Latest update February 23rd, 2019 12:59 AM
Attorney at Law Charles Ramson is worried that Guyana is headed swiftly towards the pre-source curse. He said this at a recent press conference.
There, Ramson explained that the pre-source curse refers to occurrences where “before you actually start production, you end up having worst macro-economic fundamentals than when you hadn’t discovered oil in the first place.”
Ramson said that Ghana is a perfect example. He said that that country, which discovered oil in 2010, found itself in worst debt positions even before it started producing oil. He said that the debt position further increased, even though after they started to produce oil and gained extra revenue.
Ramson said that he was further edified about the pre-source curse during his recent training at the Oxford University. He said that on that programme, he met the expert who coined the term pre-source curse—James Cust.
Ramson said that he knows the government is at least aware of the term pre-source curse as it was mentioned in the Green Paper. However, he said that he thinks the government needs to buckle and do more to prevent Guyana from experiencing full-blown pre-source curse.
Ramson said, “Recently, especially within the last six to eight months, we have seen quite a number of loans being taken by the government. Many of the times, we are not quite sure what those loans are for, what are their interest rates, the pay back and maturity period or how it is being structured; we just know that the loans are being taken.”
Ramson continued, “So that in itself, increases our debt position, so effectively, we are already moving into the pre-source curse type of position.
Feb 23, 2019
The seventh annual Milo Schools’ football group round-robin/knockout competition continues this weekend with three matches tomorrow and three addition clashes Monday as round one of the group...In one of his less successful plays but one that is my preferred choice, Tennessee Williams in “The Milk Train Doesn’t... more
The most dominant theme in the discourse on politics in Guyana is about the failure of the two main political parties, the... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders The law is the law and it is binding on all who dwell or visit within its jurisdiction. The law is... more
Editor’s Note, If your sent letter was not published and you felt its contents were valid and devoid of libel or personal attacks, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]