Dear Editor,
When this People’s National Congress-led coalition Government came to office, it removed completely the $10,000 cash-per-child award given to parents on behalf of their children at school. It was an unconscionable, uncaring and downright low blow dealt to the children of this country; but no one said a word of protest, save the Opposition PPP/C, all others were strangely silent. They were well in agreement with their party and Government in that move because, as they claim, it was the Government’s way of punishing the PPP/C for a political gimmick to get votes.
How asinine that assertion was, but the facts are clear that the parents were punished for the former Government doing something worthy and caring.
Little did the teachers, who are also daytime parents of our children, realise that their day would soon come, when the demonic side of their Government would be unleashed on them in a “no grant of increases in salaries and benefits”. It was the bare facts of karma hitting them like an avalanche. Teachers were caught flat-footed when the beastly side of their Government was revealed.
When the situation began to sink in that they were not about to get anything from this Government, it was only then that they rose up in condemnation. Now that the situation reached boiling point. The teachers are asking for all the support they can get, and from what I gather, the parents are about now coming out in support of the teachers’ cause.
With the support teachers are getting from parents, they should be humbled and thankful for the help they are getting in their time of need, when they needed that supporting shoulder to cry on. I do hope teachers get the stern rebuke message that they deserve, and get the rude awakening that they should have been more sympathetic and understanding of the parents’ plight when they were so affected.
But such is the harsh situation in a place called Guyana, where politics clouds the eyes so that even when the situation is more than obvious, folks turn the blind eye until the problem hits home. At that instance, they want everyone else to lend a helping hand. As the lyrics of the Old Anglican Hymn says, “O come and mourn with me awhile, O come let us mourn … together.” Fit and proper words for the situation at hand.
Guyana is a doomed place with the PNC in Government, and the sooner the masses get the message the better. Sorry the teachers got theirs so late, but as the saying goes, “better late than never.” Another day is coming; that is, general elections. I wait to see their response to that litmus test also.
Respectfully,
Neil Adams
