Dear Editor,
SOME people are never satisfied no matter how much their lives have improved and these are the same people who are unwilling to work an extra hour to increase their income or even work at all; these are the same people who are unwilling to save a dime for future needs but spend all on extravagance; these are the same people who would sit for hours idling, imbibing and criticising everyone and everything under the sun yet these are the same people who are envious of their neighbors, friends and families who literally ‘tied their bellies’ and labour unceasingly to achieve their dreams, people who work long hours, go hungry and forego many luxuries to increase their earning power to guarantee a bright future for themselves and their children.

There is a popular refrain which is being sung and started by the APNU and the AFC and it’s called ‘friends, family and favorites’, this has become so popular that some people are of the misguided opinion that they are being robbed whilst the three Fs are served the goodies of life on a platter. This is so far from the truth. I have witnessed first-hand the laziness of these perpetual complainers, who just wait for someone to come along and throw some fake promises and fling some little financial aids in their direction. Every ‘wannabee’ politician is aware of the few lazy malcontents who live in each community

and engage them for their photo ops (photo opportunity) to post on Facebook and TikTok for the world to see ‘the trials, tribulations and sufferings of the masses’ in Guyana. What is more disappointing is the high level of gullibility of some of these viewers who swallowed the misinformation- hook, line and sinker without a second thought. This will become more prevalent, distorted and more bizarre as we get closer to the General Elections due this year.

It is disappointing to hear the views of some individuals from farming communities who have been the recipients of countless cash grants, subsidies, flood reliefs, free fertilisers, seedlings and zero rated machinery and equipment, etc. not to mention improved drainage and irrigation. It is only left for the government to go and do the planting, reaping, selling and just hand over the cash to these individuals. One individual even complained on video of not seeing the Minister of Agriculture or anyone from the government- is this believable? Or has he done some time to travel back to the Coalition days? This is the same lies which was peddled prior to 2015 and believed by some, which resulted in five years of suffering and social and economic degradation and which eroded all the gains made by the PPP/C Government. There is nothing wrong with constructive criticisms, but when blatant lies and deceitful

statements are made, it is time for all to rise in condemnation. This nation cannot afford to be held hostage once again. It is the trend nowadays for lies and deceitful statements to be peddled as the gospel truth by evil and devious politicians.
Guyanese must be ever vigilant and never to be duped again as had happened in 2015 when the APNU/AFC made campaign promises which did not materialise and it was when their ‘family, friends and favourites’ ruled the roost and they themselves became the raiders of the Treasury amidst the bankruptcy of the economy and debilitating poverty. The masses knew fully well the many nefarious acts committed by the Coalition yet a few chose to suffer from selective amnesia. The 2025 Budget provided a multitude of relief to alleviate the cost of living and improve the lives of Guyanese whilst at the

same time ensuring that we are living in a beautiful and clean environment, that top class education from nursery to university is free with cash grants made available, that our health system improves drastically and our people have easy access to medical care, that our agriculture sector and the other non-oil sectors are growing phenomenally, that our citizens pay less taxes, that our young mothers are given a financial boost to take care of their babies in the first days of their lives (a boon which cannot be overemphasised), and the list goes on. I could write volumes of the ways that the 2025 Budget has improved and will improve our lives. We must never be myopic and lose sight of what this government has done since 2020 to improve the lives of all Guyanese, but there are always a few who would like us to miss the forest for the trees.

As a child growing up, many of us would listen to stories from our grandparents and parents of the struggle they passed through in order to build a home. They prioritised their needs and would sometimes go hungry just to build and furnish their homes. It was never easy, but they achieved their goals. This government has acted in a similar manner to ensure socio-economic development for all Guyanese and must be congratulated for their policies planning and implementation of those policies. Whenever we are faced with negative criticisms, we must analyze these for what they are worth and do not be easily deceived.

We must never forget the past and make the same mistakes all over again. We must learn from the moral of Aesop’s fable of the dog and the bone, which is more relevant today than ever before.
Yours sincerely,
Haseef Yusuf