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A time to give
(Kaieteur News) – For far too long, the Caribbean Community has spoken of solidarity without always matching words with action. But this week, we have seen a welcome shift. The Caribbean Community has finally gotten its act together and announced that it will be sending humanitarian aid to Cuba. It is a move that should have happened sooner, but as the saying goes, better late than never.
Now, the spotlight falls on us here in Guyana. While CARICOM as a body is moving, our own government must show leadership. We should have long mobilized our own assistance, but we have a chance to make up for lost time. This is not just a matter of regional duty; it is a practical opportunity to help our Caribbean neighbor while also finding creative solutions to some of our own domestic challenges.
The government of Guyana can now make a direct appeal to corporate Guyana and to every citizen. Let us be generous. Cuba is facing severe hardships due to the tightening of an unjust embargo by the United States of America. The Cuban people are in need of basics—food, medicine, and supplies to keep their daily lives running. We have the resources to help, and we have the heart.
One of the most practical ways Guyana can assist is by using our strength in agriculture. Cuba is a nation of 11 million people. China has already stepped forward, sending some 60,000 tonnes of rice. But in a country with such a large population, that shipment is expected to last only about a month. This tells you the scale of the need. Brazil is sending 20,000 tons of rice, along with 150 tons of black beans, 150 tons of milled rice, and 500 tons of powdered milk. Mexico is also sending assistance as is Canada.
Guyana can match what China has done. Guyana is a rice-producing country. We have surplus rice that we can export to Cuba. But instead of simply selling it, our government should use the opportunity to barter. We can send rice in exchange for needed supplies from Cuba, including perhaps sugar. This would be a smart arrangement. It would allow us to send the entirety of Guyana’s own dismal sugar production for export in the Caribbean, without worrying about meeting local demand, because we would be importing Cuban sugar. It is a win-win: Cuba gets the rice it desperately needs, and we get a stable sugar supply while freeing up our own production for external markets.
But the aid cannot stop at rice. Cuba is also facing a transportation crisis, largely caused by the embargo on fuel. People are struggling to get to work, to move goods, to live their daily lives. One simple, effective solution is bicycles. A bicycle requires no fuel, it is clean, and it gives a person mobility. Guyana should send bicycles to Cuba. It is a small thing that can make a huge difference in helping Cuban families beat the transport crisis.
So how do we make all this happen in an organized way? We must not leave it to chance. The Private Sector Commission (PSC) should be asked to coordinate this relief exercise. The PSC has the structure, the connections, and the logistical know-how to manage a large-scale humanitarian effort. But to make it efficient and to ensure that aid reaches those who need it most, the commission should be asked to collect only a specific set of items. No confusion, no clutter.
Let the list be simple: bulk rice, toilet paper, essential medicines, bicycles, and solar panels with solar lights. These are the things that will have the most immediate impact. Rice provides sustenance. Toilet paper meets a basic daily need. Medicines are always in short supply during a crisis. Bicycles restore mobility. And solar panels and lights offer a solution to energy shortages, allowing families to have light and power without relying on imported fuel.
The government must also put its money where its mouth is. It should seek to purchase from our local rice millers at least 60,000 tonnes of rice for donation to Cuba. That is a significant amount, but it is well within our capacity as a major rice producer. It would also support our own farmers and millers by giving them a substantial order at a time when markets can be uncertain. Additionally, the government should procure another 10,000 bicycles. That number may sound large, but spread across a nation of 11 million people, it is a meaningful contribution.
Some may ask why we should give so much when we have our own needs. But the truth is that solidarity is not about giving from your excess; it is about standing with your neighbor when they are in trouble. CARICOM was built on the principle that we are stronger together. Cuba has long shared its doctors, its teachers, and its expertise with the Caribbean. Now it is our turn to share what we have. Let us not delay any further. The government must immediately make the appeal. Corporate Guyana which has the resources must respond. The people of Guyana have the compassion. Let us come together, let the Private Sector Commission coordinate the effort, and let us send a shipment that shows the strength of Caribbean unity. Better late than never—but now is the time to act.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
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Very good of the noble suggestions to assist the Cuban people!!!
It’s surprising they have doctors and teachers but a paucity of bicycles and other transportation means!!! How come they don’t have bicycles???
It appears that the US along with some Caribbean nations would prefer a change in the Communist system of governance which apparently is causing the suffering and economic downturn of the country!!!
It could be classified as a ‘dictatorship regime’ for almost 70 years!!!
Helping is good once it does not prolong/fortify the authoritarian regime in power!!!
The fine gesture should be matched with some assurance of the Cuban people having the right to choose their government & leaders!!!