Dear
Editor:
I dare to speak for Guyanese
everywhere when I say: "We are all
proud of the National stadium". It is evidence
indeed that "if we dream it, we can build it". But
apart from the pride and joy of knowing that
Guyanese were able to do it, the real question is
"what can the National Stadium do for us".
President Jagdeo says that it will help to bring
our people together. For a brief moment, yes. But
when the cheering stops, the drums and tassa have
left, and Mr. Lockerbie would have disappeared
with Speed, the people would want to know how much
this stadium really cost, and what will they get
from it in return.
In terms of nominal cost, the
government has been throwing out the number US$25
million for the buildings and the infrastructure
and an additional estimated US$12 million for
equipment, seating accommodation, security and
other stuff to make it fully operational. If India
freely gave US$5 million then Guyana had to come
up with the rest to make up the US$37 million. The
President says "soft loans". But loans, no matter
how soft, have to be paid back with
interest. So
it becomes absolutely imperative that the National
Stadium make enough money to defray the cost of
holding these cricket matches, make enough money
for its continued maintenance, and make enough
money to pay back the loans with interest.
But
here is the real thing. What if the government had
used this US$37 million instead to protect the
people against the rapists, bugger-men, murderers,
robbers and corrupt officials, or provide water
and electricity or provide a state-of-the-art
facility for heart surgery in Berbice, Essequibo
as well as Georgetown. Would these things not
benefit the people more than the stadium?
There
has been so much talk of the National Stadium and
the CWC having so much impact and overflow to the
rest of the economy. So far have you heard of the
restaurants and the hotels and the market places
overflowing with tourists wildly dishing out
yankee dollars, euros, Canadian dollars or pounds
sterling?
In fact there have been so many
vacant seats in the stadium that the President had
to fill some with 3000 non-paying
school children, not to forget the
non-paying government entourage.
This brings us
to the real question that every Guyanese must ask:
How much money is the government making from
hosting the CWC and what are the real benefits to
the nation? Dr. Frank Anthony, Mr. Xavier and all
those responsible must be made to make a full
disclosure to the people.
Demanding
accountability from elected and non-elected
government officials or criticising inefficiency
and corruption does not make anyone a "sour puss"
or a "prophet of doom". It is simply exercising
your inalienable right and discharging your
expected duty as a citizen of Guyana.
Shawn Mangru via email
