Young leaders in the age of Obama

Jan 29, 2009 Letters

Dear Editor,
I have reflected on yesterday’s Peeping Tom’s column of January 28 under the caption, “Big man’s job on a young boy’s shoulder.” All over the world public officials are subjected to insidious references and the misrepresentations. That comes with the territory.
Deeper reflection on the column leads me to conclude that it constitutes an assault on young people. It subliminally portrays youth as being incapable of holding higher office, a myth which has been debunked throughout our country’s history.
A friend asked me: Was this not the same argument which was used on the campaign trail against Barack Obama? Was he not also deemed to have lacked the necessary experience to hold the Presidency of the United States? Fortunately, the American people rejected this line of reasoning, as I am sure the Guyanese people will reject the argument that the Grow More Food campaign and other initiatives in the Agricultural Sector have failed.
The Grow More Food campaign, as I recall, was precipitated by the opportunities presented as a result of the increase in global food prices. This increase led to an increase in the cost of food locally but it also created a greater need for food as well as for increased food exports.
The Grow More Food campaign, quite unlike the picture portrayed, could not have been done in a cavalier manner. It was carefully planned and intended to provide support and encouragement to food producers, as well as to attract investment into the agricultural sector. It also allowed for the twining of food producers and suppliers with local and overseas markets. This has allowed for improved marketing of local food production and is reflected in the increase in non-traditional exports. The response of farmers and exporters confirm the positive outcomes.
The column also invidiously sought to blame the current Minister of Agriculture for the problems encountered by the Guyana Sugar Corporation. The sugar reform plan was conceived in 2000 and, as is with most major investment projects, did not project profits in its early year. No business sees return on investment immediately and the US$200M the sugar corporation is spending cannot be earned the next year. This plan was implemented under the directorship of the management and a Board of Directors. And what about the impact of the weather and the EU price cuts on the industry. Who caused those debilitating factors?
For many years going back to 2003, members of the Opposition were pointing to the emerging difficulties. There was denial of these realities by the Government until the new Minister came in office and confirmed that what some in the opposition were saying about the Industry was true. And more recently, we saw necessary recommendations and action to ensure that those who were responsible for the decline in the industry, a decline which incidentally began in 2004, were held accountable.
It does not require a miracle for the fortunes of the Sugar Industry to be revived. It requires careful planning and the commitment and dedication of every single stakeholder. There are many expectations that the Interim Board which has been put in place will make the necessary recommendations and implement the appropriate measures to ensure that the industry rebounds.
Somehow the column perhaps had more to do with bigger politics rather than about the exciting and unprecedented changes we are witnessing in the agricultural sector. The young Ministers in Government, notwithstanding their shortcomings, are a far cry from the past and an inspiration to the country’s young people.
We must all remember it was the young people that created the Obama revolution in the US because they had confidence in a young, untested leader who had the appropriate outlook.
Stephen Bernard

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