Dear Excellency President Granger,
First, let me thank you for your humanitarian suggestion to invite to Guyana our Caribbean brothers and sisters from Dominica, who have suffered from the ravages of Hurricane Maria.
I would like to think that you would hold community meetings to hear the views of citizens, because they are the ones who would have to host the Dominicans.
More than anyone else, YOU should be aware that Guyana is facing a socio-economic crisis. The closure of some sugar factories has caused increased unemployment. Employers would soon be forced to send home workers if the economic situation continues.
I would like you to give details to the nation on how you intend to accommodate and employ Dominicans.
Mr President, on many occasions I have heard you said that you are a man of truth. I have no reason to doubt you. You have spoken about lands that you would make available to Dominicans for agriculture, but does your Government have the resources to build the infrastructure in a new environment for these refugees?
How much would it cost the Government? From where would you find the funds to build roads, houses, schools, hospitals, etc, and supply electricity and water? History has taught us there is a price to charity.
Is your invitation to the Dominicans a way of getting more people to vote for you? I have no problem with that. If I were in your position, I would do the same.
Most of your ministers are conjuring a dream that oil will bring salvation to Guyana. But this is really a pipe dream.
An article posted on AlterNet by Nafeez Ahmed stated that the oil industry is crumbling. He wrote, “It’s not looking good for the global fossil fuel industry. Although the world remains heavily dependent on oil, coal and natural gas – which today supply around 80 percent of our primary energy needs – the industry is rapidly crumbling.”
In an article published in Clean Tecnica, Paul Gilding wrote that the fossil fuel energy industry is now entering terminal decline. Gilding wrote, “It’s time to make the call – fossil fuels are finished.”
Guyana should take a look at the economic crisis that is now bedevilling Trinidad, which depends heavily on oil.
All politicians are known to spin hopes and dreams for their constituents.
Mr President, please explain how you intend to accommodate Dominicans in the wake of abysmally low oil prices worldwide.
Sincerely,
Jai Sears,
Grenada
