Dear Editor,
The gullibility of our dear Prime Minister (PM) can be accepted since he is normally used by his A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) partners to provide the inevitable spin required in different situations.
For instance, with regards to the sugar industry, he would at times call it a ‘black hole’ then he would liken it to ‘raiding the Treasury’ and then in his recent speech in Parliament, he said that the industry was ‘shackled to a deathbed’ and billion has to be given as an ‘injection’.
It’s always so refreshing to listen to his different spin versions but I guess he has failed to recognise that the ‘injection’ did not save the industry’s life but rather mummified it until the funeral. It was the embalming ‘injection’.
In the pre-coalition days this gentleman had spoken about ‘lighting candles’ for the sugar workers. This was in 2010 when he stated that sugar workers must not be made the scapegoats for the industry’s failure. He spoke about the sugar workers being the bedrock of anti-colonial struggles and how for 28 years they fought the People’s National Congress dictatorship for a return to democracy in Guyana.
So why is he silent today when for two years the sugar workers have not been given a cent increase, their payments for ‘extras’ are taken away, Wales is closed (he admitted that this was a mistake), Rose Hall Estate is being merged, Skeldon is up for privatisation and workers are apprehensive and fearful about their future.
What the workers would like to hear is whether he supports privatisation, diversification or closure.
At least there is one Alliance For Change (AFC) person in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) who has made it clear that he supports privatization, but what are the views of the Prime Minister? What are the views of the AFC? He seems to be oblivious about what is going on.
Why this silence? The PM needs to be heard now since many sugar workers supported the AFC in the last General Election. But alas! He seems to be too busy enjoying his ‘fat cat’ position. The ‘Cadillac lifestyle’ in a ‘donkey cart’ economy fits neatly in his scheme of things.
On the other hand, what about the Public Security Minister and Second Vice President? He claimed that the sugar workers are to be blamed for the prison break and destruction, since monies have to be given to the industry while his Ministry is starved for funds. This is pure unadulterated garbage.
At least he did not ‘light a candle’ but he should avoid blaming the poor sugar workers.
What about the 50 per cent salary increases for Ministers and other Government officials? Did that not contribute to the Camp Street riots, jail break and conflagration? However, my question to this Minister is why the silence on the fate of the Guyana Sugar Corporation?
Then what about the Agriculture Minister? This Minister seems to have no clue about what is going on in the sugar industry.
These three AFC gentlemen have utterly failed their members and supporters, especially those in the sugar industry, and it is clear that they have been totally consumed by APNU since the Cummingsburg Accord has failed to give strength to the AFC and it is only a matter of time before it totally disintegrates.
The AFC’s views must be heard on the many issues affecting this nation and silence is not an option.
Yours sincerely,
Muhammad
Mustapha
