Granger should resuscitate Guyana’s African links

Jul 18, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor;
Just last week, Guyana participated in an “oil and gas mentorship programme” in Kampala, Uganda. Guyana which recently discovered a mega oil and gas field off its coast, is making preparation for the development of the country’s oil and gas sector, and this is why Minister of Finance Winston Jordan and Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman went to Uganda.
Mostly likely, the Guyanese delegation needed a visa to enter Uganda, unless there is a visa abolition policy for diplomats between these countries.  Guyanese as a whole need a visa to travel to Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. On the other hand, Jamaicans and Trinidadians don’t need visas to visit most of these countries.
Interestingly, Guyana, which championed the South Africa and Southern Africa liberation movements at Caricom, the UN and at the Non-Aligned Movement, hasn’t engaged these countries for the abolition of visas for their respective citizens. Relationship grew cold in the 1990s after the Peoples National Congress party left office. More disturbing, Guyana does not have diplomatic relationship with over 20 African countries, despite that it is the fastest growing continent today.   East Africa most certainly isn’t the basket case economies when President Granger’s PNC party was in power.
Guyana was visited by leaders from Tanzania, Botswana and Zambia. This attest to the strong ties between these countries at the time. As well, the late President of Guyana, Forbes Burnham, visited many African countries.
A great deal of this history, Guyana and Africa, has been documented by historian and current President of Guyana, David A. Granger.  President Granger takes pride in this history. It is highly likely that he will renew ties with these countries in Africa and open a diplomatic mission in Addis Ababa, the headquarters of the African Union.  ”Socially, economically and politically things are happening in Addis, everyone is in Addis,” remarked on diplomat from a CARICOM country.  A mission here will focus on the growing economies of East Africa -Ethiopia, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.
Every sitting Indian President of Guyana from 1992 to 2015 visited their ancestral motherland, India. They included Dr. Cheddi Jagan, Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar. Will President Granger who penned a paper titled, Forbes Burnham and the Liberation of Southern Africa, expand Guyana/Africa ties? Will he visit the growing economies of East Africa, Uganda, Kenya or Tanzania? Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India last week concluded a visit to Mozambique, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. China also has been digging deep to exploit Africa’s abundant natural resources.
Strangely, since taking office just over a year ago, no one from the ruling APNU, former PNC Party, travelled to Dodoma, the capital of Tanzania. Tanzania under the leadership of Baba-W-Taifa (father of the nation), Dr. Julius Nyerere inspired the PNC government of Guyana for decades, and now they are back in power looking at a vastly different Tanzania. Dr. Nyerere visited Guyana twice. Thus, Tanzania maybe high on Granger’s list of countries to visit.
Rapidly developing Tanzania today has an investor friendly President, John Magufuli, who is receiving global praise for his battle against corruption.  Magufuli is also called the “bulldozer” and is known for firing public servants and heads of government agencies during to do on spot secret visits.  He cancelled Christmas and independence celebrations and used the money to put beds in hospitals. Mr.  Magufuli is a great example for our Guyanese leaders to follow.
When is President Granger going to Africa? He will be proud to see the strides the continent is making and especially in the fields of economics and national cohesion. East African economies are growing at an average of 7% yearly. President David Granger and his Foreign Minister Carl Greenidge should forge stronger times with the growing and prosperous economies of Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda.
Ray Chickrie