Dear Editor,
I have been reading the blogs in response to the letter by GKH Lall, in SN, December 1, captioned, ‘Ask not what Guyana can do for you,’ and thought I would react. Sometimes we do react negatively and maybe quite rightly to those who say, hey you all set things right, give me a salary like the one I have over here, create a society like we have over here and we would come home. To reach the standard of living of the USA or that level of conspicuous consumption is but an impossible dream.
Sometimes it boggles the mind that intelligent Guyanese would write and say they are not coming home to use pit latrines. But we do have various types and levels of consciousness. There are many workers in Guyana who live in far better conditions than many over in the USA. The way the world is structured demonstrates the ability of the rich countries to buy the skills they need from all over the world – brain-drain and gain. They also have the ability to bring in cheap labour. And millions of illegals would flock and support the economy with underpaid labour.
In addition, the transnational corporations transfer wealth generated from corporations in the third world. As if those are not enough there is capital flight to the secure banks in the USA which adds to the liquidity that allows the US banks to give loans to Americans that allow them to spend and consume what they have not earned as yet. These fund the welfare states.
The capitalists of the third world live a first world life. They buy all the luxuries they need. Some, and good for them, drive around in Hummers and drink Blue Label and go to the best hospital in the USA, buy posh houses abroad and have their children educated abroad. That’s their choice and hard work.
The drain of skills and the transfer of social capital that assists the USA and other G7 countries cause the gap between the two worlds to grow larger. The structure of today’s economic system generates and supports the perpetuation of this state of affairs. The USA consumes 25 per cent of the world’s resources with 6 per cent of the world’s population.
How long this state of affairs would continue relative to consumption or the existence of the planet, I do not know. But I do know history has created a situation where America is highly indebted to Japan, China and India. It’s locked in two wars that it is difficult to get out of.
When the wars are over and the USA finds itself unable because of budgetary reasons to sustain a large army, then the climate with regard to immigrants may very well be aggravated. Whether America would recover and ever be the same again is in question.
I have said before the movement of people to the metropolis for betterment is a fact of life. The relationship between developed and developing, between industrialized and pre-industrialized, between centre and periphery generally remains the same. Some refer to it as developed and under-developing. In the meantime our skills and cheap labour go there. They enjoy far better conditions than at home and cannot be blamed for not wanting to return to lesser conditions.
However, our people from the third world are increasingly taking control of situations over there. For instance, who controls Silicon valley? What is the birth rate of the immigrants versus those who arrived on the Mayflower? History placed them over there. They have a better life. They love Guyana. After generations Indians root for India if India plays against Britain and Africans for African countries. It’s a reality. But they do not to return for a number of reasons. They would and should help as much as they can. But this is becoming more difficult as things become rough over there.
They can explore collectively if it is possible and if they desire, the possibility of elevating the assistance beyond remittances to family and donations to various bodies and people, to investment and job creation. In this way they can also increase their material wealth. Nothing is easy. We cannot all go to live in the G7. Other than that I wish them well in their new home.
Unfortunately many over there reflect the situation over here, pro and against the regime, pro Africans, Indians. Steeped in the capitalist ideology and not recognizing they have one, unable to get out of the box, or as Ian McDonald said, “the echo chamber.” Not thinking of alternative development strategies as did Rodney and Cheddi.
We are witnessing the departure of the present government from the ideas, principles and policies of the late Dr Jagan. We are witnessing the sidelining of many of the better stalwarts of the PPP, Moses Nagamootoo for one, and if I may be allowed to be immodest, yours truly, and this is not recent.
We have seen the elevation of obscure members to stalwarts of the party and the appearance of many others at the top, compliments of nepotism, favouritism and ‘friendism,’ in addition to another factor that you can guess. We have seen absurd and childish confrontational politics that leaves no room for any unification processes; that offers no hope for the future. But the ball is in our court, not only here but in the diaspora as well. All would never be involved. Usually it’s a minority. The diaspora can possibly lead the way.
I am criticizing the government and not the party. I told an executive member of the PPP I fought against the PNC dictatorship without fear of loss of life and material wealth. I did not struggle for the PPP but for the people.
Yours faithfully,
Rajendra Bisessar