Guyana Observer News

Peter R. Ramsaroop, MBA

OVERVIEW:
While in DC this week I was able to get just a glimpse of President Obama. He was very busy working with leaders of Congress and the Senate to put together a new economic plan for the US. I then read the Guyana local newspapers of how we are firing people for voicing their rights for better working conditions and more importantly it is our President that then comes in the country and directs how fifteen employees will be dealt with.

There are tens of thousands of Guyanese out of work, we have a financial crisis surrounding our nation, regional companies are collapsing, corruption is rampant in our government, yet our President’s priorities include travelling and undoing what his incompetent ministers do.

We must get on with running the country “Mr. President”. We all want to help make our nation better. It is obvious that you have lost touch with us the citizens and what we need. Many of us are willing to sit with you and work out an economic plan that brings prosperity to the nation.

Things are not right in our nation. The government has the majority in Parliament, therefore all its bills pass and none on the opposition side even gets heard.

LAW SUIT 1
I have been having blackout almost daily in Queenstown where my offices are. Even with an upgraded internal wiring, surge protectors, three of my computers blew up as well as one large screen TV. Once we pay our electric bill every month it is a contract that GPL must provide electricity for us the citizens 24-7. How many of you have experienced this, how many of you have lost major appliances due to the power surges?

When one has to buy a generator and diesel to supplement GPL, one should be compensated. GPL has not reduced our bills even though fuel prices have dropped significantly. Millions were spent on renting generators from friends; now there is no money to upgrade the system. If you feel the same way, call me and add your name to our lawsuit.

LAW SUIT 2
Millions have disappeared, been misappropriated and stolen from the national treasury. Major concessions have been given to friends that rape us the citizens of our taxes. State properties are sold below market value which again rapes us of our money. Government should not have the right to waste our tax payer’s money.

They are responsible for protecting our hard earned dollars. We want to know where the money has gone. The Auditor General puts it in his report, but then it is lost somewhere in mid air. Join me in this lawsuit if you feel you have paid taxes and it is not being managed correctly.

LAW SUIT 3
The overall tax system must be overhauled. There are significant flaws in the collection of VAT. For example, one must put revenue stamps on the total value which already includes the VAT. Government takes over $0.50 from every taxable dollar. We cannot allow this to go on.

They abuse their majority in parliament to block tax reform, and the freedom of information act which the AFC has steadfastly piloted. We cannot allow this poor governance anymore in our country. Let us take it to court.

LAW SUIT 4
Proper roads are the responsibly of government. That is why they said they needed so much VAT money to repair our roads. I hit a hole the other day and got a flat tire; the damage to my vehicle was significant. When one drives across the Demerara Harbour Bridge you just have to pray you get over safely. I started to walk with lifejackets in my vehicle.

If you have had damages to your vehicle or have been a passenger that got a bump on your head in a minibus that hit a hole, then you should join this lawsuit.

CONCLUSION:
We all know that Parliament is not functional and the executive branch that is directed by the President has all the power. Dr. Jagan fought the Burnham constitution of executive power for decades, yet after almost 20 years, the PPP has failed to change it. They abuse the power just the same way the PNC did under the Burnham rule. This must stop. Our constitutional rights are being violated every day.

We will take these and other issues to the courts. We hope that the Caribbean Court of Justice will be ready to hear our appeals. President Obama will be in Trinidad to discuss “Good Governance” as a topic of the Summit of Americas. We want him and other world leaders to know that we have the poorest of governance in our nation. “Together we will”, one case at a time, make our voices heard. Until next time “Roop”