Capital towns and economic development

Apr 03, 2016 APNU Column, Features / Columnists

“Guyana will develop only if regions are strong. Our regions must no longer be viewed as mere

President David Granger

administrative appendages of the central government. Our regions must become motors of economic growth. The potential of our regions is indisputable.
The geographical sizes of our regions signify their potential. The Barima-Waini Region is larger than Kuwait; Pomeroon-Supenaam is larger than Trinidad and Tobago; Essequibo Islands-West Demerara is larger than Mauritius; Demerara-Mahaica is larger than Singapore; Mahaica-Berbice is larger than Cape Verde; East Corentyne- Berbice is larger than Belgium; Cuyuni-Mazaruni is larger than the Netherlands; Potaro-Siparuni is larger than Fiji; the Rupununi (Upper Takutu- Upper Essequibo) is larger than Costa Rica and Upper Demerara-Berbice is larger than The Bahamas.
Guyana’s regions are rich. None is desert. None is tundra. None is swamp. Every region is blessed with natural and human resources which can be exploited for the benefit of its people. Local government elections therefore laid the foundation for a new partnership between central government and local government with the aim of building stronger regions.
A ‘capital town’ will be established in every region. Bartica will be the ‘capital town’ of Cuyuni-Mazaruni. Lethem will be the ‘capital town’ of the Rupununi. Mabaruma will be the ‘capital town’ of Barima-Waini. Mahdia will become the ‘capital town’ of Potaro-Siparuni. More suitable sites will be identified to transform the compounds into ‘capital towns’ in the coastal Demerara-Mahaica, Essequibo Islands-West Demerara and Mahaica-Berbice regions. ‘Capital towns’ will spearhead the development of the regions” – (His Excellency President David Granger)

The administration’s strategic vision for development of Guyana is complete, thorough, multi-disciplinary and comprehensive. Previous articles have examined the roles of decentralisation of decision-making power, regional empowerment, and local democracy in the development of the country. Today, we will discuss another facet of our strategic direction to make Guyana great: the creation of capital towns.
Capital towns are geographic areas within each administrative region which will emphasise the provision of much more than traditional municipal services. Instead, they will spearhead the development of our regions by providing the full gamut of public services. Education, health, housing, water, energy, law enforcement, taxation, immigration, insurance, and registration of births, deaths and businesses, will all be made available. No Guyanese should ever have to leave their own region to obtain those services.
Capital towns will provide economic services such as commerce, shipping, banking, micro-financing, telecommunication, tourism and manufacturing. Additionally, they will be empowered to deliver financial services. They will be expected to address the economic plight of their economically vulnerable members. They must address unemployment and poverty. How will the regional capitals be able to do those things?
This administration is committed to empowering regions to generate their own wealth. Municipalities must be capable of weaning themselves off of government subventions. They must generate their own sources of financing and raise their own revenues to finance their development. Central government stands ready to work with regional councils to achieve economic viability. The administration is committed to assisting Guyana’s regions to leverage their natural and human resources to develop themselves.
The recent creation of the new municipalities of Mabaruma in Barima-Waini, Bartica in Cuyuni-Mazaruni and Lethem in the Rupununi, was the first step in the new direction. Mahdia, too, in the Potaro-Siparuni region will soon join the ranks of municipal townships. In the remaining regions, which may not currently have towns, work will commence to establish such regional capitals. The developmental benefits of this plan are almost too many to mention.
The new model will erase the ‘colonial model’ of central control and replace it with a mindset which emphasizes the role of towns in promoting business, driving economic development, giving leadership to our regions, and catapulting them into the future economic dynamos which they are capable of becoming.
Guyana’s economic philosophy will emphasise the centrality of ‘capital towns’ to fostering development. The economic and developmental divide between rural and urban communities will be erased. This will be done by fostering the growth of four factors: infrastructure, investment, innovation, and information and communications technology. Subsequent articles will elaborate on these key areas.
A brighter future awaits. Guyanese can choose to allow the forces of division to keep us in the dark past, or, we can choose to unite, join the forward-moving train, and have happy and productive lives. It is all up to us.