Guyana will not crawl like a worm

Sep 12, 2008 Features / Columnists

Colonialism has left an indelible mark on the people of this part of the world as it has on just about every people who had to live under that experience. Once more it has raised its ugly head and the countries of the Caribbean Community and Common Market seem to be buckling under this newest colonialist pressure.
Everything dates back to the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union. That agreement, as it now stands, opens the door for the European Union to exploit even more benefits from the region, while offering a pittance in return. It creates conditions for Europeans to operate in the region as though they belong, and can therefore compete with regional contractors and artisans in just about every sphere of economic activity.
There is no doubt that the Europeans are far more sophisticated in the area of skilled labour, in terms of resources for economic activity, and the financial resources which would far outstrip anything that a Guyanese or a group of Guyanese may have.
The EPA offers the people of the region a chance to ship food, to enter the European entertainment market and other minor things. However, the greatest loss would be the loss in revenue for imports because the relevant duties and taxes would be waived. It is as if the people of the region are selling their birthright just to belong to the global community.
President Bharrat Jagdeo, an economist and the leader of a country, recognized the disadvantages that would accrue to the region and he called his colleagues to discuss the issue. He also proposed a goods-only agreement that would minimize the impact of the loss that would accrue. This proposal is supported overwhelmingly in Guyana.
There was the consultation in Guyana and some meaningful proposals came out of that exercise. Sir Shridath and his son-in-law, Sir Ronald, all set about explaining the implications of the EPA as it now stands. They tried to explain that if the region held to the view that the EPA needed modifications to better suit the regional cause, then the Europeans would be pushed to modify it, and offer more favourable conditions to the region.
However, increasingly, there is the feeling that some regional leaders feel that half a loaf is better than none because in their eyes they desperately need the support of the European Union. This was made clear when the region held a special Caricom summit to discuss the issue a few days ago.
One regional leader actually said that while the terms are not of the best, his country would go along because it would get something. This is the kind of belief that was common during the colonial period and actually prevented some countries from seeking their independence when they should, because they had come to believe that their future lay in being under the shade of the colonial master.
However, Guyana has been known to go it alone when it came to certain decisions. Guyana refused to be a part of the West Indian Federation because it saw little or no benefit to be derived. The federation failed after a few months, precisely because of the bickering that heralded its launch.
It was the same thing when there was a move to have all the universities linked under one umbrella. Again, the terms would not have been satisfactory for Guyana which wanted to ensure that its citizens had ready access to the highest levels of education. To this day, the University of Guyana is not a part of the University of the West Indies, and Guyanese are not required to fork out the exorbitant sums that would have been necessary had the local institution been incorporated in the University of the West Indies.
The present situation involving the EPA is no different because Guyanese will not be allowed to enjoy terms of trade commensurate with their labour. They are going to be disadvantaged and President Jagdeo knows this very well. It is for this reason that he is not keen on signing the agreement as it stands at this time.
The Europeans are threatening penalties but the threat in no way scares this country. One man once said that it is better to die on our feet like men than to crawl on our bellies like worms. This is the case now, and no one should blame the government for taking this stand.

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