Latest update November 18th, 2024 1:00 AM
Sep 30, 2012 Letters
Dear Editor,
I refer to an article in the Kaieteur News of September 29, 2012 under the caption “GuyExpo is a fairground”, attributed to a columnist writing under the pseudonym “Peeping Tom”. My initial response is the writer probably either ingested something which severely affected his or her judgment, wrote the said piece prior to the evening of September 27 when the curtain came up on this year’s GuyExpo, or focused attention on an event which he or she did not witness
But upon reflection, I thought of giving the writer the benefit of the doubt by assuming this was the penmanship of someone of repute expressing an honest, professional opinion. As a consequence, I feel compelled to respond since I am of the view that GuyExpo 2012, noble intentions of politicians as well as the stature of Guyana’s private sector are very different from what is portrayed by the writer.
Peeping Tom writes in the second paragraph “…there is nothing much new to see…….GuyExpo is simply a soda repackaged each year.” I have had the distinction of serving as Co-chairman the GuyExpo planning committee for the last five GuyExpo events, 2012 included, and could attest that this is simply not true.
Over the years GuyExpo planners have been guided by the direction of national policy (theme and attendant emphasis on what is projected); input from private sector and civil society organizations; feedback from exhibitors and patrons; and the respective evaluation reports of every GuyExpo. Thishas resulted in noticeable improvements in; organization, layout, variety of exhibits, and related initiatives such as business seminars, informative magazines, and seminars linking buyers/ investors and exhibitors.And though only two days into the event, GuyExpo 2012 is already seeing exceptional success in these areas. I daresay a revolutionized GuyExpo is currently stimulating a responsive private sector to enthusiastically embrace the virtues of Public/ private partnership.
The private sector of Guyana comprises captains of industry and owners of service organizations who have proven their mettle as astute entrepreneurs. The fact that manufacturers have been able to confront, overcome and grow their businesses despite challenges associated with the comparative regional disadvantage in areas such as production and development finance cost, speak volumes and point to the fact that the sector is far from ‘feeble’ as stated in the pen ultimate paragraph.
I would not elaborate further at this time. I am aware that politicians and private sector representatives portrayed negatively in the article under reference are quite capable of responding if they think it appropriate. I would simply close by suggesting some alternative captions for the article for consideration. They are:-
“Dreaming of experiencing a shopping mall”; “Longing for a return to my childhoodcinema days”; “ Its evil to be rich” ; “My misunderstanding of Government policies”; or “Curious case of a GuyExpo illusion”.
Derrick Cummings
Nov 18, 2024
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