Latest update November 29th, 2024 1:00 AM
In everything you do for oil, please think of generations ahead – Former T&T PM
Former Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Kamla Persad-Bissessar
It is all well and good to try to deliver a high-quality life to the citizens of your country now, but living only in the now is never advisable, it is always recommended to “think of the future.”
For former Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the future to be thought of is not just one or two decades down the line, but hundreds of years.
She recommended that the same be considered by Guyanese politicians for all their ventures in the oil industry.
Persad-Bissessar said this as she recently delivered the feature address at the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA)’s annual dinner and award ceremony held at Pegasus Hotel.
There, Bissessar-Persad recalled that the great Iroquois tribe of the Native Americans refers to a sentiment known as “Think Seven Generations Ahead.”
She said that the saying goes, “In all of your deliberations in the Confederate Council, in your efforts at law making, in all your official acts, self-interest shall be cast into oblivion.
Cast not over your shoulder behind you the warnings of the nephews and nieces should they chide you for any error or wrong you may do, but return to the way of the Great Law, which is just and right. Look and listen for the welfare of the whole people and have always in view not only the present but also the coming generations, even those whose faces are yet beneath the surface of the ground.”
Persad-Bissessar said that consideration of the generations to come, in keeping with the Iroquois’ sentiment, will help government officials to make wise decisions based on vision and understanding.
Another point that Persad-Bissessar made was that in preparing for the future, leaders must have a plan, one that can charter the way for real development.
The Trinidadian leader said, “Firstly, I recommend that leadership at the Governmental level needs to be based on a national vision for the improvement of the lives of all in your society. I recommend a National Policy for Development of Guyana, one that includes contributions from the Government, the Opposition, Labour, Civil Society and the business community, be pursued.”
Persad-Bissessar said that in Trinidad and Tobago, although attempts at this process have been made with policies such as Vision 2020 and now Vision 2030, these are not inclusive, and have been shown to be biased in favour of a particular political ideology.
She said that such unbalanced policies do not benefit the people of the country.
Further, Persad-Bissessar said that the sale and production of resources must be able to not just move the GDP rankings, but have a tangible effect on the daily life of every single citizen in the country.
“Leaders will need to make bold and brave decisions to move industries forward whilst at all times ensuring that the social safety net covers the most vulnerable in society.
This task also requires vision and agility in navigating the perils of volatile pricing and resource availability.”
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