Assuming that Abena Rockcliffe's numbers are accurate (and I am not aware that these were ever questioned), the above tables show how very well Government politicians in Guyana were paid in relation to a trained teacher in 2015. The situation is even more telling when one considers that the politicians' salaries are tax free; they are entitled to entertainment and housing allowances, and free meals at sittings of parliament. Also worth noting is that the duties of Guyana's Prime Minister are far less onerous than those of the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago where the President’s role is ceremonial in comparison to Guyana which has an executive President. Currently, the teacher's position in Guyana may be slightly better, though not significantly, than it was in 2015.
The handling of the negotiations with the GTU leads one to conclude that Government undervalues the role of teachers in the society. The importance of teachers is accurately reflected in the article “GTUC calls for full support for teachers in their wage struggle” (Stabroek News, August 26, 2018) which states “Teachers are the backbone of a country’s development. Their role is multifaceted and not confined to solely teaching and marking papers. Teachers also act as parent, mentor, custodian, counselor, provider (meals, school supplies, etc.) and a shoulder to cry on even as they have to meet their families’ psychosocial and economic needs... Teachers produce the artisans, nurses, police, doctors, teachers, journalists, public servants, private workers, businessmen/women etc. of tomorrow; the ministers of government and the future president are produced by the teachers.”
From my recollection, President Granger was once a teacher, though at the tertiary level. I hope he can empathize with the teachers and act promptly and effectively, as he did in relation to his ministers' salary increases in 2015. Teachers, like ministers and members of parliament, deserve a livable wage so they can sustain themselves and their families with pride and dignity.
Harry Hergash, Mississauga, Ontario

Dear Editor:
Guyana is supposed to be launching an Oil Rocket commencing January 01, 2020. We are counting down from September 1, 2018 to December 31, 2019. So from September 1, 2018 we begin the countdown: T-Minus 487.
It is rather shocking to see the indifference demonstrated by the present regime to the plethora of advisories as to “transparency” in Oil & Gas extractions. So far, no one knows the trajectory of Oil exports and value of the same, which shall accrue to Guyana. No printed definition of any prices. It is pointless to mention how many barrels ExxonMobil is pulling out, but rather, the money Guyana is pulling in.
From the looks of things and with great dismay, I do not believe Guyanese will ever see a drop of oil to gloat about from the hill top. What’s the price of gasoline at the pumps now? Give daily prices.
In the meantime, ExxonMobil’s stocks have risen in value based on Guyana’s deposits and from which they earn money on assets they do not own. What is this behaviour called? Are there any regular reports on the economy by Standard & Poor’s and Moody credit agencies?
Wherefore we see CARICOM highlighting marijuana as an economic booster – something equivalent to alcohol and tobacco requiring useless expenditure – real money boosters are given faint attention.
It is said that when a people refuse to learn from their history, they are bound to repeat it. When little countries play with big ones, little ones always lose. Giant countries see Third World people as Lilliputians. Our bifurcated leaders can choose to believe otherwise to their country’s detriment.
The Yellow Locusts have left our primeval forests in an unsightly mangy ruinous mess.
All the money in the world cannot produce one tree. Who can show what money accrued to the nation in exchange for this plunder? What can we show as being built in Guyana from all this lumber? Is anybody still looking for the promised sawmill? How much poverty was alleviated from the millions of cubic feet harvested with marketable wealth in the billions of US dollars? And here they are grinning and signing another disaster.
The Green land of Guyana will resemble Mars shortly if some have their way and sway.
We have to warn ourselves that being an oil-producing country, we will add to the Global Warming effect and thus our trees are now even more indispensable and must be entitled to the protection from deforestation. Prohibitions must be issued immediately for our own salvation. The upside of the oil business is temporary; the downside is irreversibly tragic.
We need to see Import & Export Data reports on list of such items.
If it is that so called development loans are the decided future pathway, then, by inference, oil exports will be carted off to fuel more burdens on our poor people. While you are dancing around the ‘decorated’ Trojan Horse in the day, it will be another world at night when the Octopuses have their play. The Silk Road of “Cotton Gin” grade will lead straight to vacuum cleaners on the foreshore; quantity taken never to be known. Prosperity to Guyanese will be fruitless under these circumstances. The sugar mill is a lesson for all.
How many nations will be building the Lethem to Georgetown road? Wasn’t it announced sometime ago that Brazil would be doing this, now we see China is in the action. No approved blueprint or public bidding taking place. Maybe bartering in an “Oil for Road Deal” could be the modus operandi, just as the western neighbour is doing for their purposes. Secrecy on these things is sickening, both for the PPPC in their day and PNC-APNU today.
No sense looking to see whether the powers that be, have a Foot Print, Mud Print, Oil Print, Blue Print, Yellow Print, Green Print, Red Print, and Other Print. The Writing is on the Wall.
One has to believe Guyana was always a country set-up to be plundered. Guyana will only get the benefits of its endowments when we have devoted and dedicated national leaders. By the way, living under the shelter of another country cannot be a development strategy; this is the genesis of exploitation.
John De Barros via email