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A haphazard approach to development

Jun 18, 2024 Letters

Dear Editor

Popular Keynesian Economist Joseph Eugene Stiglitz when asked about his thoughts on development he stated, “Development is about transforming the lives of people not just transforming economies.” In this quote, he postulates that development should not be singular on macroeconomics but rather the administrators should embrace a microeconomic approach for the benefit of the grassroots.

Over the last 58 years of our post-independence era, something is not right when successive governments do not seem to care about direct socio-economic development of the populous. From building roads, schools, medical facilities, and housing for the people, it has always focused on large-scale development with little direct assistance for the poor and working class.

Roadways have been concreted with rigid lanes, speed humps, poor drainage, lack of signage along with wretched enforcement of speeding laws without cameras, speeding guns and police patrols. Recent developments in Providence suggests we are a nation that governs reactively preparing for events such as the ICC T20 world cup to improve the roadways with poorly planned traffic patterns and rain delays leaving slushy unfinished roads for a major global tournament where we are expecting visitors.

Despite all the efforts to foster macroeconomic development, our people are struggling at the microeconomic level. Mothers with multiple kids are struggling to cover rent, food, transportation and school supplies. Recent studies have shown a substantial number of children are going to school hungry in the aspiring “Dubai of the Caribbean.”

Recent observations of the construction of the new Demerara Harbour Bridge does not correlate with the news of a 40% completion without the foundation of the bridges being securely casted with concrete. Our nationality is more respectable than the tales our government portrays.

Additionally, health facilities like the Georgetown Public Hospital are overwhelmed by patients with inefficiency in training, research and customer service from the staff. It’s appalling to have medical professionals uttering to patients to “shorten their story because they are tired.” This is not only disheartening but unprofessional, uncaring and a step backwards in development.

The reality facing a country whose GDP per capita according to the World Bank is estimated at US$25,000 per person is far from the reality of the plights of the average Guyanese whom eagerly earns approximately US$8,000 per capita. Even though, we are the fastest growing country due to the windfall from the oil and gas industry, development needs to trickle directly into the pockets of the average Guyanese. Cash transfers and increasing salaries of the public sector workers by GUY $80,000 (US$380) can move the earning power of the people closer to the cost of living. Secondly, the government should curtail its focus to social net programmes such as providing discounted housing, free tertiary education, meals at school and an expanded public assistance programme that will ensure that families are not struggling to put food on the table daily. While roads, schools and hospitals are paramount for development, they cannot be consumed daily by the people, so policymakers need to retool their strategies for greater effective economic outcomes of the populous if it really cares. Part of the developmental model calls for honesty, transparency, and accountability to be the cornerstone of the government’s actions, but this government seems to intend to forego all these virtues and do what it pleases. Afterall, we have an opposition who is ineffective at representing its constituencies, they are waiting on elections to begin fighting for direct economic development among its people. Really unfortunate case we find ourselves.

Sincerely
Collin Haynes

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