HAPPINESS IN GUYANA

May 10, 2017 Editorial

The pursuit of happiness was thought to be an inalienable right by the framers of the US Constitution. However, that definition of happiness evoked a different meaning than it does today. The Constitution proclamation of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness meant a feeling of self-worth and dignity acquired by those who contributed to their community and to its civil life.
It was about one’s contribution to society rather than pursuits of self-gratification. Today’s meaning of happiness, according to the Webster dictionary, is a state of well-being and contentment.
As a nation, Guyana has a high level of happiness, despite the hardships experienced by the masses. Norway, Denmark, Switzerland, Finland and Iceland are dubbed the happiest countries in the world because of their high standards of living. The care and nurturing they provide to their citizens, especially the most vulnerable in society—children, elderly and the disabled. This does not come at a cheap cost, but it allows their citizens to live comfortably and happy.
Unfortunately, many of us in Guyana who work and pay taxes cannot look forward to such good services. Despite this,we are considered among the world’s happiest people. We are creative, hard-working and content. This challenges the economic theory that only the wealthy can have real happiness.
And while the government prides itself on making the country better off economically, there is a weak correlation between economics and happiness. Which begs the questions: Can money buy happiness? Are rich people happier than poor people? Are people living in rich countries happier than people living in poor countries? Does the happiness of a people relate to economic growth of a country?
Contrary to the economic theory, assumption that economic growth and more money make people happier, studies have shown that life events such as freedom, marriage, births, strong relationships and the purchase of a house or a vacation make people much happier. What this means is that the happiness of people does not relate to money or economic prosperity.
A common belief among many is that people in rich countries are happier than people in poor countries. However, in 2012, an Ipsos poll measured the degree of happiness in 24 countries—12 rich countries and 12 poor and middle-income countries. It found that the levels of happiness of people were higher in the poor and middle income countries than in the rich countries, which is seemingly contrary to popular beliefs.
While it is true that people in rich countries have more luxurious things which make them happy, those in the poor countries live more meaningful lives and have stronger relationships.
In 2014, the United Nations (UN) declared March 20 as the International Day of Happiness in recognition of the happiness and well-being of people worldwide. The UN happiness index has enjoyed universal respect as an indicator of happiness and how well a country does in providing for its populace.While the search is still on for verifiable data to equate economic well-being to the happiness of people, this is not the case in Guyana. In fact, many in Guyana believe that economic prosperity does not correlate with the happiness of the populace. At least, people do not seem to become happier at the same rate at which the economy improves, or unhappy at the same rate at which the economy declines.
The reason is economic prosperity is typically not shared equally across segments of society and often results in income inequality. So although Guyana’s economic growth rate may rapidly expand, only a relatively few people, especially the elites would actually benefit from such economic fortune.
In pursuing the noble and necessary objectives of economic growth and a balanced budget, the government must ensure that the crime rate is down; that people have access to good paying jobs, better health care, education, justice and services.
Government must place emphasis on improving the quality of life of the people, which in turn will make them happy.

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