rice sector, they are no new markets and no competitive price for paddy; in the mining sector, small and medium-scale miners can no longer afford the cost of production; in the forestry sector, they are no markets for logs; in the commercial sector, there is a drastic decline in trade and commerce,” she pointed out. The deteriorating economic circumstances, she added, are leading to the devaluation of currency and increase in the cost of imports.

The situation, the Opposition Chief Whip posited, is further compounded by harsh polices and tax measures imposed by the administration on the working- class. Despite their political affiliation, Guyanese from all walks of life are concerned about the state of affairs of the country.

Hard decisions

But these claims were rebutted by Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman. He said sometimes “hard decisions” must be taken, while pointing to the ailing sugar industry. “You cannot treat a failing organ with an aspirin…sometimes drastic measures have to be taken.” Over the last 21 months, the Administration has pumped $32B into the industry.

In making his case on behalf of Government, Trotman said when the previous government had taken a decision to close the factory and estate at Diamond, it was considered necessary, along with the decision to privatise the Bauxite Industry. Just like it was then, the Natural Resources Minister said, today it has become necessary to make some difficult decisions.

Caring government
“So when we wonder, why it is that foreign currency is scarce and why is it that people are complaining, it is because this government in a caring way have put $32B, the equivalent that was spent on the Skeldon Estate in 21 months, into an ailing industry. The time has come for change,” he said.

He said in the not so distant future Guyana will not only be a green state but an oil producing state, as he warned the populace not to be fooled by naysayers, who are contending that only a few will gain employment in the oil industry.

However, the Minister explained that in order to prepare Guyana for that which is to come, it is important to have fiscal alignment and fiscal discipline. “Your government is not oblivious to your struggles, neither it is uncaring or unresponsive to your needs, we ask for your time, we ask for patience, we ask for your engagement.”

Also making a presentation was young trade unionist and member of the City Constabulary, Latoya Drakes, who called on government to do more for the young people of Guyana, saying that the situation currently is less than desirable. “For the youths of Guyana, the situation at this time is depressing, and ahead, it is not the hope-filled rosy picture we expected. It is disheartening that promises of youth empowerment and the creation of new, stable and decent jobs remain largely unfulfilled,” Drakes told a few hundreds of workers, who had marched along the streets of Georgetown before culminating at the National Park for a rally.

Minister Trotman was among the Government Ministers present. The others included Minister within the Ministry of Health, Dr. Karen Cummings; the Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Jaipaul Sharma; Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally; Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson; and Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin.
Former President Donald Ramotar, former Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds; former Mayor of Georgetown, Hamilton Green; and former Minister of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsarran, were among the officials present.