Empty goals, unrealistic promises will lead to nowhere
June 13, 2015 By
Dear Editor, There were lofty and exciting promises made by the APNU/AFC coalition when in opposition, promises that would cause anyone to want to vote for them. They promised the electorate the sun the moon and the stars, nice, giddying promises to keep anyone in an all time high. As a result we would have reached the state of nirvana where there is only perfect peace and happiness.
They spoke of a Utopian society where the young would get jobs almost overnight – that is within the first 100 days of taking office. The old would receive pensions that are so comfortable that they can take overseas trips and bask in retired splendour.
The Berbice Bridge toll would be lowered, in fact all taxes would be lowered. The value added tax would have been lowered to nothingness and prices kept at a minimum. And last but by no means least, wages and salaries would rise significantly placing us on par with the best of the Caribbean. But that was all said when they were in the opposition and things suited their aspirations to office. Now that they are in office when the truth hits home, they have realized that these goals are unrealistic to say the least and unattainable at best.
They have backpedaled, gone back on those words of a Utopian lifestyle to statements to the effect that “we would have to review our position”. We are also burdened with excuses such “millions are missing” as well as “the treasury is empty”. But like I said before these things had no real significance when on the campaign trail, it has now.
You would understand that all of the above factors they lavishly promised represent monies flowing out of the public coffers which would result in a drastic rise in inflation. This the opposition, now turn government, did not envisage.
On the other hand commonsense dictates that more emphasis should be placed on income generating programmes whereby there would be less dependence on the national treasury.
A wise government would increase production in sectors such as forestry, fishing, mining and agriculture, consolidating traditional ones, while broadening the scope of others on the international market.
Have value added to our already burgeoning agricultural export products. Seeing rice is doing tremendously well we can have rice cereals among other products.
Diversify some of the traditional agro-based industries and bring in newer projects such as the cut flower industry – this is a huge income earner on the European market. It has the potential to generate lots of income. We have the land we have the agricultural expertise the only thing left is the political will to launch out.
Then there is tourism still in its infancy and has huge potential on the economic success stage. All the Caribbean Islands depend on it, without it they will not survive.
With the country opening up to investors construction industry will boom, we will see builders and construction workers getting jobs as well as the new commercial entities opening up even more avenues for employment.
These are some of the plans and projections already started by the PPP/C which should have seen a continued trend in the developmental goals of the new administration. But these are not the objectives of the new government.
All of those plans policies and what have you came to a screeching halt with APNU’s accession to office. At present we see a party stuck with the difficult task of rewarding party cronies for the dirty work they did in bringing them to power. There is not an inkling of development wise, income gathering programmes.
Hence, I will sum up the whole affair by repeating what I’ve said earlier, that none of the promises made during the election campaign would come to fruition.
Finally, the road we have embarked on would certainly bring this country to ruin, we are in for some bitter days.
Neil Adams
