Imagine! We are importing milk from Barbados!

Aug 27, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor,
It now comes as no surprise that Guyana’s economy is stagnant or has been experiencing no significant growth. We can say this based on empirical evidence, along with the supporting data provided by all the key players in the financial arena.
We have not come far in the 50 years since Independence in terms of manufacturing and creating new industries to utilize and market our resources to create employment. Actually, it is evident that we have retrogressed and halted most or all of those industries which were started decades ago and subsequently were aborted decades ago. We used to produce freezers and refrigerators at the Ideal Company, radios at the Greco Company, matches, natural and flavoured milk at the then pasteurization plant and large scale production of textiles at the Sanata textile mill.
We are now importing milk from Barbados, which has a much smaller land mass than ours to breed cows and to produce milk and its by-products. We are importing many products from Trinidad and other Caribbean countries which we can produce here for local consumption and widespread export. Whether these new industries will be undertaken by the government or will be a collaborative effort between the private and public sectors, I am sure that it is within our means to create these industries and turn them into tremendous successes. The result of these undertakings will be beneficial in myriad ways. Employment will be increased, crime will decrease, skills will be taught and enhanced, the overall economy will receive a major boost and mindsets will improve.
Our marketing is also non-existent or poor. I was saddened and embarrassed while viewing the recently televised Olympics when our contingent was paraded in front of the camera. I, along with most of the Guyanese population, had not received much publicity about the flag bearer or any detailed information about members of our contingent. Actually, there was additional embarrassment when Matt Lauer, the host of the popular “Today” show stated that one member of our team learned that he had been selected when he saw it on Facebook.
It is disgraceful that our Ministry of Sports did not treat our team with more respect and pride. The commentators would have been able to make more noteworthy and laudable comments or descriptions if they had been provided with more information. At an event of such worldwide participation and recognition, it is incumbent on our Ministers of Business, Sports and even Tourism, to “pull out all the stops” to attract attention to our country. A good strategy would have been to send our sole medallist at a previous Olympics Games, Michael Parris, to be our flag bearer. The U.S commentators would have then used that as a springboard to go into other glorious details (provided by our government) about Guyana and our contingent.
This government has been in power for 15 months. It is vital for us to come out of our slumber after 50 years of stagnation and struggle. Our main industries have suffered a decline and continuous fluctuations in their profitability. It is time that we diversify. We are going into the same situation, with the enthusiasm we are now seeing over Exxon Mobil’s oil find. It is a new industry for us and we need to immediately start educating and training our citizenry, especially our youth, to contribute in reaping the maximum benefits. It has been proven in many oil rich countries that the wealth derived from its existence does not trickle down to the populace. It is known as the curse of oil.
Conrad Barrow

1 thoughts on “Imagine! We are importing milk from Barbados!”

carl veecock August 27, 2016 at 8:34 pm

Excellent commentary and analysis by Conrad Barrow.

1. it is time that the government start talking to the people
on what to expect from oil production

2. there will be many many surprises and employment will be one of them as a lot of foreign skilled people will be
present
3. infrastructure will be a major concern and while providing
jobs, strategic locations will dominate

4. the possibility of an influx of foreign workers will create
more concerns for the government

As I said the government start talking to the people
on what to expect and should make this a weekly discourse.