Interviews by Sara Bharrat with photos by Melissa Charles
This week we asked people in the street: What do you think about the Obama win? How will it affect Guyana and the developing world?
Sherrard Williams, aeronautical trainee: ‘I think that the fact that Barack Obama has won the US elections is something different for his country and the rest of the world. The thing that makes the Obama win so different is the fact that he is the first man of another race to become the president of the vast nation of America. I hope that Obama will be able to put some “colour” into the world. I think that he will be able to stabilise the American economy which is a very important task because the stability of their economy means the stability of our economy and those of the world. Cuba will definitely benefit from the Obama win. Guyana and other countries like it will perhaps be able to solicit more financial aid from the US; this of course will be the result when Obama manages to stabilize the economy. I believe that the war in the Middle East will come to an end; if anyone can change things it’s him.’
Frank Vibert Norville, self-employed: ‘In my opinion the Obama win is one of the greatest things that has happened to America in a very long time. Obama will be able to stabilize the American economy and all he needs is a little time to do it. I knew he had the prospect of being the next American president because of his ideologies during his campaign. Those ideologies were strong, he stuck to them and that’s the reason why he was successful. To tell you the truth though, I don’t know if he can do everything that he’s promised but I know he’ll be able to improve things somewhat. I think that the Obama win will be the reason that the war in the Middle East will come to an end. Right now that war is costing America US$11 billion and if those funds are diverted from the war and injected into the American economy then things will begin to improve. I have many relatives in the US and I know that over the past few years transportation prices have tripled. I don’t think that America will be putting much money into Guyana because our money management is weak. Take for example when Stanford had given millions of US to various cricket boards in our part of the world they could not account for the money. I know that if the American economy is stabilized then we will surely benefit but other than that I don’t see us benefiting from the Obama win in any special way.’
Yolanda Primo, nurse: ‘Well who knows how we will benefit from the Obama win. Perhaps it will be easier for us to get US visas. I’m not much into politics so I haven’t followed Obama to his victory but I think that he will stand true to his word and bring change to America come next January. Obama is of mixed descent so I think that he will look after the interest of all Americans equally. He just may be able to stop the war in the Middle East and we all know that the war has been eating up out planet’s supply of oil. Every time their activities in the Middle East are at their peak then oil prices go up. If the war goes then I believe that Guyana and the rest of the world will be able to access oil at a lower price. I have many friends and relatives in the US who have been complaining about the high rate of unemployment in America and even when they are employed they speak of the long and hard hours of work they put in often in harsh weather conditions. If Obama is able to stabilize the American economy it will stabilise Guyana’s and Guyanese will want to move back home. I have lots of friends in Trinidad who tell me that they are willing to come back home to Guyana if the cost of living drops.’
Bernice Sealey, private sector employee: ‘Everybody was speaking about Obama over the past few months. When I first heard that he was running for American president the first thought in my head was that they wouldn’t elect an African man to be their president. But Obama is God sent; I believe that. When I realised that he won the elections I was so happy. Many Guyanese have relatives living in that country and over the past few years everyone has been complaining about the high rate of unemployment and the bad state of the economy.
It has been a tradition for relatives to send monetary gifts for their relatives in Guyana but things got so bad over the last years that the amount that they used to send has reduced. I think that Obama will be able to do the job and he needs to start with their economic situation.’
Beverly Henry, private sector employee: ‘Obama is going to be a good president. America has shown the world that race does not matter and once you aim for something you can achieve it. While there are still people out there who haven’t accepted the fact that Obama won the elections they will come around eventually. I think that Obama will pave the way for Guyanese and other immigrants so that they’ll be able to stand by what they own. Bush’s policy right now is tough on the immigrants but I think that Obama realizes how important they are and he will look into their interest.’
Debbie Mentore, self-employed: ‘It’s a great victory for Obama. The Obama win has hushed racism in America and has put an end to white supremacy. If you’re not white in America then you’re considered black and even though Obama is part white he is still consider black so it is a historic thing to have the first African American president. Guyana and the Caribbean will benefit greatly from the Obama win because I think that Obama will give more attention to us than a white president would have. He will be able to fix the problem in their economy. The Americans need to give him a chance to prove that he can do the job. I think that America’s younger population supports Obama and they will represent the majority whose votes he will need to be elected for a second term. I think that he will be re-elected. Obama is like another Moses coming out of Egypt.’
Ian Budhoo, public sector employee: ‘I think that not only Americans but the entire world is happy that Obama has won the election. I’m not sure what sort of an impact his success will have on Guyana and the Caribbean. I mean I know there is the economic crisis and if America’s economy is stabilised then the entire world will benefit. But that’s about the only thing I can think of now.’
Errol Gilgious, self-employed: ‘Guyana will not benefit at all from the Obama win because the US already has one standing policy for Guyana and the Caribbean. They have already allocated a certain amount of resources that will be used to offer our region financial, medical, and military and security aid and that will not change just because Obama will be the new US president come January. The American economy needs building and Obama will look after the American people and their homeland before he even begins to seriously think about the problems of the rest of the world. He will be able to stabilize their economy because he is getting the support he needs. Perhaps when the American economy is up and running then everyone there will be able to afford annual vacations. Guyana might get some of those tourists; something our tourist sector can do with.’
Terrence Fordyce, self-employed: ‘Barack Obama recognizes that immigrants and non-immigrants build their economy. What has been happening in the US is that employers are not paying taxes for immigrant workers and they are the ones who will suffer in the long run. However, Obama has a plan that will sort things out for the immigrants. He will clamp down on the business people and ensure that they pay their taxes. I haven’t exactly thought about it but I guess having Obama as the next US president will benefit the entire Caribbean but not in a hurry because he will have to put his country in order before he can consider helping anyone else. If America gets their happy hour then obviously we here in Guyana will get our happy hour because our relatives will send us money. There are some Americans who feel Obama will do things specifically for coloured American people but he will look after all the people’s interests equally. One person or group of people is not America; he knows this and he will serve the people. I think that Obama will even get a second term. Once he shows the people that he is capable of making progress then he will be reelected. I’m not sure exactly how Guyana will benefit except from the traditional aid that we would receive from the US. The world respects the Obama win.’
Learie Barclay, pilot: ‘I think that the Obama win is a victory for the world. The world could not afford to have the next American president be a Republican or someone who would administer the George Bush policies that have done so much damage to the American economy. Such policies drove oil prices and the general cost of living up. The US will succeed with Obama and those successes will trickle down to our country as well. There has been a foreign policy in the US for the past six years but I think that Obama’s policies will be softer.’
