Redefining the way we think

Feb 25, 2009 Features / Columnists

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Peter R. Ramsaroop, MBA
Chairman, Vision Guyana

OVERVIEW:

No matter how much we complain about the government for not taking care of the citizens, no one can take away how proud we are to be Guyanese.   As we celebrated another anniversary of our Republic and danced on the streets, it once again reinforced what we love about our land.
The dream of all of us is to live in peace and harmony, where we allow no one to divide us or no one to discriminate against one race but we accept that we are many people but with one destiny for our beautiful country.
The best comment I heard while mashing was, “No matter what, we love our Guyana.”  So true!  We love to enjoy our various cultures, from the throwing of wreaths into the Ocean to remember the suffering of the slaves to the celebration of lights during Diwali and all our religious holidays, we do enjoy our country.
Our Healthcare System has improved drastically; one of my closest friends from primary school received a kidney transplant here in Guyana.  Our healthcare system continues to improve and will be a major attraction for returning Guyanese to come enjoy our great land.

How do we redefine our thoughts?
Recently, we have heard a great deal about the performance of the Guyanese economy.  The debate is over and not even a semi-colon was changed in the 2009 budget.
If one looks at the unemployment statistics, the lack of job opportunities for our young graduates, the declining markets for core exports and the continuing migration of skilled labour, it seems to show that the statistics do not add up to any conceivable notion of economic progress.
What then is the business sector to do in an environment such as ours? Civil advocacy is a strategy where one can invest a great deal of time and resources with the hope of cutting a road through the autocracy. Youth initiatives are also a promising strategy. All these elements are important as we strive to build a better future for Guyana.
We also need to engage with the public sector where possible. Dialogue and positive resolution of conflict will lead to the political stability that seemingly eludes our main political parties. Dialogue and the input of non-aligned “forces” can also boost the cause of public sector reform to build a government capability for success in its mission.
One often forgotten fact in our economic debate is that public sector organisations believe that the name of the game is reallocating pieces of the pie when we should be creating bigger pies.

Examples that Work:
Our current focus on political change and reform in the public debate, while necessary and of real value, somewhat misses the point. Change for change sake will prove to promise benefits that the change is unprepared to deliver. We would do well to ask our leaders and would-be leaders: what are you going to do to help grow the economy and provide jobs?
The tragedy of migration and the skills shortage faced in Guyana today is a problem not unknown throughout the developing world.   Best practices (WBSCD) suggests these elements:
1. Innovation: both technological and social
2. Practise eco-efficiency: combine environmental and economic performance management strategies to harness, not deplete ecological/environmental resources
3. Move from stakeholder dialogues to partnerships for progress
4. Provide and inform consumer choice: expanding sustainable activity helps achieve the multiplier effect and further enhance economic freedom
5. Improve market framework conditions: reduced bureaucracy, rule of law, transparent accounting practices and reduced corruption all will help the Guyanese market framework to thrive
6. Establish the worth of Earth: create market mechanisms for permits, emissions, etc., to allow the full cost of business activity to benefit from the market but also encourage businesses to act in environmentally responsible ways
7. Make the market work for everyone: Through responsible entrepreneurship, progress towards sustainable (development) can be won for all.

CONCLUSION:
Leveraged Success – Guyana needs to focus on the areas where its core capabilities either in agriculture, minerals, tourism or services can be leveraged to create new markets for non-traditional products.
We need to think differently.  It is imperative that political will can drive a new economic programme forward with the greatest degree of both speed and parliamentary oversight. An active, focused economic council can move the economy positively and enhance our democratic institutions.  Let us all get involved and redefine the way we think.
Until next time “Roop”

Send comments to peter.ramsaroop@gmail.com  www.visionguyana.com

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