STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE

Feb 07, 2016 Editorial, Features / Columnists

As Guyana is about to celebrate its 50th independence anniversary in May, the country is not in the best of shape compared with most of the countries in the Caribbean despite the fact that it has far greater resources than its CARICOM neighbours. It is still a great country in which to live. Whereas citizens in other parts of the world have to move around daily in fear of being the next victims of a terrorist attack, Guyanese thus far have been spared such tragedy. Everyone should be thankful for these and other precious blessings.
But almost 50 years of independence, Guyana has not undergone much transformation in terms of economic development. The lives of the poor and the lower working class have not improved as they continue to struggle daily to survive. The major leap towards independence was good, but the promises made by successive governments to chart a destiny in pursuit of a better future for all, inspired by the ideal of a good and just society, have not materialized.
Today, the quality of life in Guyana does not compare favourably with many developing countries. The traditional slum areas and settlements still exist as the poverty gap between the rich and poor widens.
Some residents still fetch water from standpipes for use in their homes or to take a bath, and there are also still outside pit toilets or latrines. Indeed this is true for some sections of the United States.
As agriculture production continues to decline, many youths are facing a bleak future. These are the norm in many rural communities and they reflect the mini-transformation that has taken place in the quality of life of the nation since Independence.
However, there are some successes in education and in technology. Almost everyone in Guyana has a cell phone, a tablet or a laptop computer. Despite the fact that public education continues to face many challenges, the introduction of UG has provided access to those who wanted to further their education.
The same cannot be said of the health care system which is still being improved.People sometimes have to wait in long lines at the public hospitals and at every government departments and agencies before being served. But again, this is so even in the more developed United States.
These setbacks have placed Guyana very low on the Quality of Life Index Scale and on the United Nations Human Development Index (UNHDI). Yet there are reasons for every patriotic Guyanese to celebrate Guyana’s 50th Independence anniversary.
Admittedly, the past few years have been tough for them economically. National output, as measured by the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), stalled. The country continues to struggle to achieve growth which has stubbornly hovered below three per cent. The result is an increase in unemployment, poverty and hopelessness, especially among youths.
Growth in the economy is the single most important determinant factor to pull Guyana out of its current quagmire, especially in relation to boosting investment and business activity which are critical to turn the country around. Economists have posited that Guyana needs an annual GDP growth rate of five to six percent to maintain any level of sustainable development. While this has remained elusive, even in the best of times, its attainment is not impossible.
The Government needs to reach out and tap the expertise of knowledgeable and skilled persons in the private sector and in the diaspora to improve the economy.
Guyana’s 50th Independence anniversary is a major milestone and while Guyanese will celebrate, they should be reminded of those who are desperate and are struggling to survive.