Georgetown: The Political Opposition, People Progressive Party (PPP) and A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Government Ministers clashed Monday over the 2017 estimates and expenditure in the National Assembly as opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Harry Gill questioned where is the “Good Life” which was promised by the APNU Government.
The debates, which will last for a period of five days, kick started Monday as Gill told the parliament that whoever came up with the “Good Life” slogan must have been familiar with the works of Adolf Hitler’s Minister of Propaganda, Dr. Joseph Goebbels. For he believed that, “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie.”
Reflecting on the reoccurring theme used by the APNU Administration to promote the National Budget since 2015, is “A Good Life,” the Parliamentarian said in 2015, the theme was: “A Fresh Approach to the Good Life in a Green Economy”; and in 2016, it was modified to: “Stimulating Growth, Restoring Confidence: The Good Life Beckons” and now the 2017 National Budget promises to deliver “The Good Life to All Guyanese.”
In 2016, Gill said the GDP grew by a mere 2.6 percent, nowhere close to the 4.4 percent predicted to stimulate Growth. Consumer Confidence was not restored, it was shattered by scandal after scandal and the mismanagement of the economy and the administration appears to have no economic plan to beckon in the Good Life.
In debunk the government’s “ Good Life,” Gill said the Good Life is a term used to describe the life that one would like to live, a life abounding in material comforts and luxuries. The majority of Guyanese unfortunately, are not living anywhere close to the Good Life.
He explained that a Good Life is having Job Security and being able to take home a realistic livable Income.
“Our youths are now better educated and better prepared to join the work force, yet unemployment is very high and despite promises, this government has repeatedly failed to create employment opportunities for the thousands of High School and University graduates now jobless,” the Parliamentarian said.
He said a “Good Life” is having the financial resources to pay mortgage, rent or car payments when they become due. But the reality is, he said many home-owners are in default, and risk foreclosure by lending institutions. Similarly, many car-owners are struggling to prevent the banks from repossessing the vehicles they drive. Some are hustling to raise the money by working private-hire. This is not a Good Life.
“A Good Life is being able to afford to provide for your child’s education rather than depending on government’s subsidies. and handouts. Mr Speaker, many single parents and poor families have no disposable income to even afford the CXC registration fees that would provide their children with an opportunity for a secondary education, and a chance at a better life. Some are so desperate, children sometimes go to school hungry,” Gill noted. “ A Good Life is when you can afford to take your family on a vacation and to provide adequately for all their needs. But even the few families that could have afforded this, will now find it very difficult to continue… “A Good Life is when women and young girls are no longer victims of human-trafficking and prostitution, and when prosperity replaces hopelessness to the poor and downtrodden…. “ A Good Life, is when you can afford to leave security-lights on at night to discourage bandits from breaking into your home, robbing you of your precious valuables and often… your very life…. “A Good Life is when young Guyanese no longer risk incarceration for smuggling cocaine and marijuana and can turn away from a career of crime: stealing cell phones and robbing businessmen.
But with the growing number of Presidential pardons handed out to criminals on an annual basis, and with the government’s plan to aggressively target alternative sentencing to reduce prison overcrowding such as probation, community service, restitution, and fines, I’m afraid Guyanese can expect a further increase in the crime statistics in the new year.”
He continued: “A Good Life is when police men and women, and civil servants no longer have to supplement their meager salaries by taking bribes. Give them the 20% increase they deserve.”
A Good Life, Mr Speaker, Gill said is what the APNU and AFC Ministers of Government now enjoy.
“When, as a Minister, your salary ranges between GUY$800,000 and $1.7M and the struggling taxpayers of this country are burdened to pay for the luxury vehicle you drive and the gas you use; When they pay all your electricity bills; your water bills; your cell phone bills; your land-line bills; When taxpayers pay for your security guards, your bodyguards, your maids, your gardeners, your cooks, your entertainment, your first-class travels and vacations; your medical bills and your gigantic pension, you can afford the Good Life!”
Even so, the opposition Parliamentarian said it would appear that despite the hefty salaries and perks being given to Ministers of Government, this may not be enough for some. The opposition will have to scrutinize this budget very carefully to ensure slush funds are not being created for illicit purposes. “After all, General Elections are not too far away.”
A Good Life, Gill said is when you can afford to take a shower more than once a day without having to think about the 14 percent VAT that will now increase the rate you pay for electricity and water.
“But what is most astonishing Mr Speaker, is that some of the same Ministers enjoying the Good Life are brazen enough to tell the Guyanese people they must conserve on electricity and water to avoid paying the extra 14% VAT on those everyday necessities.”
Minister Jordan, Gill said during a post-Budget press conference explained that the 14% Value Added Tax on electricity and water should be seen as a conservation measure.
“Minister Bulkan, the mathematician, said he worked out the maths that would allow Guyanese to keep their water bills below $1,500.00. All that is required is for them to use 400 gallons of water every two-and-a-half days to avoid paying the 14% VAT,” he noted.
Adding that Prime Minister Nagamootoo said electricity is a scarce resource, and government is only trying to introduce a mechanism to ensure Guyanese are aware of that, Gill said “while GPL may want to make money, it also has a national responsibility to ensure that people use electricity responsibly.”
“Perhaps the Honorable Prime Minister will want to use this persuasive argument to convince his coalition partners to finally end the Two point One Billion Dollars ($2.1B) in electricity subsidies budgeted for the PNC/APNU stronghold of Linden.”
The Administration, he said would have been less hypocritical if they had promised to deliver “A BETTER LIFE.” as opposed to A Good Life. For all they had to achieve, was to insure that, regardless of a person’s financial position and standard of living, government’s policies and programs contributed to improving their quality of life from what it was before. But the PNC controlled APNU government has failed miserably to even accomplish this milestone.
Mr. Speaker, Gill said the reality is that people are suffering in this country, and supporters of the APNU and AFC are not excluded from being squeeze by the country’s economic woes.
“I invite my colleagues from the other side of this Honorable House to solicit the views of market and road-side vendors to determine whether they’re enjoying the Good Life being touted by the APNU Administration….Let them talk to their supporters in Linden, and Buxton, and the depressed community of Ithaca… I can assure you, those die-hard PNC supporters will no longer be fooled by this rhetoric, for they too are suffering because of the Administration’s incompetence and mismanagement.
I implore my colleagues from across the isle to talk to those sugar workers and the rice farmers they fooled during the campaign, and listen to how insecure they feel with their livelihood being threatened by the imminent demise of these industries.”
Meanwhile, in underscoring that there is no relief from the Private Sector either, Gill said the collapse of public confidence in the government is causing the Private Sector to get very nervous as many prefer to adopt a “Wait and See” approach before investing and expanding their businesses to create employment.
In quoting Sir Winston Churchill, Gill stated “I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.”
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