Fighting to break free

May 07, 2011 Editorial

Guyana is an amazing country. It is a country that desperately wants to enter the First World but one that is constrained by its population and by the level of available skills. The administration says that it is doing everything to ensure that the country moves forward.
It is spending billions of dollars but the money seems to be going down the drain. There is precious little to show for such expenditure. In many cases projects become white elephants. There have been some successes, though.
For example, there is the drive to food self-sufficiency. At a time when the region is facing rising food prices and when the world is talking about food shortages in some countries Guyana seems to have cushioned itself from these shocks. In the first instance, the Agriculture Ministry spearheaded a campaign to ensure that there was adequate planting material and fertilizer, proper drainage and when necessary, compensation for farmers affected by some disaster.
In a world where communication is crucial to development there is a move to make as many Guyanese as possible, computer literate. The importance of development in the area of electronics cannot be underscored. Electronic sophistication led to the killing of Osama bin laden.
President Bharrat Jagdeo stepped in on numerous occasions to help those who became redundant at their places of employment. He gave them a stipend to pursue computer training to the extent that many of them have a knowledge and can even become self employed in the field of computer technology.
Call centres, fast becoming the greatest source of employment, are springing up in Guyana facilitated by the communication facilities already in place and about to be enhanced with the introduction of cable network being introduced by the government. The government is bringing a multi-million-dollar cable to enhance telecommunication in Guyana.
But computers have been in Guyana for nearly thirty years and their use is still limited to operations in the private sector where individual organizations keep track of their operations. A few government organizations do the same but there is need to have these interlinked for ready access by auditors and other investigators.
What is even more interesting is the move to computerize the operations of the various departments. Needless to say there is even a demand for increased security both at the individual and at the national level. The government has been talking about installing security cameras on the streets as a means of detecting and fighting crime.
If this becomes a reality then Guyana would be the first country in the region with such capability. His must be the driving force behind the government to ensure computerization. President Jagdeo is about to leave office and he wants his legacy. If his legacy is to take Guyana into the 21st Century then he is bent on ensuring that nothing stops him.
But there must be people to do the work and not too many seem to be around. The education system is not providing people with the level of literacy to do all that needs to be done. So it is that Guyana is in a quandary. This may be the reason for the one laptop per family programme. President Jagdeo must be hoping to have children learn even outside the classrooms. Why else would he establish an education channel?
But the supporting infrastructure is not there. With a population of less than a million and a rate of illiteracy that must be bordering twenty percent the government must surely be constrained to press forward with whatever development plan it has.
Migration is not helping any. A recent study released by an international organisation found that more than sixty per cent of those who secured tertiary education have left for the so-called greener pastures. The best teachers have also left and so too have the most promising students. It is here that the nation sees itself heading for stagnation despite the billions of dollars spent and the best intentions in the world. This is the quandary.
Road networks that should have lasted at least two decades collapse almost soon after they are constructed. This is not going to help Guyana’s cause or its image as a serious developing country. The authorities must now recognize that they must ensure proper work done for money paid. The end result is that the country could end up spending a lot of money and have nothing to show.

Latest News

Fighting to break free

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | December, 2nd, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

The wait is over, all roads lead to KMTC for their Grand Boxing Day...

Xhiya Hercules – flipping the script towards...

Road Warriors, Bent Street, Team Cruel &...

Deol maiden hundred outshines Matthews’ as...

Moraikobai village two days football competition...

BCB thanks cricket fraternity for strong support...

Features/Columnists

Merry Christmas, Ya Filthy Animals!

Breaking the Chains of Poverty: A need for political will

Christmas – reality and possibility

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

Fighting to break free

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | December, 2nd, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]