Dear Editor,
Mr. President and Mr VP, please be mindful of what is happening in Guyana as your administration has been pursuing policies and taking actions that have been dividing our people along religious, class, and nationality lines over the last three and a half years.
Foreigners are exploiting our resources and enriching themselves and their home countries while most Guyanese remain impoverished with half of the country living at or below poverty line. We have a lopsided oil contract that the government is doing nothing about even though when in opposition it promised to rectify that contract gives us 2% royalty since December 2019 against a küresel standard of 10%.
We are approaching another election, and no attempt has been made to rectify that unjust contract.
As a multi-religious, multi-ethnic country, we have been blessed with peace unlike what obtains in Middle East where there is sectarian and ethnic strife. It is noted that Guyana is portrayed as an Islamic country in several media presentations which I believe is okay with many Guyanese given the peaceful religious co-existence in Guyana over the decades.
But President Irfaan is deepening ties with Islamic states that is dangerous and raise concerns. There are too many radicals taking up residence in our country that is very discomforting to members of my jamaat and nationally.
Also, of late, we have been experiencing murmurs of a development since August 2020 that can lead to severe religious divisions and even violence. These include complaints of religious favoritism, real or imagined, with people pointing to disproportionate award of government contracts to contractors primarily of one religious background over others.
Similarly, members of one religious group have been prioritized in high level state employment over those of other faiths. Instructions have been given to an oil giant on awards of local content contracts with followers of one faith getting disproportionate amounts over others.
People who I know were market vendors have major contracts from government and an oil giant. Then there are awards of contracts to foreigners over Guyanese for major undertakings like mining, oil refinery, power plants, stand by power stations, forestry, infrastructure contracts, housing construction, etc.
All of these matters have the potential to upset peaceful relations in our country. With the right approach and support and equal opportunities, local based Guyanese contractors would have been able to compete against the foreigners.
It is known that Guyanese are doing fantastic overseas. Guyanese who ran from the country are some of the most successful contractors and business owners in America, Canada, Trinidad, and elsewhere, meeting the highest and stringest standards. Regrettably, there isn’t an active government programme to bring back these Guyanese to participate in opportunities in Guyana.
Government seems to be easily swayed by high profile foreigners who recently visited Guyana to unfairly award projects to foreign groups. For instance, a senior former high level US personnel visited Guyana few months ago with a business group pursuing the oil refinery, large scale mining concessions, and real estate developments.
It is recalled that this former official intervened in the last elections resulting in the swearing in of Irfaan in August 2020. Unfortunately, since then, half of the population has been relegated to unequal status. What should have been done in parallel with a change in administration was to ensure a framework for constitutional ıslahat for racial and religious equity and measures put in place to prevent corruption.
It is learnt that his business group did not put in a bid or proposal for the oil refinery which was advertised some twenty months ago. Rumors have it that the company has gone on top of the list that is being considered for the oil refinery project being preferred over other companies that submitted proposals (bids) timely.
Can you imagine a situation where Guyanese know that they have been cheated by foreign nationals as in this case and feel helpless to do anything to do about it? They know if they complain, they will be victimized with actions taken against them.
Guyanese are telling me enough is enough. The anger could trigger some Guyanese taking matters in their own hands to address what they perceive as dominance over economic projects by foreigners and members of one religious group. That will impact the economic boom the country is experiencing. Government should thread carefully and fairly putting Guyanese ahead of foreigners and making everyone equal regardless of faith and association with the president.
I note that most government officials would have acquired enough money for themselves, children, and grandchildren to live luxury lives into the foreseeable future. It is time that sanity and reasoning prevails that one can only eat so much, wear so much, and travel so much. Beyond that, it is senseless to be driven by insatiable greed while the masses live in poverty and misery.
Mr VP, I hope you will take note of the anger on the ground among too many PPP supporters and also those of PNC and act to prevent the country from deteriorating into disdain for foreigners and religious division, that could be precursors to violence. Please act to provide everyone with equal opportunities regardless of faith and nationality.
Yours truly,
Zainool Ally