Introduction:

    Before this National Assembly of our dear nation is the 2011 Budget. It is before us for debate and passage, thereafter authorizing the government to expend these sums in the various sectors. The budgeted amount for 2011 is G $ 161.4 billion. Many are of the view that with this increased expenditure across our nation things will improve somewhat. We all know that every year’s budget has been bigger than the previous year. However there has not been a corresponding general increase in the standard of living of our citizens over these years. More money in the hands of a person does not automatically mean an improvement in the life of that person. It depends on who that person is and how he spends. More money in the hands of the wrong person can very well bring destruction as he falls to the enticements and allurements which surround him. This is also true of a nation. It is very probable that if the present trend in spending continues poverty will continue to abound in our land. There are many conditions which prevail in our society which contribute to the ongoing of poverty, conditions which are not adequately addressed in this budget.

Factors which contribute to poverty in Guyana:

     I first refer to ignorance which is a lack of information, or a lack of knowledge. In 2010 a sum of $ 21.8 billion was expended in the education sector. This year $ 24.3 billion has been allocated. Various details have been given as to how this money will be spent. However, there is the burden of extra lesson fees which the average Guyanese family has to deal with. Depending on the number of subjects taken by a CXC student this may run between $20,000- 30,000 per month. Any family who earns around $ 50,000 per month cannot afford this, and there are many such families in our midst. Coupled with this there are other expenses such as travelling, food, clothing, text books and stationery supplies for school children. These expenses make education something not so easily accessible, especially to the low or middle income earner. The government’s provision of school uniforms and snacks for some students is a very feeble effort in alleviating this problem, for we do know that not every student who have these needs can or will be helped by the government. There is an old truth which says that “Knowledge is power”. Therefore people without knowledge lack power and struggle in poverty. Poverty places the poor at an unfair advantage when it comes to education.

   There is a second lingering factor here which causes people to languish in poverty, and it is called dependency. Dependency results from being on the receiving end of charity. In the short run, as after a disaster, charity may be essential for survival. In the long run, charity can contribute to the possible demise of the recipient, and certainly to the ongoing of poverty. Most people in this nation depend on remittances to survive, and on the government of the day to provide certain basics. The 2009 Report on Human Rights Practices in Guyana (as put out by the US State Department) said “The minimum public sector wage was G $ 34,055.00 per month. There were minimum wages for certain categories of private sector workers, including retail cashiers, clerks, printers, drivers, and conductors starting with a minimum of $ 4,120.00 per week. Although enforcement mechanisms exist it was difficult to put them into practice, and unorganized workers, particularly women and children in the informal sector often were paid less than the service sector legal minimum wage. The legal minimum wage did not provide a decent standard of living for a worker and family”. The case of security guards, some of whom watch our schools and other valuable buildings worth millions are in point here. They are contracted at the rate of $ 100.00 per hour. Sad to say, many of these guards are women who singlehandedly raise their children. This budget is silent on the minimum wage issue. Simply stated the dependency on remittances and on the state will continue here thus ensuring that the poor remains poor.

     On the subject of dependency as it contributes to poverty, I make reference to the LCDS which is so widely spoken of here. We will benefit a great lot as a nation if we do receive the LCDS money promised by Norway. But with the same breath we must admit that we will become dependent on foreigners. Just as how there is dignity in a person earning his daily bread, so there is dignity in a nation which relies on its own resources and sweat.  Whilst it is important for us to consider global matters we must more importantly consider what is going on at home. Dr. Phil Bartle, writing on the subject of community development said “Whilst we think globally we must act locally”.

     There is a third factor here which contributes to continued poverty and that is dishonesty. I refer here to resources that are intended to be used for community services or facilities and which are diverted into the private pockets of persons in positions or power. My colleague Hon. Member Khemraj Ramjattan spoke in great detail on this scourge. However I briefly quote from the 2009 Report on Human Rights Practices in Guyana (as put out by the US State Department) “The World Bank’s worldwide governance indicators reflected that government corruption was a serious problem. There was widespread public perception of serious corruption in the government including law enforcement and the judicial system. Low-wage public servants were easy targets for bribery”.

