propaganda press! freedom in Guyana

Dear Editor,
The many failures of this Government, such as security of citizens, problematic drainage, deterioration of sea defence infrastructure, deterioration of roads in villages, and inability to attract investors, continue to plague this nation.
Along with the above, the distinct knowledge that the political and many Government functionaries have no vision and thus cannot lead us, contributes to this dismal picture. None of the doctors of the Government who preach propaganda on the national television can heal this nation. Citizens know that these doctors are not up to the task. We give all of them an F grade, and there is no exam to retake.
This Government continues to manage with its communist cap on. These simple-minded functionaries now target selected overseas consultants in their latest restrictive measures. Why should a Guyanese from the Diaspora, applying for a job in Guyana, now be offered a third of the salary of a non-Guyanese, when they are performing the same consultancy services? Why do the Government treat their own people with disdain, but open their arms wide to non-Guyanese just because of their, the Government’s, inferiority complex?
The Government complains of lack of human resources as a justification for why many projects cannot be implemented, but there is a huge resource pool in the form of the Diaspora. And these are persons who understand the culture and may be more incline to risk working here. But the petty functionaries feel that persons of Guyanese origin should not earn beyond what they earn. But they feel it’s okay to pay a non-Guyanese three or four times more for the same job. And it is these petty ideals that will always hold Guyana back.
Economics teaches the principles of supply and demand.  There is no such thing as a shortage for anything, there is simply a balance point where the supply and demand curves intersect and that occurs at the market-clearing price.
If the Government wants qualified people for any job, they would follow the free market and price the job appropriately.  At the correct price they would have the choices they might wish.  The truth is they are acting in a manner that is consistent with not wanting to fix the problem of resources, which is not the same as saying they don’t want to fix the problem.
Why is the current CEO of GWI continuing to preside over a failing sector that is so integral to providing a good image to develop the tourism sector? Why is the GCAA in such a mess? How will we be able to deal with additional arrivals, if by some miracle the tourism sector took off suddenly?
The PPP communist mindset has been to ignore marketing principles or, rather, economic principles. They believe that people should want to have these jobs at the prices they are offering, and if nobody wants these jobs at these prices, then shame on them.
It really is very simple.  If acquisition of something is important, buy it.  Sponsor the effort to get it.  Do it on a competitive basis to avoid paying above market price by all means, but commit to buying it and just do it.
The Government must advertise internationally to fill all key positions. If qualified Guyanese from the local private sector or from the Diaspora apply, and they are appropriately qualified and win the competition, then hire them.
But do not hire political lackeys. The Government must change its mindset.
And when the Government commits to going this route, the Government must give the person awarded the job the necessary leverage to ensure that person has the mandate to succeed and be fully supported at the  necessary sponsorship level.
The past and current behaviours are consistent with not wanting to fix the problems.  There are many people with the required skills to perform as necessary to move the country forward.
If this were a business and analysis showed that there are a few key positions that must be properly staffed else you might go out of business, then you would find these resources.  The alternative would be to go out of business. If you were at war and there were a few key strategic generals missing, you would find the best resources available and staff the positions.  The alternative would be to lose the war.
You would think that if you were bootstrapping a country and you needed some key positions filled, you would fill them with the right resources.  The alternative would be …what?  Lack of development?  Losing the next election?  Insurrection and revolution?  Politics allows failure by mediocrity because you can always spin the failure and blame someone else.  Something the many doctors in Government are getting pretty good at. Mediocrity breeds and propagates itself.  It will take some huge effort to grind out of this rut, and one cannot see it happening soon for Guyana. I am optimistic that we will get out of this rut, but we probably need a revolution.
I am not talking bloodshed; we have enough of that. But just the ordinary people saying, “Enough, it is time to take a stand.”
 Ganesh Singh