Pavel Latushka: Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus, Head of the National Anti-Crisis Management, Ambassador
"Great nations are never made poor by the extravagance and imprudence of private individuals, but they are often made poor by the extravagance and imprudence of public authority," wrote the esteemed Scottish economist Adam Smith.
Belarusians are an incredibly hardworking people. Generations of Belarusians have built our country, with our long-suffering land nourished by blood and sweat as Belarus recovered from devastating wars and disasters.
The Belarusian people achieved remarkable success, not only rebuilding our nation but also establishing our own independent state. However, the challenges for Belarusians did not end there. Lukashenko came to power.
After 30 years of his uninterrupted rule, our country is now facing a situation where there will soon be a scarcity of individuals willing to work for its betterment. Since 2010, the number of people employed in the Belarusian economy has decreased by 550,000 individuals, surpassing the population of Gomel, our country's second-largest city. Moreover, the total population of Belarus has been declining ever since Lukashenko assumed power. During his reign, the population of Belarus decreased by more than a million people.
Lukashenko's inept governance and lack of understanding of economic processes have hindered the hard work of the talented Belarusian nation. His focus on control and personal gain has stifled productivity, limited production expansion, and suppressed initiative.
Instead of fostering new enterprises, Lukashenko has invested in extravagant sport complexes inaccessible to many Belarusians, preventing their children from enjoying activities like hockey due to the high costs of uniforms and equipment. Instead of allocating significant funds to support veterans and survivors of Nazi camps, he has squandered resources on parades and fireworks.
Rather than constructing centers for ideological and so-called patriotic education, the funds could have been better used to build schools and kindergartens. Alternatively, investments could have been made in Belarusian businesses and the development of alternative energy sources, rather than nuclear power plants or new prosecutor's offices and police buildings.
Instead of spending money on acquiring water cannons, batons, and rubber bullets, Belarusian funds should have been directed towards purchasing medical supplies and essential equipment for hospitals and clinics.
All of this could have been achieved in the past 30 years if not for Lukashenko.
Our current mission is to rectify this three-decade-long mistake, and to do so, we must unite around an alternative to Lukashenko. This entails supporting political prisoners, volunteers, and political institutions. It is crucial to vote for your representatives in the Coordination Council between May 25-27.
For the first time in 30 years, we have the opportunity to hold truly democratic elections and establish a genuinely representative institution. We should not appoint representatives like Lukashenko did, but rather choose individuals who truly reflect the voices of Belarusians. Soon, during the transitional period, they will assume responsibility for building an independent and free Belarus.
This is the kind of Belarus that the Lukashenko regime has prevented us from building for three decades. As Belarusians, we deserve better. We deserve the freedom to choose the best path forward. It is time to create a better Belarus for all.
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