MINISTER of Public Works, Juan Edghill on the Gildarie-Freddie Kissoon Show said he believes in an opposition party.
He said it is needed to keep the “government on its toes” (his words). I think most humans, perhaps all, accept that a country should have opposition parties, independent civil society groups and responsible, non-political media houses to report on the contents of society.

I believe even persons that did not go to school and can hardly read and write would tell you if you engage them that a country should have such organisations. The sad aberration in Guyana is that rights, liberties, justice and moral values are neglected because the media, opposition parties and civil society groups have an insane obsession with the government only and not the general contents of society.

The consequence of that is pessimism and resignation in people because they feel that society is empty and uncaring and there is no one to turn to. The most graphic example I can think of was the hundred dollar increase by river taxi owners. No one came to their defense with the logical argument that they are also income earners who have live with increased prices for goods and services.

How do you think these people feel about opposition parties, the media and civil society groups? They are flippant about them because they know that all these organisations do every minute of the day is to look only and only at what the government does. But the Guyanese people want them to go beyond their anti-government agendas.

I saw an unacceptable, unpleasant occurrence in the National Park and wrote about it. No civil society group, the media or the opposition showed any interest. I saw the security of the park prevented a group of Venezuelans from worshiping under one of the wooden tents. This was unbelievable. This was pubic space to which residents in Guyana are entitled to use.

Fortunately, on complaining to the chairman of the National Park, Mr. Robert Persaud, the Venezuelans were allowed.
Here is what I saw in the park on Thursday morning. A worker was cleaning the septic tank without gloves. During intervals, he would drink from a bottle of water he put on a nearby bench. I told him to stop but the supervisor insultingly asked me if I was looking for a story to write about. I threaten to call the Ministry of Labour on her.

Massy Supermarket is owned by one of the richest Caribbean families. It recently made a huge investment in the US. Its breakfast was $450. Then suddenly one day, it went to $940. Not a hundred dollars increase but $500. Its lunch was $950, then, suddenly one day, it went up to $1540. Not by a hundred dollar but $600.

Do you know who buy the breakfast and lunch? The ordinary workers in Massy and the workers from Movie Towne Mall. The middle class and the foreigners who shop at Massey do not buy such items. I have stopped buying both. The identical amount of lunch is $1000 at Giftland Supermarket. But from next month, Massy takes over Giftland Supermarket. So, I lose out again. Massy is going to up Giftland’s lunch to $1540.

There is a private dance school in the National Park as distinct from the one administered by the Ministry of Culture. Last Sunday morning that dance school took a homeless man and asked him to climb up one of the tallest palm trees you can find anywhere in the world. When I saw him at the top of the tree with no security gear, I almost dropped dead. I threatened to call the police. Can the Ministry of Labour investigate that incident? I was a witness.

I accompanied my wife to Guyana Stores where she went to shop for cloth to make two pants (not for me but for her). I saw a t-shirt sale; it was $500 for one. The first one had two holes. The second one had two holes. The third one I picked up had four holes. All of the t-shirts were more holy than righteous. How can you sell a t-shirt for $500 with so many holes? Sadly, this country does not have an active Consumer Association.

Finally, last week, I wrote another critique of the commercial banks. I can’t believe some of the horror stories people relate to me as a response to the column. After reading those tales, I am convinced that the commercial banks in Guyana have gone berserk and will completely kill off the small business sector in Guyana, a sector that is priceless to an economy like ours. Marx is dead. Gandhi is dead. Mandela is dead. Gorbachev is dead. And I am not feeling too well myself.