The five challenges of Independence(Part 3)

Jul 03, 2016 APNU Column, Features / Columnists

(Address by His Excellency Brigadier David Granger, President of the
Cooperative Republic of Guyana at the Dinner in honour of
Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary, in New York.)
We (Guyanese) need not be poor. Ever again. Our country is rich in natural resources. We are committed to ensuring that the diaspora can be part of the transformation that will secure the good life for all.
We are the biggest and most bountiful CARICOM country. We are the Caribbean ‘hinterland.’ We are a land of lakes, forests, mountains, mudflats, rivers, savannahs and waterfalls where our giants reside. Guyana, your motherland, is the mother of giants:
– the Black caiman is the largest reptile on the continent of South America;
– the Jaguar is the largest terrestrial carnivore on the continent;
– the Harpy eagle is the largest eagle on the continent;
– the Jabiru stork is the tallest flying bird on the continent;
– the Vampire bat is the largest bat on the continent;
– the King vulture is the largest vulture on the continent;
– the Giant anteater is the largest in the world;
– the Giant river otter is the largest otter in the world;
– the Giant river turtle is the largest in the world;
– the Capybara is the largest rodent in the world;
– the Arapaima is the largest scaled freshwater fish in the world;
– the Anaconda is the largest constrictor in the world;
– the Bird-eating spider is the largest spider in the world.

These ‘giants’ can contribute to the economic development of eco-tourism. They can generate more income alive than in pepperpot.
The ‘giants’ are a priceless national and natural prize. Preserve them. We can protect, with management and maintenance, this rich heritage for endless generations.
Guyana will never really be ‘independent, as long as we remain dependent on the six sisters – bauxite, gold, fish, sugar, rice and timber. We must change. Our future, increasingly, must rely and rest on five economic pillars:
• Institutions: Guyana needs to ensure that the institutions of state – the Constitution; the National Assembly; the Judiciary and the Courts; Ombudsman, Police Force, Public Service – are preserved in order to protect the people’s interests, provide services and promote public trust. Society will collapse without these institutions.
• Investment: Guyana needs investment as the ignition of the engine of green development. The diaspora possesses many qualities, two of which have the potential to propel growth — access to capital and the availability of expertise. Guyanese living in the diaspora could establish their own companies as easily as foreigners.

• Industry: Guyana needs to reduce its reliance on the six sisters of our economy which have repeatedly exposed our country to the volatilities of international commodity markets. We must move along the value chain of production by catalyzing investments in manufacturing and value-added production. Guyanese-Americans have the experience and the expertise to develop this capacity.
• Innovation: Guyana needs to adopt a green economy to enable the sustainable and efficient use of our resources. A ‘green’ economy means that industries must utilize smart technologies to marry the objectives of sustainable development with greater global competiveness. Innovation depends on having an educated nation.
• Information technology: Guyana needs to develop the capability to compete globally requires quicker and wider diffusion of information technology throughout our economy but, more so, within our educational system. We need to bridge a gaping digital divide with the rest of the world while at the same time preparing the next generation for the digital revolution taking place in education.
We achieved much in our fifty years of freedom. We overcame the worst effects of the global energy and financial crises. We withstood fifty years of threats to our territory. We suppressed an insurrection, we resisted invasion and intervention. The words of our inspirational patriotic song – ‘Song of the Republic’ – remind us:
“Her children pledge each faithful hour to guard Guyana’s lands;
To foil the shock of rude invaders who’d violate her earth
To cherish and defend forever the state that gave them birth.”
Our accomplishments and resilience are reason enough for all of us to hold our heads high on this 50th anniversary of our Independence. We could have done better, without a doubt.
• Unity of our people has eluded us. We can do more to exploit our abundant human and natural assets if we were more united.
• Prosperity has eluded us. We can do more to exploit the reserve of talent and capital in our diaspora to develop our abundant resources.
• Security has eluded us. We will continue on a peaceful path to remove the threats of claims on our motherland and to make society safer for our women and children.
Our Independence Jubilee is an opportunity for us to retrace the steps we took on our journey as a nation. We look back in order to move forward. Our eyes remain set on the prize: the ideals that were inspired by Independence – the prospect of a prosperous economy; the desire to live in peace in a secure state and the quest for a good life for all.
THE DIASPORA
I have repeated often that Guyana is a whole nation but divided in two parts — half living in North America and half living in South America.
The diaspora is an integral part of our nation – emotionally, economically and experientially. The diaspora must be involved in the development of our nation. Guyana is for all of us. It must be developed for and by all who are Guyanese.
We are happy that many Guyanese in our diaspora have understood this. We are happy that they have undertaken to be part of the changes that are taking place in our motherland. We are happy that the inspirational words of our patriotic song – ‘My Native Land’ – have never lost their meaning and constantly remind us:
“I care not though their wealth be great, their scenery be grand,
For none so fair, as can compare, with my own native land.”
I close by reminding you of the Bambara proverb “God gives nothing to those who keep their arms crossed.”
We need to unfold our arms, embrace each other, embark on a path of development and empower our people to overcome the five challenges which impair the independence of our great country. The words of our inspirational patriotic song – ‘Guyana the Free’ – remind us:
Our labour in factory, in office and field will give us the wealth and the full harvest’s yield.
With purpose and vigour we’ll carve our own fate, unmoved by distraction, prejudice and hate…
We are part of this exciting process of change taking place in our homeland.
We are part of ensuring that the dream of independence – the dream of the good life for all – will become a boom for our children and grandchildren.