Dear Editor,
I understand like the general populace that the economy of Guyana is not as healthy as it could be at this juncture. This in turn is having a negative impact on the minds of most Guyanese. The Budget (which I wrote multiple letters to the newspapers about) has created hardships through the expansion of VAT-able commodities/VAT on education (to which I led a principled protest), the increase in tolls and licensing fees, transportation (private and public) costs, and not forgetting the parking meter fiasco which followed. Like me, many are bewildered. As a businessman, I see the pain in the Private Sector fraternity. The fear of losing lucrative investments is causing many former investors to hoard their money in the event of future hardships, which is being peddled ever so often by experts and public officials. Therefore, the flow of cash and the spending power of consumers is limited which adds to the financial crisis.
The closure of the sugar estates in my view is a significant decision that would have dire repercussions for decades to come. The communities that host these estates will suffer and stagnate more. I can most definitely understand the Government’s vision in trying to save income by downsizing and closing the sugar estates. Because I believe that the aim is to phase out the sugar estates in a manner that coincides with the discovery of the oil deposits so as to cushion any blow to our Gross Domestic Product (GDP). I wish to politely inform the President, the Prime Minister, Cabinet members and all Members of Parliament that they should listen to the hearts, will and mind of its people. This is not a critique of the Government as I have no political affiliation or choice, and possess a free vote for whoever is best prepared to govern our land. So I wish to take this opportunity to call on His Excellency, President Brigadier David Arthur Granger to listen to the cries of all sectors despite representing the PNC and the APNU parties. Further, I also believe that former President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo truly loves his country and wishes for us to prosper and so, if its means consultation, it should be pursued at all levels on all national issues. We must pursue communication with the aim of unity and at least community mindedness.
As a patriot who has invested all that he has to his country, I just wish for my country and its people to prosper; I desire for politicians to disregard using race as a means of obtaining votes in elections. I stand firm in the belief that my partner, General Secretary of the Universal Peace Federation Guyana, Reverend Ronald Mc Garrell and I, National Chairman of the UPF Roshan Khan can do something to break the impasse and disrespect we see between the two major political parties.
Let us work for a future that our coming generations will be proud of, ‘Let us cooperate for our country, let us cooperate for our land.’
Yours sincerely,
Roshan Khan
