Pitch darkness along UG’s catwalk poses danger to our safety
Dear Editor,
I am writing this letter to kindly request that the University of Guyana, be befitted with additional lights especially along the catwalk at nights which is obliquely opposite the Department of Law. As a current student of Guyana’s premier tertiary institution, it would be remiss of me to not recognize the exemplary leadership of the university’s Vice Chancellor Dr. Paloma MohammedMartin whom I hold in high esteem. Nevertheless, Dr. Mohammed- Martin, I am kindly asking that you intervene in this matter and what could be done.
Every Thursday evening after lectures, my classmates and I have to endure and confront “this pitch of darkness”, of course doesn’t sit well for us since we are all concerned about our safety while on campus, awaiting transportation to take us to our respective homes. It was recommended by one of our lecturers that we be escorted off the campus with the aid of a security officer, to disabuse our fears and anxiety. This is laudable, but having more lights to illuminate the campus would be better for us since our safety is paramount in case of any eventualities “God forbid”. As I took the time from my busy schedule to address this issue I do anticipate that it will be treated with great consideration.
Sincerely,
(Name and Address Withheld)
Amid the continuing swirl of clashing positions on the priorities and provisions of the 2024 budget, I put something different before the public. My views on the 2024 budget are well known. It serves the objective(s) of this contribution better, if I let the facts and numbers speak for themselves. Thus, Guyanese in the divide would be better positioned to be for or against what is highlighted here, how the budget is seen and interpreted. It is likely that Budget 2024 may not be seen differently for various reasons good and otherwise. So be it.
In the post budget presentation and debates, amid the throes of the teachers’ strike, frequent were the insistent calls for the budget to be looked at in a holistic manner, and not in isolation, possibly cherrypicked selections, which introduces much sourness.
Holistic, as in its panoramic touch, universal considerations, certainly has a warm feel to it. I say, why not. I now reproduce some of the higher notes and finer points from Budget 2024. I ask in advance to be excused if some of the numbers are slightly off, or if some components with weight that would have made a difference are absent.
First, the $1.146T budget for 2024 is 46.6% more than that of 2023. The provision for Capital Expenditure is $666B, or 58% of the budget, up from $387.8B (or 50%) in 2023. Roads and bridges go to $204.1B in 2024 from $136.1B in 2023, up by 50%. As an aside, the increases in 2023 over the preceding two years followed close to the trend now extended into 2024. In a tight sentence, expenditure, as evidenced by the numbers, reflects the increases they did. Recall: just the facts and figures. No position, no commentary.
Second, there are ten (10) areas with supporting figures that inform citizens of this country what was provided for them as direct relief in this year’s national budget. They are as follows: 1) $10B for an expansion of parttime jobs; 2) $8.6B for children; 3) $7B to be held as a Reserve Fund, for the purpose of providing cost-of-living aid at the proper time; 4) $2.8B for cervical cancer assistance; 5) $2.7B to fund the monthly Old Age Pension increase; 6) $2.6B for NIS monthly pension increases; 7) $1.8B for hinterland help (testing, transportation, and so forth); 8) $1.2B for those with disabilities; 9) $0.955B for spectacles; 10) $.840B for eye tests; 11) $0.640B as an NIS death benefit. In tabular form, the direct budgetary provisions look like this: