Latest update April 25th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jul 18, 2014 News
There may be a plausible explanation for Guyana’s slothful development when compared to that of Singapore. At least this is according to Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, who noted that while recent statistics produced by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) “are relatively true” there are some other factors that must be taken into consideration.
Based on the statistics published by the IMF, the Gross Domestic Product (nominal) per capita in 1960 for Guyana was US$304 while Singapore’s was US$395. However by 2013 the respective values were US$3,729 (Guyana) and US$54,776 (Singapore).
This state of affairs was highlighted by the Indian Arrival Committee (IAC) which is of the firm belief that “comparative analysis of the respective economic growth patterns of Guyana and Singapore will shed much light on Guyana’s current predicament.”
The predicament to which the IAC alluded was the recently released preliminary census results, which reflect a worrying decline in the population by 3,339 persons characterised by a decrease from 751,223 in 2002 to 747,884 in 2012.
But according to Prime Minister Hinds, among the points that must be considered ahead of digesting the IMF statistics is that in the 1980s the Singaporeans had embraced a slogan which stated ‘let us provide the world a German quality work force’.
This slogan, the Prime Minister said, is one that adopted the assumption that a ‘German work force’ was in fact the best of its kind. He however speculated that this work force style adopted by Singapore was utilised “at two-thirds of the price.”
“I would like those advocating for this comparison (between Guyana and Singapore)… they should speak to those things too,” insisted the Prime Minister who was at the time speaking at an education forum at Cara Lodge, Quamina Street, Georgetown.
He added too that “we, maybe, now need to aspire to provide the world with a Singaporean quality work force, whether it is in production or productivity issues or services…”
He theorised that if this tactic is adopted “maybe we can produce at half the quality of the Singaporeans…it would be a big improvement…if you remember the numbers we are now at, 3,000 (and) they are at 54,000. So even if we move from 3,000 to 27,000 that would be good movement.”
And realising improved production, according to the Prime Minister, will be linked to “each one of us and all of us working together to improve our quality (and) quantity.” He noted too that another crucial slogan that was embraced by Singapore was ‘prosper thy neighbour’ – one he (Prime Minister) is keenly advocating, in order for Guyana to fast track its development.
The IAC in its release said that “as of 2006, Guyana was where Singapore was in 1973, and in 2013, the country stood where Singapore was in 1979.”
Further, the Committee highlighted that between 1960 and 2012, the population of Guyana increased by a factor of 1.34, while that of Singapore increased by a factor of 3.22.
The IAC said that using statistics obtained from the IMF database to arrive at where Singapore’s economy is in 2013 it would take Guyana 254 years (from 1960) or another 200 years from today to match that.
“This reality should be a cause of urgent action,” said the IAC, even as it called upon political parties, trade unions, religious bodies, cultural organisations, Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) and civil society to study the facts presented.
The Committee is also urging that moves be made to adopt the Singaporean way by directing efforts to “join together to combat divisiveness, feelings of insecurity and to combine intellects, and to plot a fresh approach for Guyana, where people feel safe and want to make the country their home.”
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