Guyana’s Finest Hour – Scaling-Up Guyana’s Development

Jul 23, 2014 Letters

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Dear Editor,
On the 18 June, 1940, Sir Winston Churchill, delivered the  speech – ‘Their Finest Hour’,  to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.  In this speech he stated, “If the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, this was their finest hour’” I am of the view that ‘if Guyana will last for a thousand years, this is no doubt, our finest hour’.
As a development practitioner, I have been very privileged to have worked and interacted with persons at various levels. I have worked with recyclers (waste pickers), lawyers, judges, representatives from the international community, civil society organizations, communities, representatives from the public sector and members of the public. The only sector I did not work much with as group, is the private sector.
Nevertheless, I have had many interactions with people in business in Guyana; hence I have made the following conclusions on a possible strategy for scaling-up development in Guyana.
Based on my interactions, observations, research, work at different levels and analysis, I have concluded that the following strategic focus could significantly scale-up Guyana’s development.
I have concluded that if there is more synergy, better co-ordination and focus on sustainability within the public, private and civil society sectors, this could resolve 20% of the development challenges in Guyana. With a more systematic approach to mobilizing the people – skills, expertise and resources around a vision and the development agenda for Guyana, another 20% of the challenges could be resolved.
Further, I believe that the time is opportune, for there to be a more inclusive approach to government and governance. This, in my view, could resolve 40% of the challenges in Guyana’s development. A more structured approach to Development Co-operation/Aid and the Technical Co-operation programme, I think would resolve another 10% of the development challenges and the remaining 10%.
I have labeled as unknown factors that can positively impact Guyana’s development. Let’s review the aspect on more synergy and better co-ordination. There are many projects and to a lesser extent programmes that are being implemented and have been implemented in Guyana, however, a major shortcoming, is that measures are not put in place for projects to be transformed into sustainable programmes and for programmes to be scaled up or transitioned through a natural process of growth.
That is from the embryonic stage to the stage where one phase is concluded and is then regenerated into some other form, whether it be into a programme, institutionalization or other. Hence, it is my view that if the government and those involved in development can develop a strategy for a more synergistic and co-ordinated approach to development, Guyana’s progress could be increased by 20%.
On the point of social mobilization, political parties and governments of Guyana have shown that they are capable of mobilizing support around the agenda of political parties, but there is a gap when it comes to mobilizing the people of Guyana around a development agenda for the country.
There is, however, a new sense of readiness among the people of Guyana but the challenge is with respect to the preparedness of the country. Therefore it is my view that if the people of Guyana can be mobilized, in a strategic way and the capacity and capabilities can be built among the people, sectors and leadership, this could accelerate Guyana’s progress by 20%. The focus here has to be not just on mobilization but also on preparedness.
Additionally, I believe that the time has come for our leaders to seriously consider inclusive government and governance. Over the past year, I have been conducting a research to determine whether Guyana is shifting more from a Large-Power-Distance country towards a Small-Power-Distance country.
I was partly motivated to conduct this research after the results from the General Elections in November, 2011, which resulted in a minority government. I was of the opinion that something was/is happening in Guyana as it relates to behavioral change and thus endeavoured to find out.
My preliminary conclusion therefore is that, it may become very necessary and perhaps more pragmatic for Guyana to move in the direction of inclusion governance since the drivers of the change are beyond the control of the government, the people and the institutions of Guyana. Part of this fact is that, the world has become a very inter-dependent place.
Therefore, it is my view that 40% of Guyana’s development challenges could be resolved with a more inclusive approach to governance. For example, this could have a more positive impact on investment, trade and tourism.
Audreyanna Thomas

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