Readers Response

Dear Editor:
The importance of education cannot be stressed enough. We know that education is the key to the future, the key to success and the key to Guyana’s growth. I can’t understand therefore how it is even possible to consider taxing such a crucial service, or indeed a service like private health care for that matter. Unfortunately the damage has already been done and I am concerned for my future and that of my colleagues who are in the private education system.
A good is one which has positive side effects when consumed and education is surely the epitome of such a good, indeed, it is the key. Those agencies which have this vision at heart and who provide supplementary opportunities for education should not have to bear the burden of this VAT. They need to be encouraged to continue and to expand their vision, for it will only benefit the entire country when even more capable minds are sent into society.
Furthermore, the incidence of this tax on private education will be passed on to the consumers who are already making sacrifices to send their children to these private schools. I am fully aware that there is public education available but, without a doubt, it has many challenges. Tens of thousands of public education consumers are clearly not satisfied with public education alone since the majority of them send their children to private lessons. I understand that there are very fortunate people who send their children to private schools and can easily afford it, but there are many others who are humble and have hard-working parents, that I can tell you from first-hand experience, sacrifice a lot to give their child the best opportunities. This tax imposition does not cater for these people.
Economic theory states that if the price of a substitute goes up (private education fees rise due to taxation) the demand for the other good increases (more people demanding public education). There will be an increase in demand for public education which may well outstrip the capacity of the already overburdened education sector thereby causing a poorer quality of education for all of our citizens. How will the government be ready to deal with this? Private education provides quality, supplemental services which include quality computer laboratories, air-conditioned classrooms, ample playground and yard space and, most importantly, excellent teaching. There are few public schools that meet some of these standards and, it can be argued, the majority lack most of these characteristics of a quality education.
Public education only offers CXC and CAPE examinations. Some private schools give the important opportunity to write exams like GCE, ABE and SATs. These are all far more internationally preferred and recognised examinations that give students a better opportunity to compete on the international stage. Once this new VAT tax is applied, those middle class families that want their children to write these exclusive examinations will be confined to CXC/CAPE examinations.
I can only hope that my opinion is heard and valued by someone who has the power and vision to see beyond short- term, government revenue, and who understands and appreciates the crucial contribution that quality education can play in building a better Guyana.
Othniel Lewis, Student
Nations 6th Form College, Guyana

February 15, 2017 issue
Readers' Response
The pervasive culture of dirtiness in Guyana
Dear Editor: This country needs a person with a radical vision to transform its environment from a garbage laden one to a clean and decent place. When the coalition government became a reality, we saw the massive transformation of Georgetown. I expected this spirit of cleanliness to engulf the length and breadth of this country, but this was not so. Imagine we just go about our lives surrounded by garbage everywhere as normal. The culture of dirtiness has taken root to the extent that it doesn’t bother most Guyanese any more. Both past and present governments are guilty of acceptance of this cultural lawlessness. Editor, my work takes me to almost every village on the coastal belt of this country. Every street corner and parapet greets you with an unsightly garbage heap. Pick any 3 villages and I can show you 100 garbage heaps. Recently a dragline dug the trenches in Cornelia Ida WCD. What came out of the trenches confirmed the cultural story of garbage disposal: old fridge, stove, bicycle, cloth, tyre – the list is too long to mention here. Our sea wall tells a story of the psyche of this nation after 50 years of independence. Government continues to pump billions into the drainage and health sector while this cultural lawlessness is causing us billions as a side effect. Our tourists and visitors continue to express alarm and some pledge never to return to these filthy shores. Our days are filled with battles with garbage flies while our nights are overtaken with mosquitoes. It is time for all the relevant environmental agencies to wake up. Is there a sanitary department of the Ministry of Public Health in operation? What about the Environmental Protection Agency? Our NDCs are filled with political misfits. They lack the common decency of cleanliness for our community enhancement and development. They too are numbed by the culture of dirtiness. But what about our government? Are they too numbed by the situation? They travel the world and I’m sure they observe what a proper and decent society is like. There is no doubt that Guyana can’t continue this way. Our government needs to embark on radical solution of legislation and strong collaborative programmes with all the relevant agencies. I would recommend: (1) Every house/business must by law subscribe to a garbage disposal company. (2) Every house must take care of sanitation and 10 feet in front of the yard. (3) Every car, minibus, truck, etc, must by law carry a garbage disposal bag. (4) Government must place garbage disposal bins along the roadway for easy disposal. (5) Government must open dump sites for easy access. (6) Sanitary and environmental inspectors must inspect villages regularly with the intention of warning or charging defaulters. (7) Those found guilty of improper disposal must be fined $100,000 or 3 mouths community work. (8) Substantial rewards must be offered for evidence of person(s) violating environmental laws. All the talks of a green economy and environmental protection so far is mere talk. We can’t even get a garbage-free country much less a green economy. We can find 10 more oil wells, but our country’s development will go nowhere unless we free this place of the culture of dirtiness. The responsibility stops at feet of the Government of Guyana. C. Woolford via email

VAT on private education is mind boggling
Dear Editor: The importance of education cannot be stressed enough. We know that education is the key to the future, the key to success and the key to Guyana’s growth. I can’t understand therefore how it is even possible to consider taxing such a crucial service, or indeed a service like private health care for that matter. Unfortunately the damage has already been done and I am concerned for my future and that of my colleagues who are in the private education system. A good is one which has positive side effects when consumed and education is surely the epitome of such a good, indeed, it is the key. Those agencies which have this vision at heart and who provide supplementary opportunities for education should not have to bear the burden of this VAT. They need to be encouraged to continue and to expand their vision, for it will only benefit the entire country when even more capable minds are sent into society. Furthermore, the incidence of this tax on private education will be passed on to the consumers who are already making sacrifices to send their children to these private schools. I am fully aware that there is public education available but, without a doubt, it has many challenges. Tens of thousands of public education consumers are clearly not satisfied with public education alone since the majority of them send their children to private lessons. I understand that there are very fortunate people who send their children to private schools and can easily afford it, but there are many others who are humble and have hard-working parents, that I can tell you from first-hand experience, sacrifice a lot to give their child the best opportunities. This tax imposition does not cater for these people. Economic theory states that if the price of a substitute goes up (private education fees rise due to taxation) the demand for the other good increases (more people demanding public education). There will be an increase in demand for public education which may well outstrip the capacity of the already overburdened education sector thereby causing a poorer quality of education for all of our citizens. How will the government be ready to deal with this? Private education provides quality, supplemental services which include quality computer laboratories, air-conditioned classrooms, ample playground and yard space and, most importantly, excellent teaching. There are few public schools that meet some of these standards and, it can be argued, the majority lack most of these characteristics of a quality education. Public education only offers CXC and CAPE examinations. Some private schools give the important opportunity to write exams like GCE, ABE and SATs. These are all far more internationally preferred and recognised examinations that give students a better opportunity to compete on the international stage. Once this new VAT tax is applied, those middle class families that want their children to write these exclusive examinations will be confined to CXC/CAPE examinations. I can only hope that my opinion is heard and valued by someone who has the power and vision to see beyond short- term, government revenue, and who understands and appreciates the crucial contribution that quality education can play in building a better Guyana. Othniel Lewis, Student Nations 6th Form College, Guyana

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