Dear Editor,
In his January 11, 2010 letter titled ‘There are many instances where government has created roadblocks to personal development,’ Mr Lewis tells us something we already know: roadblocks to personal economic development are par for the course and our rulers since independence (PPP and PNC) have practised ethnic economic marginalization to varying degrees. Neither political party has an inherent commitment to the advancement of the supporters of the other, and if so, it is certainly not in any meaningful manner and at least not until the economic interests of their supporters are fulfilled. In this shameful existence, the burden of wealth creation is personal and rests primarily on the individual. Government is secondarily responsible for wealth creation. That secondary responsibility diminishes drastically when the government is ethnically elected and directed in its exercise of power.
Some background facts about ethnic economic marginalization need to be established before we proceed. Firstly, Indian Guyanese domination of the economic landscape in 1992 made it easier for Indian Guyanese capital to benefit disproportionately and along ethnically favoured lines from the ensuing privatization drive. Secondly, ethnic economic marginalization is practised in Guyana, but the exact scale is unknown because of the next factor, which happens to be the greatest danger to equalization of the playing field for all groups. Third, there is the strong perception that illegal wealth is allowed to be created by one ethnic group which is already economically entrenched, thereby enabling that group to gain and maintain economic power at a faster rate and hence illegally precluding other groups from entering the economic sphere fairly. The third factor is what is really devastating this nation and is the most tarnished legacy of the PPP.
The rampant creation of illegal wealth and in some cases conversion from steady legal wealth to spectacular illegal wealth has really heightened the reality of economic ethnic marginalization. It is difficult enough to join and compete against a strong economic group but it is virtually impossible to compete against wealth created by illegal means with runaway profit margins. Legitimate Indian Guyanese businesses as well are affected by this rising tide.
Mr Lewis’s recounting of the many instances of Africans denied economic empowerment by the current PPP government is proof positive of what happens in an ethnically charged, corrupt and failed society. The same phenomenon largely occurred with respect to Indian businessmen during the PNC reign. History is repeating itself with one significant distinction: the influence of illegal wealth is deepening the divide. The problem is indeed bigger and the government appears conveniently powerless. The real question is how does a marginalized group respond to these roadblocks? In fact, how do the Guyanese people as a whole respond to legitimate businesses pushed out to be replaced by some illegal businesses? The response begins with political pressure. It is followed by a directed effort to shop at legitimate businesses and bypass suspected illegal operations. However, most importantly it is creating wealth on a personal level. While commercial competition or entry into the commercial sector may be perilous considering the presence of suspicious ‘businesses,’ there are opportunities on a smaller scale to build capital. Buying house lots and building homes for resale and rent to fellow African Guyanese and investing in niche areas where corruption and illegal interference have not yet sunk their fangs are starting points.
Mr Lewis states that “the traditional public servants continue to be disrespected as a group…” In my previous letter of January 8 titled ‘If enough African-Guyanese return to their capitalist roots Guyana’s economic future will see improvement,’ I specifically argued that the shift of African Guyanese from private sector to public sector as one of the fundamental factors contributing to the sloth of African Guyanese wealth creation. The PNC encouraged a large group of dynamic people with strong enough commercial fervour and with the positional capacity to build businesses and create wealth to become a dominant public service class receiving low pay thereby destroying their ability to generate wealth. The rise of the PPP has essentially pushed the rapid aggrandisement of Indian Guyanese capitalism while African Guyanese are still stuck in the public service. Like many Indian Guyanese did when the PNC assumed power, many African Guyanese need to stop the disrespect by shifting into private capitalism even on a limited scale to gain independence. The public sector of a poor nation where your next raise is determined by a clueless government pandering to ethnic concerns is no place to be hanging your hat for the future, despite your lionhearted service.
There must be a return of the innovative African Guyanese whose vision of the future is bold enough to know that he has to recast himself into finding the comfort and security of wealth in a nation where ethnic economic marginalization rules. As one blogger aptly stated in response to my January 8 letter, African Guyanese are always starting and starting over in many of this nation’s economic endeavours. That is a spirit-crushing struggle for any people. African Guyanese capitalism does not necessarily have to be on a massive commercial scale, but it should be sufficient to afford quality wealth and economic security. To hell with political marginalization.
It is economic marginalization that matters. With economic power political power becomes easier. Frankly, with economic power who needs political power in this godforsaken place where the only beneficiaries are the caucus of the circus.
Economic gains are more vital to the bread and butter on the tables of families across this nation. While the individual bears the biggest burden for his/her own economic security, if the PPP does nothing else but levels the playing field for African Guyanese capital participation it could mark a significant change in this nation’s future.
Yours faithfully,
Michael Maxwell