Struggles of Neighbourhood Democratic Councils:

  The NDC’s across this country are literally choked by central government to the point where they can hardly execute the smallest of projects without central government’s approval. Up to a few months ago NDCs could have spent up to $ 250,000.00 on projects without the subject minister’s approval. This ceiling was recently drastically reduced. At the present time NDC’s will have to seek the minister’s approval for any expenditure above $ 100,000.00. This means that little things such as the purchasing of a brush cutter, or the purchasing of a truckload of stone, or the repainting of a building cannot be executed without ministerial approval. This is almost saying to us that there is no need for the local government structure in Guyana anymore. No government can do it all alone! This arrangement will further hinder the development of our towns and communities.

Health:

      $ 14 billion has been allocated to the health sector in this year’s budget, which is $ 0.6 billion more than 2010. Mention is made that a Storage Bond in Diamond will be completed in 2011. While it is important that we build new structures it is equally important that existing facilities be properly maintained. I use the example of the Diamond Diagnostic Centre. Last year during a visit to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, which is a fairly new facility it was found to be in very poor shape because of poor maintenance. Stagnant water, with a lot of mosquito worms was found at the base of the water tanks supplying the facility. There were broken gutters, exposed electrical wires and non-functioning toilets. Staff had no proper lunch room. The living quarters of the Cuban doctors were in poor condition. There were no proper systems in place to even fix a flat tire for the ambulance. This is just to name a few.

     The Ministry of Health is often assisted by donors, especially migrated Guyanese. Donors assist hoping that their countrymen can benefit from their generosity. Unfortunately what they give is often left to fall apart. I cite two examples. The first relates to an ambulance which was donated by a family in London around four years ago and designated to the BV health centre. It worked well for a few months and thereafter was laid up for parts. It is still there idle, a sure sign of neglect. On the issue of ambulances for the East Coast of Demerara the Regional Democratic Council was forced to remove ambulance PGG 3150 because of bad condition. At the time when this vehicle was grounded it was in a worse condition than condemned mini buses which are converted into cargo vans. This ambulance is in the same condition at an East Coast workshop for anyone who is interested to take a look.

     The second example relates to the health centre at Mora Point, Mahaicony River. This facility was upgraded through the help of a few migrated Guyanese from the area just less than two years ago.  A few months ago the brother of one of those families, who happens to be a diabetic, suffered a slight injury whilst fishing and went there for medical help. There was no nurse there to help him so he went to the Mahaicony Diagnostic Centre where he was treated for three days. Despite the treatment his wound worsened and he had to be taken to Prashad’s Hospital where emergency surgery was performed to save his leg from amputation. His bill had to be paid by his relatives who live in New York, the very ones who assisted to upgrade the Mora Point health centre. Upon his return home in Mahaicony River there was still no nurse to dress his wound. This was very discouraging news to those who helped to upgrade this facility. Up to the time of this presentation there is no permanent Doctor, Medex or Nurse present there. Medical personal visits this facility only occasionally.

Tourism:

     It is reported in the 2011 budget that visitor arrivals rose by 6.3 % over the previous year. Let no one be misguided into thinking that Guyana has become a tourist attraction. Most of those who visit here are migrated Guyanese who come back for a needed occasion, maybe a wedding, a funeral, or just to check on their estate left here. They are not people who are of foreign parentage who flock here in large cruise ships. With all the garbage around us, with serious crimes on the rise, with dangerous roadways who is interested to come here. Note this travel advisory from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office “Driving in Guyana can be dangerous because of poor road sense of road users, frequent hazards, poor lighting and poor road conditions in some areas. Drive defensively. Driving at night should be restricted as much as possible”. A lot more has to be invested here before Guyana can become a tourist destination and the 2011 budget offers very little in this regard.

Agriculture:

   There are just two important points I will like to mention in regard to this sector and they are in regard to rice and sugar. In regard to rice it is reported that in Regions 2,3,4,5 and 6 “thirteen drying facilities were constructed in order to reduce spoilage of paddy”. It would have been so much better if these drying facilities were modern inventions, but unfortunately they are not. They are just open concrete floors which can only be used during dry weather conditions. Farmers who use these floors will have to dry their paddy the same way their great grandfathers did decades ago. When there is an overcast they will have to speedily remove their paddy, whether it is dried or not. The greater need farmers have is for drying facilities which can help them during inclement weather conditions. The government here should take the example of the Philippines where the government has an extension service called the Bureau of Postharvest Research and Extension (BPRE). This extension service provides farmers with access to grain drying facilities as a public investment. These flat-bed dryers can reduce moisture content in grains from 31% to 14% within 6-8 hours. These dryers have an indirect–fired multi-fuel biomass furnace, which uses rice hull and corn cobs as fuel. In developing a country the choice has to be made between the good and the better, and sometimes between the better and the excellent. It is good to have 13 more drying floors but it’s time we move on to the better and to the excellent.

