Money from the Middle-East might be a mirage

Nov 20, 2021 Letters

Dear Editor,

Kaieteur News – Expectations of quick and easy money from Middle-East governments and investors have been exaggerated and might be a mere mirage unless Guyana enhances its economic diplomacy and improves its understanding of the Region. Despite the flurry of friendly visits and optimistic reports of governmental engagements, the road to achieving tangible results will be long and hard.

Former President David Granger, speaking on Friday during his weekly programme ― The Public Interest ― recalled that there had been a shift in economic diplomacy fifty-one years ago from the West towards the East, especially the Middle East. Guyana, after becoming a Republic, established diplomatic relations with Egypt as long ago as 1971 and an embassy in Iraq in 1973.

Mr. Granger admitted that the quest for wide, international support through the Non-Aligned Movement was, initially, ideological and strategic, as support was sought for Guyana’s territorial controversies. Relations with other states followed but the objective soon became economic and financial.

Mr. Granger also explained that the Middle East is a geopolitical region that has been plagued by external intervention, interference and warfare for several decades. The geopolitical situation must be understood, if Guyana’s engagements are to be successful. He recalled that the PPP administration’s Middle-East diplomacy faltered and its relations with Iran faded as a result of ignorance of the international situation at the time.

The APNU+AFC coalition administration pursued economic opportunities through institutions such as the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (IOC) and the Islamic Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ISESCO) and an Embassy in Kuwait.

The Former President said that, while it was good to seek to improve relations with Middle-East states, lasting success will come from the efforts of a corps of professional ambassadors and diplomats, a complement of competent bureaucrats and foreign service officers and a functional Foreign Service Institute, not ‘personal summitry.’
He argued, also, for closer attention to be paid to the Caribbean Community which provides a billion dollar market for Guyana’s agricultural products while the Middle East, 11,000 kilometres away, does not need Guyana’s rice and sugar.

Regards
People’s National Congress

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