“There must be equality but with equity” – Head, Office of Migration

DPI, Guyana, Thursday, August 22, 2019

“The resources of this country, the budgetary allocations must be for all the people of Guyana.”

Head of the Office of Migration, Aubrey Norton shared this view as a guest on the NCN’s Vybz FM Radio Programme. The government official noted that this was emphasised by His Excellency, President David Granger when he took office in 2015.

Norton noted that there should not be a repeat of instances where communities perceived bias against them. He posited that all must be cognisant that economically, some are more disadvantaged than others. “I believe that whatever resources we have should be allocated in such a way that the poor and vulnerable can be developed into a middle class and progress… There must equality but with equity,” he stressed.

According to Norton, whilst equality of opportunity is good, the need for equity must be clearly defined and embraced. He cited the example of two persons attending a football match. “The fence is 8 feet; you are 6 feet and I give you a 2 foot-ladder. You will see over the fence. However, if I am 4 feet, I cannot see! The ladder must have the correct height so that I can see.”

He further added once resources are consistently distributed equitably, persons will recognise that the entire society is being served, “and not a few”. He warned however, there are those who “don’t want this status quo to change, so they fight against the development of any system that is premised on equality and equity.”

Echoing President Granger’s education push, Norton stated that an educated society will not only boost development but will enable citizens to understand the need for all to benefit from an equitable distribution of wealth. He opined that educated citizens will be more rational and “understand the long-term rather than living in the short term.”