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Mar 06, 2011 Letters
Dear Editor,
I address the proposal by the AFC to allocate two parliamentary seats for the Diaspora (NRG’s) community. This initiative of the AFC is certainly novel and maybe to some, a bit controversial. However, before rushing to judgment on either side, one should evaluate the pros and cons and the purpose and value of such a proposal.
As highlighted by Mr. Ramjattan, the Diaspora loosely numbers some 900,000 and are scattered in many countries with large and significant concentrations in North America and the UK. Most significantly, a large cross-section of this community is first generation with a strong bond to the home country. A sizable contingent of the community are highly educated, independent and well placed in industry and government in their adopted homeland. One should remember they are the products of the decades of Guyana’s brain drain.
As Guyana struggles to move forward, it will surely need, and should harness the skills and talents at its disposal from any reliable source, local and foreign. The use of foreign skills is nothing new to Guyana, over the years we have seen many experts working in Guyana in various capacities.
Many in Guyana’s Diaspora have expressed a willingness to get involved in the development of Guyana by lending their skills and talents in various aspects and help the country to overcome its many challenges.
However, as Mr. Ramjattan pointed out, though many are willing to assist, it is not reasonable to expect they will give up their lucrative jobs, businesses and security to help on issues with a specific half-life. On the other hand, many in the Diaspora want to ensure what they do contribute is coordinated, meaningful and sustainable and that their contributions make a real and measurable difference to the nation as a whole.
To accomplish this, one must ensure accountability and an institutionalised means to effectively leverage this largely untapped resource. The Diaspora would prefer to know their skills being sought does have a certain sanctioning by the Government and that there will be real and tangible ownership and follow through on their efforts. The Diaspora will also feel comfortable to contribute knowing there are institutional points of reference to follow-up on the progress of initiatives undertaken.
The fact must not be lost that these individuals do have their regular jobs and family priorities in their adopted homeland. The proposal by the leader of the AFC clearly intends to assign ownership to the Government for ensuring the meaningful and fruitful partnership with the Diaspora.
Another potentially huge benefit would be to tap into the second string of Guyanese. The current stock of direct Guyanese emigrants is now becoming detached from their respective commitments to jobs and family in their adopted homes in that they are attaining retirement status and their children are becoming independent. However, this population is also ageing and will require closer and constant ties to adequate medical care.
To that end, their re-commitment to their homeland, Guyana, could serve as the bridge to connect and maintain connection of their foreign born off springs to the homeland of their parents. This model is most
evident and successful in such progressive countries as India and Israel who have suffered similar intellectual migration but were both successful in keeping downstream generations engaged. Guyana is uniquely poised to draw on the expertise of the second string of educated and skilled Guyanese as South America emerges from the doldrums at the time of their (our children) ascension in their respective careers.
Taking the latter into consideration and coupling it with the financial accomplishments of first generation migrants, Guyana, like Israel and India is in the enviable position of potentially drawing investments in the form of Government issued developmental bonds (see AFC action plan).
Now in conclusion, I must state that there is a very compelling rationale for the allocation of two parliamentary seats for the Diaspora (NRG’s).
Doodnarine Seenarine
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