Dear Editor,
Six years after oil’s first droplets slipped anchor rooted in Neptune’s watery realm, Guyanese argue over man’s liquid nectar, its streams. Who benefits? Who are the haves, have nots? How many haves, how many multiples more of have nots? What consists of clashing, arguing, lamenting, headbutting, handwringing, gut-wrenching Guyanese masses? What’s their lot: Riding high on prosperity’s wings? Or buried deep in poverty’s wells? Frightening, transfixing, impaling poverty.
Ashni Singh had his facts. So did similarly honourable Guyanese: Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, MP; Ayodele Dalgety-Dean, CEO; and Clinton Urling. They grumbled, bumbled, stumbled before BBC World Questions: Guyana. Congra-tulations for having stomachs stronger than mine. My nose is more sensitive than theirs, though. I stay far from rancidness. But in today’s pilgrimage for Guyanese, it would be unbecoming to deal in feelings. So much healthier to deal with facts.
Fact One: Ashni Singh had his. Progress is tangible, development visible. Aye, aye, sir. Signoras Sarabo-Halley and Dalgety-Dean’s facts focused on cost-of-living and the oil boom that strikes many Guyanese dead, respectively. Mr. Urling took another tack: GDP has grown exponentially; not just one thing changed (C-o-L). Well said, ladies and gents. What say I, amid these thunderous showers of facts? A soft path is walked. In reverse order.
Fact Two: Clinton Urling should know that GDP is an average, one masking massive disparities between who benefits and prospers, who stays poor, grows poorer. From 5 billion to 25 billion so rapidly is stupendous; overpowers prevailing levels, unshackles statistical restraints. Such a GDP staggers the imagination, clogs calculators.
Fact Three: The numbers haven’t made one damn bit of difference for ordinary Guyanese in their daily losing battle with prices. With GDP numbers like those for six years running, the BBC shouldn’t ask questions about fair distribution. Ask this: are Guyanese better off today versus nonoil days?
Fact Four: The same blinding, mind-bending GDP oil-driven numbers incentivize foreigners to come running here. Guyanese run for cover. They lose local price wars. Dr. Singh and Mr. Urling have their facts. There’re other facts. Hungry, hollow-eyed, haunted brigade strength Guyanese. I ask both scholars: why is that so, how can that be? Another question: what development, progress, for Guyanese minimum wage workers? How do they survive on US$10 a day (US$300 monthly)? How many are they? How do 96,000 pensioners, likely many of that number whose only income is GY$46,000 monthly, live on GY$1500 a day? More hospitals are great. Forward progress competing with nutrition insufficiency, and deficiency in quality. More schools are lovely. But struggling stomachs drain brain powerplants. Speak to Guyana about oil GDP, oil progress, yet they live like this. Not one thousand, but multiples of a hundred thousand.
Fact five: Dr. Singh reports 104,000 new jobs created. Using Dr. de la Cruz’s census population contraption that translates to 15% more Guyanese collecting paychecks. Why do Guyanese families, Guyanese communities, struggle to buy food, clothing, painkillers? Pay that monthly pain -bills?
Fact Six: Singh said the transformation is measurable. Yessir! Then show the nation, the BBC, the world, the measurement, please. Provide the substance of government reality. Then let there be a referendum of the afflicted and beaten down on what is rhetoric, what’s real. I suggest reconciliation with SN’s cost-of-living series, then another chat on gaps.[1] No controlled settings with other linguistic generals, but with those punishing, though mouthwatering GDP numbers inundate. Let them speak; their empty handedness exposed globally. Let their anguish wash those wondrous GDP numbers in the tears and hopelessness with which they coexist.
Fact Seven: gaudy GDP numbers, gleaming buildings, modern bridges. But record budgets with over half segregated for the already rich, the One Guyana segment that counts. Hence, not much could be left for poor Guyanese, further impoverished by spiraling prices. GDP numbers. National development priorities and progress. Oil billions comingled and a man as immensely credentialed as Dr. Ashni Singh cannot tell Guyanese how their oil money is really spent. Nor why so many can’t cope, per SN’s cost-of-living series and 171 samples. Oil Dorado or Oil Diablo? When there’s sumptuous feasting, no Guyanese should be famished.
Fact Eight: Dr. Singh would extol PPP highlights. He did. He skirted ground zero, where Guyanese multitudes gasp for breath (a dodger). Mr. Urling tried not to imitate Dr. Singh. He failed (a player). Ms. Dalgety-Dean tried, like a seasoned politician, to please all, offend none. She disappointed (a mover). Ms. Sarabo-Halley experienced heavy weather. She flopped (a shaker). The BBC moderator was so tilted, it surprises he didn’t fall on his face. From bias with questions taken, to time allowed, he was Dr. Singh’s best friend.
Final notes: Singh, Urling, and the BBC ganging up. Dalgety-Dean circling around. Sarabo-Halley hanging on. Confirms my first position: a fixed game, another Guyana oil farce.