Mr PM, don’t make the struggle harder

It is with great pain, concern and hope that I seek your kind attention. I am not politically astute or engaged as many others. However, I have made some observations that I wish to share with you.

While I empathise with you on the huge responsibility and challenges in front of you, it is necessary I offer my sincere opinion. I pray that my words and the time and energy I have dedicated would not go in vain.

In my young years, I was blessed with the experience through Queen’s Royal College to be part of a programme called Leadership 2020. In this programme, a dedicated teacher, Mrs Bowen-Forbes, did her utmost best to instil certain leadership values into us that we may develop and also demand from our leaders. Some of these values were accountability, honesty and taking responsibility for our actions/ inactions.

I possess a BSc in sociology, an Executive Master’s in business administration and a number of successful years leading a small business. Please do not take me and others like me for fools. Because if you do you will continue to be responsible for the brain drain and sense of hopelessness our society is facing today.

How can you justify $59,000 on phone calls in today’s environment? Did you not train or advise your staff that we have WhatsApp, email, Skype and so many cheaper options to use to communicate? Do you not know that I and so many others are suffering because of our economic condition? Do you know I would love to do my PhD and help my country but I cannot because there is no help from the Government for me? Do you know that in the interest of cost-cutting the funding for scholarships is on hold to realign with your Cabinet’s decision of what courses should be funded? How can you justify the media reports of another of your ministers spending $92,000 over a weekend in Tobago? How can you? I work for a small business and sometimes I would have to travel. Do you know if I incurred these expenses what would happen to me? Do you know that I care about my company, and the people who depend on its well-being to prevent me from wasting limited and precious resources? I am aware that you have a lot of distractions. But I pray that you find the time and strength to listen to read view. I am a citizen of this country and I am trying my best to add value to my society.

As a citizen, I love my country and my leaders and I would try my best to help both. Please do not make it harder for me or others like me who are struggling and fighting daily to do the right thing.

NARESH HAYBAN nareshhayban@gmail.com