     In the Finance Minister’s remarks pertaining to a disappointing year for the sugar sector Hon. Minister Dr. Ashni Singh said “…poor labour turnout was reflected in 52% crop attendance by cane harvesters as compared to 62% and 72% in 2009 and 2008 respectively. This is partly reflective of structural changes in the labour market induced by alternative employment opportunities being pursued by the existing workforce”. There was a time when estates advertised for 50 labourers and 200 will gather at their gates. These days are no longer with us. Cane harvesters who could not find work here moved to Suriname, Trinidad, St. Kitts, Barbados etc where they had a better pay. Some have returned after a few crops and invested their money in profitable areas. Others never returned. For GUYSUCO to really turn around it will have to create conditions to re-attract manpower into its employment. The 2011 budget assumes that this will somehow happen, but nothing happens in a vacuum.

Infrastructure:

  With reference to infrastructure it is a well known fact that ingress and egress to the hinterland remains a tedious, dangerous, time consuming and costly affair. There is little provision in this budget to improve this area. If Guyana is to move forward its hinterland must be opened up. Trails must become proper roads; proper bridges must replace makeshift crossings over creeks and rivers, safe and comfortable rest stops must be built along roadways, and proper security measures must be in place at strategic points. In Aug 2010 my husband and I narrowly escaped death at Mango Landing on the Essequibo River because of lack of proper infrastructure.

Migration:

      I mentioned the loss of our cane harvesters to our neighbours. However people from all walks of life have left Guyana and many who have not left as yet are waiting on the opportunity to go, even if they have to endure some initial hardships. In the 24^th Jan, 2011 edition of Stabroek News one of its staff  wrote “The migration of Guyanese to Barbados is largely the result of the failure of the Guyana government to create work for the people, provide decent security and social services, to respect human rights, and ensure equality. The lack of these conditions has caused Guyanese to flee in the droves”. On its 50^th anniversary the USAID on June 14^th, 2005 reporting on the development challenge facing Guyana warned “Guyana currently faces a multitude of development challenges: a weak economy, rising crime, poor security, continued out-migration, the specter of HIV/AIDS, and a political climate that threatens its ability to consolidate democracy… The country has been losing its educated professionals. The loss of human capital undermines the Government of Guyana’s capacity to provide quality health, education, and social services; impedes government administration and management, and fosters dependence on donors. The private sector also suffers from these human resource constraints…” Between 2005 and the present time we are in many ways worse off.

     There are those who argue that folks come here to reside. However this is a tiny fraction compared to those leaving. In any case those who come here are not the ones who opt for the sugar cane or rice fields. They head for the gold mines or enter into some business, ensuring that they lead a profitable life and even have something to send to their homeland. One has to be a fool to believe that the Brazilian gold miners declare all their gold to Guyana, or that the numerous Chinese businessmen do not remit funds to their families in China. These are hidden losses to our economy which we can ill afford.

     We must address the pull-and-push factors that cause migration.  There should be more in this budget to cause our people to want to remain here. What are some of these pull-and push factors prevailing here?

1. Lack of scholarships here will cause our young academics to move further afield.
2. If people do not feel safe they will leave to other lands where they can enjoy peace.
3. If our high taxation remains as it is folks will leave to other lands where taxation is more relaxed.
4. If folks can do better economically elsewhere they will not remain in poverty here.
5. If people continue to be overcrowded on the coastal plain where 90% of our population dwells on 10% of our land they will go to other countries where there is not so much pressure for space.
6. If political and racial conflicts continue here folks will leave.

Old Age Pensions

In the interest of transparency and accountability we call on the Hon. Minister Priya Manickchand to publish the names and addresses of all 42,000 pensioners over age 65 on the ministry’s website. Surely the ministry has such a record. In this way members of the public will have an opportunity to know how many names are phantom and how many are not. This is the e-government era and the ministry will have no difficulty posting this information on the website. It is time also for the Freedom of Information Bill to come to this house so that the public can have access to information to help them.

In closing I quote from the Holy Bible Ephesians 4:25 & 28.

“²⁵Wherefore putting away untruth, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another. ²⁸Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth”.

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