Guyana’s future is to become the Singapore of South America!!!

Mar 31, 2020 Letters

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DEAR EDITOR,

I wish to contest some of the views expressed in an article published in the Kaieteur News on 25 March 2020, titled ‘Bloomberg Paints Gloomy Economic Picture of Guyana’. I find the analysis on the economic future of Guyana to be very thin.
Here is my prediction of Guyana’s economic future. Firstly, Guyana will become the Singapore of South America. I am very happy that ExxonMobil is not being distracted with the politics in Guyana, but the company is continuing with its operations.
The article states that ‘Exxon, meanwhile, continues to see Guyana as its golden ticket in tough times, with billions of barrels of oil at play’.
The role of ExxonMobil is fundamental to the design, development and implementation of Guyana’s current and future economic and development strategy. So, Exxon, please do not get distracted, we are ‘working out our own salvation, perhaps with fear and trembling’. We are trying to get our governance and leadership.
The article stated that ‘In November, the International Monetary Fund gave Guyana the nod as the world’s fastest growing economy on the strength of Exxon’s oil finds. Since then, a fight for political control has led to a disputed election…’
This statement is inaccurate, it is important to understand the source or core of the problems in the Guyanese society, because if theory and analysis is faulty, then the solutions proposed will be wrong also. Guyana’s political problem is over 70+ years old, which is essentially ethno-political.
A major part of the problem in Guyana is that Guyanese have been serving the agenda of our politicians, instead of our politicians serving the agenda of the Guyanese people. We intend to change that order so that the politicians will serve the agenda of the Guyanese people.
The point that ‘Guyana risks limiting its oil riches and becoming another Venezuela, a neighbouring country that’s an economic and humanitarian disaster zone’; that will not happen. Our examples which we intend to follow for resource-rich countries are Botswana and Chile as developing countries, and Norway, Canada, Australia and the United States.
Another aspect of the article stated that, “This is the first step of the oil curse, “said Schreiner Parker, the Vice President for Latin America at consultant Rystad Energy, citing the political clash.” The first thing that you can do wrong has been done wrong.”
My view is that too much space in the press is given to frame Guyana in the context of a country that could become a resource-curse country; while I understand that some of it is intended to show what Guyana should not do, I am of the firm view that more space needs to be given to the positive examples, like the countries I mentioned above.
What has Botswana done and is doing to avoid being a resource-curse country? What can we learn from Botswana and Chile as developing countries? What can we learn from Norway, which seems to be at the higher end of countries that used their resources to develop the country in a sustainable manner?
Further, the article states that ‘President David Granger is accused of miscounting votes to stay in office and fighting a recount even after the U.S. and regional groups said the March 2 vote was flawed. But Granger’s challenger, Bharrat Jagdeo, said his supporters won’t recognize Granger as president, “and we will not participate in the parliament.” Instead, they will work with the international community and push for sanctions.
Many of us do not agree that the approach by any political party that does not win the elections, is to stay out of parliament, and be involved in activities that will disadvantage the Guyanese people.
Having been a Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) for decades, the second poorest in the Western hemisphere; this is an opportunity for the people of Guyana to realize the Guyanese Dream and our politicians have to work harder to find solutions which will be in the best interest of the country and its people.
I recently reviewed the National Development Strategy (NDS) from the early 2000’s which is a very comprehensive economic and development policy document. The four objectives were: economic growth, poverty alleviation/reduction, satisfaction of basic social and economic needs and sustainment of a democratic and fully participatory society.
If I had my way, I would incorporate aspects of this NDS with the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS) and with my own thinking of framing Guyana’s economic and development policy and strategy into six pillars: Green Economy, Oil and Gas Economy, Natural Resources Economy, Agricultural Economy and Service Economy.
This would be my approach for the short, medium and long term towards the country becoming the ‘Singapore of South America’ and providing strong leadership nationally, regionally and internationally.
As a citizen of Guyana, I invite investors to come because ‘Guyana is open for business.’ We are changing the order of our politics and development. We will deepen and widen and broaden our democracy as well as strengthen the rule of law.
I particularly like the statement by ExxonMobil in the article, “We are invested in a long-term, mutually beneficial relationship with the people of Guyana.” I wish to emphasize, ‘with the people of Guyana’. I believe, however, that Exxon needs to enlarge that relationship with the Guyanese people.
My point is that, as a people, we have recognized that we have not done enough to create a more stable internal environment for the growth and development of our country, and we intend to do so now. There is a lot of serious talk going on among us behind the scenes. I sincerely hope that we will get the support to bring more balance between our politics, economics and development.
Yours faithfully,
Citizen Audreyanna Thomas

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