The Story within the Story…It is time we protect and exploit what is ours

Aug 21, 2016 News

---

By Leonard Gildarie

Today, the world will bring the curtains down on a memorable two weeks of Olympics in Rio de

Janeiro, Brazil. Mesmerizing may not be a good enough word to describe what was witnessed from mere human endeavours.
The exploits of Michael Phelps, Simone Biles and Usain Bolt will go down in the history books and continue to capture the imagination of followers for a long time.
We did not fare too well at the games but our triple jump record holder, Troy Doris, did manage to make it to the finals. Our national television failed to show the live event of Doris doing his thing. An indictment on us?
For Jamaica and the US and the rest of the countries that won medals, it was triumph. It took years of hard work and preparation that came down to a fortnight of heartaches and triumphs.
I couldn’t help but yearn for the day when we would start bringing home medals.
We can argue that because of resources and long term planning (or lack thereof) that we could not do better.
Jamaica has 2.7 million citizens, about two million more than Guyana. That little island has been exploiting its music, tourism, language, Bob Marley and of course, its athletes.
How could an island take on the whole world to dominate track and field like this?
It did not happen overnight. The island invested in infrastructure and coaches and an entire establishment. There was a clear vision of where Jamaica wanted to be.
Jamaica and the US, the stars of the medals, will continue to revel for a long time.
The lessons from the Olympics should be replicated in every facet of the organizational structures of developing countries like Guyana.
Over the past few days, Guyana has been debating the fate of our manufacturing sector.
It is clear that more could have been done. The high cost of electricity, a main input in manufacturing, has continued to dog our efforts to compete on the world market.
For the layman, it is simple…our costs of production are too high. Our packaging of the final product appearing on the shelves is not attractive enough. Smuggling and regional trade pacts allow products to enter tax-free from our neighbours, placing our local ones at a severe disadvantage.
We need more from our overseas embassies, High Commissions and consulates.
Like I said before, they have to move away from the mere stamping of passports, applications for copies of birth certificates and issuing visas.
They have to use the cocktail circuit and other means to aggressively market our rums and other products.
I was a happy man two weeks back while on a visit to upstate New York, where houses are scattered, we managed to see a few bottles of El Dorado rums. But we must be serious about competition.
I was in Massy supermarket, Providence, on Friday and saw Tamarind from Thailand. Beautifully packaged. I also saw a senior citizen mesmerized by the some nicely packaged plantain chips.
One cannot blame the manufacturers too much. Many of them are small bottom-house operations who continue to use a fireside and sealer and photocopied labels.
I have heard the Ministry of Agriculture, both past and present, speaking umpteen times of how many jobs agro-processing can produce.
I agree. How much resources and time are spent in training these small manufacturers?
The larger ones are asking for concessions. Fair enough. How much talks have been ongoing, as a group, to maybe move the process along?
Are concessions part of the answer? Mining is getting concessions. So are other investors. How about a little more closer to home?
We are about to enter the world of oil production. I am excited. I understand that talks are ongoing to see the best deal from ExxonMobil, the US company that has discovered the reserves and is planning to exploit it. But there are a host of other services that the operations will require. Food, safety equipment, transportation, catering, housing and the list goes on.
I read a story this week about Usain Bolt. This is an extraordinary man. He is being sought after by some of the world’s biggest companies. They are promising to pay him millions for his endorsements.
Bolt is shrewd. He has been demanding, quite successfully, that the companies come to his home country, Jamaica, and produce the ads there. It is part of his contracts. His explanation is that the valuable dollars would be spent in Jamaica. Things like hotel, restaurants, local talents and more.
We have companies in Guyana that have money. Serious money. We are entrepreneurs. We struggled through the 80s, creating the now laughable suitcase trading.
We learn fast.
Our administration has to start talking to ExxonMobil and other investors on the need to use our local services and products. It is the best way to move this country forward.
On the flip side of the coin, our manufacturers and service providers must strive for the highest service possible, and quality products that can compete in price.
We shoot ourselves in the foot when we demand a high premium for our products and services when our neighbours are offering something better and cheaper.
We have some ways to go, but the ball should start rolling now.

---

---