Ranil’s plea to President Trump
by Rajeewa Jayaweera-April 25, 2020US President Donald Trump has instructed his administration to temporarily suspend funding to the Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO). He claimed it had "failed in its basic duty and must be held accountable."
The United States is the most significant overall donor to WHO, contributing more than USD 400 mil in 2019, roughly 15 percent of its budget.
At roughly USD 5 billion, the international health agency's annual budget amounts to under 50% to that of the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention. WHO's funding comes mostly from assessed and voluntary contributions. Assessed Contributions are calculated based on the size and wealth of each member state. Voluntary contributions making around 80% of the total budget comes mostly from member states, international organizations, and nonprofit organizations.
The organization's Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, addressing a press conference, regretted the American President’s decision. He stated, “This is a time for all of us to be united in our common struggle against a common threat. We will review the impact of the funding gap and will continue its work ‘without fear or favor.’
Former Sri Lankan Prime Minister and Leader of the United National Party (UNP) Ranil Wickremesinghe has sent a letter to the US President stating the following. “I understand the American taxpayers provide USD 400 – 500 million in funding to the WHO each year. Your Excellency’s decision to place a hold on all funding to the WHO while its management of the Coronavirus pandemic is investigated will have a colossal and detrimental impact on the programs in countries like Sri Lanka, which are funded by the WHO. In view of the grim impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has created, I wish to request that you reconsider your decision on humanitarian grounds and restore the US funding to the WHO, pending investigation, and thereafter determine the appropriate course of action.”
Donal Trump's key campaign slogan was "making America great again." Shortly after assuming duties, he read the riot act to members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). He demanded member states contribute their fair share to the alliance's budget and allocate 2% of each country's GDP for defense. Western European nations, long used to scrounging on America's deep pockets for their defense requirements, were dumbfounded.
Notwithstanding America’s role as the leader of the free world, its President has a sacred duty towards the people of that country. That is to act in a manner of placing their interests before those of other countries.
By stating "will have a colossal and detrimental impact on the programs in countries like Sri Lanka," Wickremasinghe is necessarily implying, Trump's decision will chiefly impact people in our country and other similar nations.
We would do well to try and understand the UNP leader's plea from the prism of the American taxpayer. It is they who will eventually pick up the tab for the country's contribution to WHO and many other similar funding agencies such as World Bank, IMF, and ADB.What follows applies to Sri Lanka inasmuch to most other aid dependant countries in South Asia, Africa and, Latin America.
Ever since independence, Sri Lanka has lived beyond its means. It moved from one deficit laden budget to the next other than in a couple of years during the Korean war.
On the one hand, Sri Lanka has had a commendable free education system since 1948, giving the country the distinction of having Asia’s second-highest literacy rate. However, it has no system in place to ensure a Return on Investment (RoI).
Healthcare, too, is provided free of charge with no contributions from the citizenry. In all western democracies, a contribution to health services based on a percentage of earnings is mandatory. In this instance, how is an American not benefitting from a universal free health care program in that country be expected to understand funding our healthcare needs with their tax dollars?
The list goes on. In this paradise isle, we have 24 Public Holidays in 2020, which varies each year, whereas the USA has 10 Federal Holidays annually. The state subsidizes fuel, electricity, water, and most basic foodstuff. Fertilizer is subsidized or given free depending on government policy of the day. America does not subsidize fuel, utilities, and basic foodstuffs. Still, relief is granted to some deserving cases by way of tax credits and food stamps. Can we honestly expect American taxpayers to fund our state-subsidized lifestyle?
Wickremesinghe, while being Prime Minister, opted to purchase two bulletproof vehicles for his use. The cost, inclusive of local taxes, amounted to over Rs 594 million. Politicians, senior government officials, doctors, and some other categories have enjoyed the privilege of duty-free vehicle permits for decades. State sector employees also enjoy the benefit of state vehicles for official and private use, thus bloating the nation's CAPEX and fuel bill. American politicians, senior government officials, and doctors must all pay the applicable taxes when purchasing vehicles. Furthermore, barring a handful of very senior officials, others may not utilize state vehicles for private purposes.
How can Sri Lankans, in all honesty, expect American taxpayers to come to our assistance? They only have to take stock of some of the nation's extravagant vanity projects, none of which bring a tangible Return on Investment. Can we give them any justification for the monstrous Lotus Tower, the underused Nelum Pokuna, the least utilized airport in the world in Mattala, a Port built without a viable Business Plan in Hambantota and the two great Central Bank Robberies?
Last but not least, no American taxpayer will understand the sinking of billions of rupees into the loss-making Electricity Board, Water Board, Petroleum Corporation, and SriLankan Airlines. No viable attempts have been made to restructure and reform or privatize these organizations.
Hopefully, President Trump’s kind of cutbacks will eventually compel Sri Lanka and other similar countries to mend and change our freeloading ways.
Many of us give a few rupees to beggers, especially outside places of worship. However, would we give any money to a beggar holding a cigarette or a glass of hooch in his hand?
Given the fact, beneficiaries are nations providing handouts, benefits, and privileges to their nationals far exceeding those enjoyed by the average American taxpayer, most American taxpayers will endorse President Trump's decision to suspend US funding for WHO.
Meanwhile, many foreign leaders have acknowledged the need for change. Some say the world has changed forever. Others say, there is no going back to the ways of the pre-COVID-19 days.
The erstwhile US Secretary of State Henery Kissinger, America’s pre-eminent authority on realpolitik in an 828-word opinion piece in the Washington Post, has stated, “the Coronavirus pandemic will forever alter the world order.” He predicted the pandemic’s aftermath; “Many countries’ institutions will be perceived as having failed.” Kissinger, over the years, has consistently advocated the need for Western leaders to accept China for what it is and to be granted its due place in the evolving world order.
French President Emmanuel Macron opines, "this period will have taught us a lot. Many certainties and convictions will be swept away. Many things that we thought were impossible are happening. The day after, when we have won, it will not be a return to the day before; we will be stronger morally. We will draw the consequences, all the consequences." Major health investment programs are in the cards. Some Macron MPs have started a Jour d’Après (the day after) website.
Former German Social democratic party Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel claimed: “we talked the state down for 30 years.” He believes the next generation will be less naïve of globalization.
Matteo Renzie, the former Italian Prime Minister, has called for a commission to look into the future.
Graffiti in Hongkong reads, “There can be no return to normal because normal was the problem in the first place.”
Yet here we are, in Sri Lanka, with not a word from our leaders of the changes we need to embrace from our free handout dependant culture ‘the day after.’
COVID-19 and elections monopolize all media space.
Many will agree, the country started late in preparing for COVID-19. That said, it is also accepted, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his task force have done a commendable job in managing the fallout.
The Head of State's interview on television last week, broadcast over most channels, turned out to be a damp squib. His Chief Advisor, Lalith Weeratunga, hosted the show, and it reminded many of the Sinhala pithy, 'Horage ammagen pene ahanewa’ (asking the thief’s mother for his whereabouts). As we all know, journalism is not Weeratunga’s expertise. There were no probing questions. The program reminded some of the BBC comedy series ‘The two Ronnies’ in the 1970s and 1980s.
A preferable format would have been an interview by a reputed journalist. The opening may well have been, ‘Mr. President, it is said in some quarters, you started preparing for the pandemic too late. What is your response?’ Alternatively, it may have been an address to the nation.
A clear message from the Head of State to all concerned, including politicians of the need for austerity and change of lifestyle in the coming years, would have been welcome.
Only then and then alone can we, with a clear conscience, justifiably seek financial assistance from taxpayers of other countries, American or any other.
