7 minute read
REGION
Dear Editor,
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Over the past few days, many of us have cried a number of times over the barbaric, sadistic and uncivilized actions that some Guyanese are doing to each other.
Thankfully, we have to commend and support President Irfaan Ali in how he is dealing with the inhuman and violent actions. The President has equally condemned the murder and torture of African and Indian teenagers, and the violent attacks on innocent people going about their daily business.
From all religions, professions, businesses, ethnic communities and classes, more and more organizations and individuals, and many media outlets, are making a balanced and equal condemnation of hate, murder and violence, regardless of ethnicity, class or gender.
For a long time, every single Guyanese has been waiting, hoping and praying for Guyana to be a better place for all our children to live in peace where they will not be judged by their ethnicity or class, but by the content of their character.
To achieve that better place, we have to start first of all with we the people, not the leaders. Michael Jackson, the great musical icon, advised that “if you want to make the world a better place, look in the mirror and make the change.”
We all grew up with prejudices. Each of
Dear Editor,
sector is fundamental for the growth of our country’s manufacturing base and industrial capabilities.
In 2014, petroleum imports accounted for 21 percent of Guyana’s GDP. With the fall in oil prices, petroleum imports became cheaper, but the reliance on heavy fuel oil for power generation still remains. In order to reduce, and eventually eliminate, this dependency, Guyana needs to diversify its energy grid by investing in renewables and liquified natural gas (LNG). T
The proposed 400 MW gas-to-power energy project, using associated natural gas from the oil wells, would be fundamental in lowering energy costs. Our Government understands the value of the project, and is looking to include it in the Payara contract negotiations. Any significant regulatory us has to look inside ourselves for biases and stereotypes that underlie hate.
Whether we are of African, Indian, Indigenous, Mixed, Portuguese, Chinese or European descent, each person is valuable and no one Guyanese is less free than another. If we want to be free, we have to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.
Gladson Henry, the father of the late 16-year old Isaiah Henry, is a true humanist and Guyanese patriot. Mr. Henry’s words touch our hearts and souls. He said, “I am not racist. I still love my Indian brothers and sisters. Many of my friends are Indians who gave me the nickname of “geerah”. Isaiah also had Indian friends. I am calling for justice and peaceful protests. I am not supporting immoral protesting.”
All Guyanese have to follow Gladson Henry’s example. Every time when PPP/C and APNU/AFC supporters talk about the murders and violence, we have to totally reject all hate crimes, regardless of ethnicity or class. We know that people who hate come in all sizes, shapes, colors, ethnicities and classes.
We should be guided by the well-known quote from Nelson Mandela who stated that “No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can delays, however, could hamper Guyana’s attractiveness and growth. Both energy and mining – in addition to agriculture, forestry and manufacturing – also need supporting infrastructure to fuel exponential growth.
Traditional infrastructure such as roads, ports and bridges are important to reduce logistical costs and bottlenecks, but even more fundamental is the development of health and educational structures. Good schools would provide training for our Guyanese citizens, and encourage the diaspora to come back. Without those proper systems in place, these growing sectors won’t have enough skilled personnel to properly run their operations.
The People’s Progressive Party/Civic administration’s tax-relief measures in the 2020 budget should help encourage the growth of other sectors, to help diversify the economy beyond natural resources. The PPP/C Administration seeks to exempt
WEEKEND MIRROR 26-27 SEPTEMBER, 2020
be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”
At all times, we must express to the families and communities of the victims our deepest condolences. We want them to know that they are not alone in their anger and deep sorrow. We have to support the families with words and actions of kindness and goodness so that the murders are never forgotten.
Every Guyanese, man, woman and child need to say two things in the same sentence. We must condemn the hate crimes and torture of the Henry, Jonas and Singh teenagers and call for the inhuman murderers to face swift and harsh justice, and then, we must equally condemn the inhuman violence against innocent people on the roads and in the communities.
We cannot be one-sided. We do not want any of our Guyanese brothers and sisters to remember that we were selectively silent and ignored some of the murders and violence. We do not condone or accept any hate crimes. If left unchallenged, all kinds of hate will persist and grow.
Let us heed the words of Martin Luther King Jr. who stated that “lives begin to end, the day we become silent about things that matter” and “we must pursue peaceful ends, through peaceful means”.
Regrettably, so far, except for Ms. Volda Lawrence and Mr. James Bond, many of the APNU/AFC leaders are not publicly making a balanced and equal condemnation of the hate, murders and violence.
What is to be done? The best defence against all kinds of hate is an informed and unified nation that has space for dialogue and action to build “hate free zones” across all of our communities.
We are not helpless. We the people have the power to overcome ignorance and fear, and to positively influence our children, friends and co-workers. When we demonstrate in our words and behaviour a deep respect for other cultures, our children will likely do the same. certain equipment from VAT, and remove corporate taxes on private education and healthcare. Despite a promising initiative, a comprehensive tax reform may be at hand to allow for a thorough deliberation between all Members of Parliament.
Measures could include a reduction of the corporate tax rate and incentives to reduce energy costs. Guyana would also benefit if its informal workers, which account for 48 percent of its labour force, were encouraged to transition into the formal economy. This would improve tax collection rates and widen the tax base, increasing the revenues entering our country’s coffers.
Diversification of the economy, development of infrastructure, and the improvement of the business environment will be pointless without proper accountability over the Government’s finances, which the PPP/C Administration will put in place.
In our homes, schools, workplaces and in our faith communities, as PPP/C and APNU/ AFC supporters, together we must speak up and condemn intolerance, hate, torture and murder.
Beyond the present situation, we have to develop long-term solutions to address the root causes of hate and intolerance.
More parents have to work with teachers to build positive racial relations in and across schools.
Across the ethnic communities, we have to reach out and organize safe spaces for sports competitions, vigils, inter-faith (Christian, Hindu and Muslim) services, “bottom house dialogues”, and music and food festivals to celebrate our nation’s diversity so that all Guyanese could get to know and appreciate each other better.
When we change, the politicians will take their lead from us. Now is the time for most Guyanese to stop denying, ignoring or downplaying the reality of inter-ethnic rivalry, which is the most serious, persisting, confusing and difficult problem in our country. Until we address it frontally in a united way, it will not go away.
On February 9, 1964, 56 years ago, Cheddi Jagan stated, “The time has come when the two major parties which represent the masses of this country must find some basis of living and working together, and of finding some unity, if we are to go forward in progress and prosperity.” Cold War interference prevented that unity in 1964. Now, there is no international governmental interference that would prevent Guyanese going forward together in progress and prosperity.
As Martin Luther King Jr. and Cheddi Jagan advised “if we do not live together as friends, we will die apart as fools” because the Exxons and other foreign companies will take advantage of us and gobble up nearly all of the benefits from our natural resources, products and services.
Yours truly,
Guyana needs to diversify its energy grid
The development of Guyana’s energy
Geoffrey Da Silva
The National Resource Fund (NRF), which is used to manage the oil revenues, must have well-established independent committees to ensure that it doesn’t become a slush fund. The administration has vouched to change the NRF Act to make it more transparent, it is unclear if and when they’ll follow through.
As seen in the multi-billion-dollar 1MDB scandal in Malaysia, countries with newfound wealth from oil are more likely to spend without restraint. Allowing for a few executives to control vast amounts of funds while simultaneously having no oversight is a recipe for disaster.
Our PPP/C Administration has begun to implement certain accountability measures to assure the Guyanese people that these funds will not be squandered.
