Last week, the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change Government announced that it was moving to the National Assembly with a new bill to ensure that former People’s National Congress Prime Minister Hamilton Green specifically benefit from a new pension for his service in that capacity to the people of this country from 1985 to 1992.
The government over the past few days, has deliberately stayed away from publicly explaining the rationale behind the bill and the considerations which went into the mix when the sudden decision was arrived at. Under the new Act, which will be passed as a result of the coalition’s majority in the legislature, Green, now 81, will pocket close to million annually and will also now be entitled to maids, guards and other facilities that only former President’s get.
Green, when interviewed by the media, appeared to be rejoicing at the move by the PNC-led coalition describing it as “fair, timely, just and in order”. He said that the new pension would guarantee him a life of dignity in line with the office he held as he was living since 1994 on the strength of his wife and children.
Mind you, Green also reportedly continue to pocket his parliamentary pension of million annually; his pension as a former Mayor and Councillor which is over 0,000 annually; remuneration and perks that comes with his recent accession to the Chairmanship of the Central Housing and Planning Authority Board and other perks which have not yet been disclosed from his stint in the public service.
While I believe strongly that Green did nothing significant to advance national unity and this country’s overall economic development while he served in high office but much to create chaos, rigged democratic machinery and political chaos, to him and his coalition Government I say without fear:
There exists no doubt in the minds of decent and hardworking citizens of this country that this coalition will feel the wrath of the electorate much sooner than later. It appears from this most recent act and others in the not so distant past that the government clearly has its priorities mixed up and is practicing the shameful politics of self-aggrandisement, and enrichment of their political allies, cohorts and loyalists.
Also, public servants should see this as a massive insult to their service to the development of this country. While the government is arguing that it can ill-afford larger increases for them, it is finding the resources to ensure that its political henchmen are looked after for life. It is misappropriating public funds to finance questionable bond contractors and disastrous architectural projects such as those at D’Urban Park and the Ministry of the Presidency.
It has found enough money in coffers which they said were empty to finance a 50 per cent increase in minister’s salaries and benefits.
It has found enough money to squander on non-essential activities and works under the guise of commemorating Guyana’s 50th Independence anniversary.
It has found money to pay scores of political advisors and ex-military officers to serve both in government and at the helm of government and the President’s Commissions of Inquiry.
Sugar workers, Government retirees and all other servicemen who laboured in order to pave the way for younger generations of this country are also deserving of better salaries and pensions in order to guarantee them a life of dignity.
They deserve better service in general from this new government that promised so much and so far has only delivered little. Where is the lean and clean government that the coalition promised to the people of this country that would see more financial resources being used to empower the poor and create more opportunities for the middle-class?
Where is the Government’s compassion in the run-up to this festive season as it grapples with crisis in almost every part of the economy with business and private sector investment at an all-time low? Where is the government’s checks and balances for good governance and transparency to avoid these continuous scandals and political missteps?
In the words of their own supporter Tacuma Ogunseye: “There seems to be no political discussions which inform these decisions. The frequency with which these missteps are made indicates the existence of a ‘crisis’ in the coalition’s governance culture.”
It would appear that the Government is again encouraging a new wave of socialism which breeds dependency and ultimately leads to further un-development in a free market world because it has been spending public funds in all of the wrong areas since it took office. I therefore wish to take it a bit further and quote the words of Britain’s first female Prime Minister: “socialists are happy when other people’s monies have run out” and in this case it’s the public’s money.
Again in her words: “If you just set out to be liked, you will be prepared to compromise on anything at anytime, and would achieve nothing.” This coalition is in crisis and I said it from day one.
