Time for policies that lead to sustainable community development

Aug 23, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor,

The Office of the President must be in constant contact with the United Nations, the Organization of American States and European Nations etc. For example there are both international private organizations and governments that set aside resources for helping indigenous communities (we should stop referring to such communities as Amerindian communities. I understand it gives rise to unnecessary questions when attempting to access resources at the international level). Accessing these should be where the community development unit at OP focuses its efforts. Incidentally this would also be my advice for the Youth Unit at OP. I was disappointed when reading that this unit ran a “youth leadership course. “Youth leadership training has been organized and run by clubs in Guyana for over 100 years. In the case of the Department of Youth for over 35 years. Why today there is a need for OP involved in providing this training?
It is the Ministry of Social Cohesion that should be responsible for ensuring the community participates in its development. (of course, with assistance and cooperation from the regional administrations). While space will not allow for me to expand on this choice of ministry let me say the following. Social cohesion suggests a presence of the ministry in the community, it suggests a focus on people working together and it suggests pursuing activities with emphasis on mutual dependency. All these are essential ingredients of the community participatory process. What work needs to be done in Buxton? Is there a need for a day care centre? Which will free working parents of the expense and challenges encountered every working day when having to access such facility in Georgetown? Are there persons with the skills to manage such a facility in Buxton? If no, are there skilled persons living in neighbouring Annandale who can provide the service? When working together provide people with a solution to a felt need respect and appreciation for each other is the logical outcome.
Finally UG will have to do its part in support of community development. It will have to develop a course in community development with emphasis in community participation and ownership of the process. This course can be at the level of a certificate or diploma (in fact classes in community members’ participation in its development should be a part of the curriculum of all secondary schools). Mr. Editor, let me share an interesting experience. About 19 years ago, the American government recognized the need for its volunteers, working at the community level in Guyana, to be skilled at Community Analysis and Organizing. I was fortunate to be the person chosen and given training in the subject area and was subsequently responsible for training the volunteers.
On the insistence of people like Terrance Simmons and Jimmy Bhojedat, the American government conceded and Guyanese identified to be counterparts of the Americans were invited to be a part of the class. Transportation (including by air), hotels, meals and out of pocket money for the Guyanese were provided courtesy of the American government. Over a period of 9 years, I trained hundreds of Americans in the area of community assessment and organizing while training only a hand full of my fellow Guyanese. Remember those few Guyanese only got the training courtesy of the American government’s kindness and understanding. Clearly one government is convinced of the importance of preparing communities to bear responsibility for their development, while the other at least based upon its lack of action, is unconvinced.
Until we begin to behave in a manner that suggests a determination to make communities responsible for their own development, the nation will continue to experience shattered dreams and failed programs. Example, President Jagdeo’s Youth Project Initiative which result in the presence of a number of unused or underused buildings and the Wakenaan air strip which we are told residents describe as a “colossal joke” (perhaps it would more properly be deemed a colossal act of white collar crime).
Claudius Prince

Editor’s note; this is the conclusion of this letter carried in our Monday edition

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