Guyana’s Opportunity to Move from Third World to First World

Feb 14, 2019 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,

It is with much interest that I read the article titled, ‘Guyana, a logistical hub for China’s expansion in the region’ in the Kaieteur News, published on 6 February, 2019.
The article commenced with the following statement from Dr. Evan Ellis, a Research Professor at the ‘Centre for Strategic and International Studies’ (CSIS), in his paper ‘The Future of Latin America and the Caribbean in the Context of the Rise of China’.
The article stated “(China) also will likely include enhanced river and multimodal routes linking Brazil to the Atlantic in a southerly direction through Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina, and north to the Atlantic through the Guiana Shield, with improved highways through northern Brazil to the Atlantic coast of Guyana and Suriname.”
The article further stated that ‘it is not by chance that Guyana became the first English-speaking country in South America to sign on to the Belt and Road Initiative. Many believe that China values its relations with Guyana which is strategically located as a logistical hub suited for China’s expansion in the Region’.
In 2012, I started the public discussion about Guyana as the potential ‘Singapore of South America by 2032’, as if this was prophetic; all things being equal, there is no reason why Guyana cannot move from ‘third world to first world’ like Singapore did. However, while it took Singapore about two generations, if Guyana is organized and focused enough, there could be significant progress in this regard over the next decade.
Nonetheless, there are some gaps, if addressed, could propel Guyana’s growth process in accordance with the ‘Sustainable Development Goals’ (SDGs) theme ‘leave no one behind’. There are serious concerns that with such rapid growth, many could be left behind in Guyana.
The article further stated that in January, ‘Diálogo Chino reported that Guyana is a key logistical link in regional trade’….’Diálogo Chino said that the Guyana road link highlights the strategic nature “of the small country to China’s plans in Latin America. It would cut transport times to northern Brazil, China’s biggest trading partner in the region, by providing a faster route to the Panama Canal.”
This will no doubt position Guyana, as a key access route to the 422.5 million people on the South American continent and an economy of 6.5 trillion. However, what is missing, is the bigger context, in terms of how Guyana will be organized around this economic and development opportunity. Here is where the country has the opportunity to organize its institutions and people around a ‘Service Economy’, as one of the pillars upon which the country will be developed. This requires a ‘Service Economy’ policy, strategies, programmes to put greater structure to ensuring that Guyana and its citizens are well positioned to benefit, equally.

Yours faithfully,
Citizen Audreyanna Thomas

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