Re-calling the Diaspora

Nov 12, 2008 Features / Columnists

INTRODUCTION:
The new role of the 21st century Third World immigrant has significantly changed from the last 50 years. This change has become necessary because of the transformative nature of the global economy and the ultra competitiveness of those of the developed countries. This discussion serves to do three things: highlight the reasons for the change, demonstrate the necessity of a new strategy, and identify the tenants of said strategy.
REASONS FOR THE CHANGE:
With regards to the reason for the change, the new immigrant’s position is vastly different from that of 50 years ago. Back then, one went to a new country with the settler’s mentality – to build a life and become a citizen of that country.
The global economy with its competitive nature has changed all this.
An example of the instability of the labour market in developed countries was in mid 2007 and early 2008. With the chant of immigration reform, many Mexican immigrants went to America in lieu of being granted permanent status.
With the American economy subsequently contracting, many immigrants are returning home because of lack of available jobs. Could we see this in our Guyanese Diaspora?
Job security is now nonexistent since outsourcing had become the order of the day. The rising costs of housing, medical care and higher education in the large cities of developed countries have translated into immigrants working very hard on a pay check to pay check basis to make ends meet.
The present economic crisis that has the world in its grips has exacerbated the situation, leaving the immigrant with a bleak and uncertain future.
THE NEED FOR A NEW STRATEGY:
Because of these changes, immigrants to developed countries must have a new strategy to survive and prosper or else they will be swept up in the miasma that is the current economic crisis.
An immigrant who cannot survive and prosper is a liability to oneself, family and country. Family for obvious reasons and one’s third world home that is depending on the remittances to survive.
The failures of developing countries are compounded further when an immigrant has failed or is deported. (There are exceptions to this case where some deportees have led productive lives in their deported state).
It has therefore become necessary for those in the Diaspora to develop a new way of dealing with economic crises which will ultimately affect both them and their motherland.
It calls for a mentality change that sees immigration only for wealth accumulation and not for permanent residency. It sees a necessary shift in the contribution of the development of one’s own country instead of the country one has emigrated to.
Immigrants must learn to capitalize on the technology deficits of their own country and use the capital that they have acquired for reinvestment. This is the only way to ensure not becoming a casualty in the global economic order.
THE NECESSARY CHANGES:
Concerning capital accumulation, an immigrant must come to developed countries and start accumulating hard cash for investment into a business back home. One must come to spend only a specific time to accumulate a specific amount of money and knowledge to redeploy in his homeland.
The accumulation of technological expertise to satisfy the deficits of the sector of his home country is also a necessary second step.
Why technology? Because in developing countries technological industries are underserved and do not have major barriers of entry. Since these industries are young and in their infancy stage, a remigrant investor stands to grow and prosper as the growth of these industries improve.
This would provide in turn job security and employment to his countrymen. It is a win-win situation.
Using the simple example of electricity, it is known that many villages in the rural areas of Guyana are not served by GPL. An enterprising immigrant who migrated to North America and Europe and possesses the capital and knowledge of solar and wind energy can return to Guyana and institute a solar power plant for US$60,000 and sell electricity to his rural community.
From this electrical source internet cafes and a small telecommunication industry can spring up. The advantage of such a system is that the entrepreneur would be intimately knowledgeable of the needs of the customer base and he can connect and disconnect for payment or non payment of services.
The same can be done for wind energy. These small micro developments in rural communities will help to bridge the technological deficits as well as provide good returns without large investments.
CONCLUSION:
We need to attract our brothers and sisters that have left our shores. Many are now skilled, many have become wealthy, many long to return to their land. We have to solve security, we have to create a friendlier investment code and we must welcome them with open arms when they return.