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Guyana: A paradox of great need in the midst of plenty

Aug 23, 2009 Letters

Dear Editor,
Guyana is a strange country for in the midst of plenty, relative to many other countries, we have increasing poverty and rising unemployment; poor living standards; and we are heading in the wrong direction on many social, economic and political indicators.
In other words, despite our rich endowment of natural resources, our relative tolerance for diversity and our customary hospitality, progress has been elusive on all these fronts.
The million and one excuses advanced to explain this backwardness need not be repeated here, for these are well known and well worn. Furthermore, it is obvious that what we have done in the past has not worked, and what we are doing now will more than likely lead to the same poor results.
Besides, ‘the tipping point’ is fast approaching where the domestic replacement rate of skilled workers will for a long time be lower than the migration rate of skilled workers who are seeking a better life for themselves and families. No one can blame them for so doing as the national pie shrinks, despite what is being said about macroeconomic stability — a myth in the presence of corruption.
Indeed, Guyana in its current social, economic and political configuration can only be described as a paradox of great need in the midst of plenty that is in the main self-inflicted and self generated, where destruction and backwardness is homegrown.
For example, the 1980 Constitution is a good signal of where the rulers and institutional arrangements went off the rail. Invoked by the PNC and used by them for 12 years (1980 to 1992; five by President Burnham and seven by President Hoyte); and now used by the PPP Government (Presidents Jagan, Jagan, and Jagdeo) with fiddling at the edges for 17 years and counting (1992 to present). The 1980 Constitution must go. Another example is the unfinished work by former President Carter and the Carter Center in Guyana. Obviously, that work is unfinished and must be restarted.
Another example is GuySuCo. Policymakers were told in advance (more than 10 years ago) that price cuts are coming, labour productivity is too low while labour costs are too high, subsidies will end, and being able to compete in international markets where prices are lower is the new game in town. We know what has happened: $4.0 billion dollars losses in one year, sugar imports on the rise, excuses galore, and more to come. We make the same mistakes year after year; see the Auditor General Report or see our performance for the preparations and management of our National and Regional elections. There are many more examples, but I leave this as homework for the readers.
As I reflect on this madness, I can only add that we missed the opportunities for progress not because we do not know where the opportunities lie, but because we operate no different than the Aesop’s ‘Dog in the Manger Fable’ that many read as children, but never understood as adults (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dog_in_the_Manger).
A quick summary of this important allegory would show that if the dog allowed the cows to eat the hay, the dog and all others would have access to milk, meat, leather, among other things, and a higher quality of life would result for all. Yet the dog, on being awoken from his sleep in the hay is misguided and zealously and ferociously guards the hay, starving the cows and in turn he, himself. His mandate needs to be realigned, recalibrated.
Guyanese need to build a better set of rules, institutions, and an enhanced work programme and sleep habits for the dog so that the cows and the dog can do what they do best in their correct spheres. Disaster looms, is anyone listening?
Dr. C. Kenrick Hunte

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