Georgetown: After being given the opportunity to serve Guyana on a higher level, re-migrant Harry Gill who is now a People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament (MP) says that many of the promises made in the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government manifesto is nothing more than a “Good Lie”.
Gill described the National Budget 2015 as unrealistic. In making his points, he explained that “this Budget can be best described as plenty rhetoric and little substance. Whoever came up with the “Good Life” as the Budget theme, should have named it the “Good Lie” instead.
Gill in referring to a statement made by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, who stated, “If the treasury was empty, how then a budget larger than any other budget in our history with a lower deficit, could have been presented to this honourable House?”
Guyana has been on an upward growth trajectory for several years now with an average annual growth rate of about 4.5 per cent in Gross Domestic (GDP), but in just a few weeks of the new Administration, it was claimed that the treasury is broke, there is no money to pay rice farmers and billions have disappeared.
Gill pointed out that while the People’s National Congress (PNC)-led APNU/AFC stronghold of Linden is being given billions of dollars in electricity subsidies and another $155 million to reactivate the Linden Enterprise Network (LEN), there is nothing of substance for the people of any other regions.
Particularly focusing on Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), the district he pledged to represent, Gill said the $300 reduction in the toll to cross the Berbice Bridge is “more than symbolic for this Government to boast of having fulfil a campaign promise”.
He also pointed out that there was no mention of provisions in the Budget for the allocation of subsidies to the Berbice Bridge Company Inc (BBCI) for the reduction of these tolls.
He noted that civil servants were initially promised a 20 per cent salary hike, only to have the rate progressively lowered. In the Budget, Government allocated a mere five per cent and was not even retroactive from January 1 as was done under the previous PPP/C Government.
“How can civil servants enjoy the “Good Life” that is touted in the Budget?” Gill questioned.
Gill noted that the coalition Government promised Guyanese that it would lower the Value Added Tax (VAT) so they could enjoy the “Good Life” since they dubbed the 16 per cent as burdensome. However, VAT has not been reduced.
In relation to the elderly, Gill posited that the APNU/AFC administration wickedly tried to fool them into thinking that the Government has its interest at heart.
“They have raised Old Age Pension from $13,125 to $17,000… Big deal when the APNU/AFC had promised to double this benefit immediately upon assumption to office,” Gill stated, noting that some $4000 is of no significant, since the Government eliminated subsidies in water and electricity.
“So how do the elderly enjoy the “Good Life” when the measly $3875 increase proposed in the Budget for pensioners will have to be used to pay their electricity and water bills? Stop fooling our elderly,” Gill contended.
Fifthly, Gill pointed out that the Government deprived every single child in the public education system across Guyana of $10,000 which was used to assist in the purchase of school uniforms and equipment to take them back to school. Instead, the Government upped the $1500 school uniform vouchers by a mere $500.
“How does denying every child $9500 allow their parents to give those children a “Good Life”? Is this not removing an investment in our children’s education?” he asked.
Gill also referred to the 1972 indigenous young people who were indiscriminately fired and now cannot afford to provide basic food items and other necessities for their families.
“How can the Government claim in this Budget to provide a “Good Life” for all Guyanese?” Gill continued to ask.
Moreover, he posited that in order to cover up its failure, the APNU/AFC Administration is making allegations of corruption against the PPP/C.
“A reason had to be given for the inability of Government to reduce the VAT and to honour their commitment to raise public servants salaries by 20 per cent. So instead of admitting to being unrealistically over-generous with their promises on the campaign trail, they blame it all on the evil People’s Progressive Party. What’s new?” he contended.
Mr. Gill recently returned to Guyana after living in the United States for over 22 years. His love of country and passion for politics influenced his decision to return home where he had hoped to make a meaningful contribution to the land of his birth. He was obviously pleased to be on the PPP/C Candidate’s list last election, and now sees this appointment as a step closer to bringing his dreams to fruition. Harry Gill is married and lives in D’Edward Village, West Coast Berbice. He has a background in marketing and public relations, and is an established graphic designer and photographer.
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