by Mervyn Williams
Indigenous Guyanese citizens from far flung villages in the North and South Rupununi travelled tall distances in grueling sun and miserable red dust with their children, including young babies in tow. Their destination was Lethem. Specifically, the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry Ltd. (GBTI). Their mission? To encash their cash grant cheques.
The uncaring, inconsiderate, and brutish regime never put any measure in place to facilitate a smooth process to get cash into the hands of citizens of Region Nine. The focus was singularly, and vulgarly, on obtaining voter information and biometrics from intended recipients of the grant. Nothing else mattered. Nothing else matters. The rigging of the upcoming elections is the PPP’s only goal at this time.
Women with babies in arms braved the unbearable heat in the compound of GBTI at Lethem. There is no shelter from the sweltering heat. It was the most horrible sight to behold outside of a refugee camp scenario.
The PPP continues to see Guyana’s indigenous population as a voter block. A voter block they believe they can abuse and then buy with State resources.
This must come to an end. This will come to an end.