Latest update April 24th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jan 18, 2016 Letters
Dear Editor,
Last week we identified failures and missed opportunities, as a preview to the challenges ahead. We now conclude with the specific experiences. President Granger recently said, “…2016 presents a new opportunity for Guyana to hasten economic development by diversifying the traditional sectors and venturing into more value-added enterprises that will promote sustained economic growth…’. Diversification is absolutely necessary; however, the latest proposal must be more credible than previous declarations, in order that the people might believe it.
Diversification should not be an activity, lost in the general scheme of the programme for economic development. Because of where Guyana is today politically, socially and economically, and because so many ingredients are needed for diversification to succeed one may argue that, by itself, diversification may have to be the National Economic Development Strategy. Diversification was at the heart of the plan to ‘Feed, Clothe and House the nation by 1976’. How else could such big dreams be achieved without diversification? Well, Sananta Textiles was part of the plan to ‘clothe’, but it was just sold to Bobby Ramroop ending the dream permanently. It was part of the PNC’s plan, some 20 years before the PPP came to power in 1992.
Add 23 more years during which Guyanese got a National Development Strategy 2000-2010, from the PPP. Under Chapter 2 National Objectives, paragraph 2.18 reads, ‘Fifth is the objective of diversifying the economy…The country cannot continue to depend on a narrow economic base, especially one that is so dependent on preferential agreements and tariffs…’ etc.etc. etc. That was 15 years ago.
Then one thought that diversification should be in Budget Speeches. One was randomly selected. “Section B: Investments for Transformation”, paragraph 4.10 of the 2008 Budget Speech declare that, “our Government places high priority on actively promoting accelerated diversification of the economy”. Note that at this stage, the idea is merely to promote diversification; it is not a big objective.
Furthermore, one reflected on the PPP’s 2015 Manifesto because the 2000-2010 Strategy plus 5 years is 15 years. Well, one was not disappointed; it is there under the section “Our Vision”. It reads, ‘…A country with a sustainable, expanded, modern and diversified economy with new frontiers of economic growth, job-creation programmes and transformative infrastructure…’,bla, bla, bla. What happened since 2000? For 15 years diversification went nowhere but by 2020 Guyanese will see real action.
In other words Mr. Editor, the story is that after 43 years the people still await implementation of a diversified economy, because it is still the same rice, sugar, timber, and mining. Mr. Editor, one imagines that diversification means change, and in the context of where Guyana is today economic diversification will not succeed without accompanying political and social changes, plus a good dose of national inspiration. In the national economic context diversification will take time; especially because it needs a sustained supply of financial resources; educated, trained and an energised people; technological capabilities in the areas to be developed; governmental organization and capacity to execute and manage; and an enabling environment for public and private investment, which not only takes time to implement per se, but also takes time to bear fruit and pay off, and so on.
Which of these Guyana ever had in abundant supply in the past 43 years, or have in ready supply today, let alone a combination of several of them? Add to these a country that is, by design, politically divided, and one in which the population is, from all appearances, not pulling in the same direction. The population does not strike an observer as an optimistic, exuberant, high spirited people who are inspired and ready to go. Someone recently wrote (KN/5/1/15) that “Guyanese don’t show nationalist feelings like other nations”. In other words, Guyanese are not exuberant about their country, its standing in the world and its prospects. However, an inspired population is precisely what will be needed in order to achieve change that economic diversification implies, and which everyone dreams about, not people who flee the country in droves.
So what are the sources of national inspiration? It is difficult to say, however, hazarding a guess inspiration could be triggered by a united political front(not necessarily a single government), with APNU-AFC and the PPP on the same stage, smiling and backslapping, passionately delivering their respective speeches about their shared vision and long term commitment to a National Economic Diversification Strategy.
However, the population must be presented with several things, four of which may be; a mature, ready to implement, diversification strategy; realistic horizons when results are likely; an understanding of where resources will come from; and political consensus that guarantees continuity. Without some of these ingredients the people might be skeptical that it is just more talk, and who can blame them.
Ivor Carryl
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