Dear Editor,
In July, 2009 I wrote to these columns pondering whether inclusive government in Guyana was on the horizon. Some persons told me I was a dreamer, “never in this lifetime, when Hell freezes over” I heard. Others unexcitedly offered some supporting ideas. Today I want to advance a case for the consideration of inclusive governance at the Regional Administrative level, in particular a pilot in Region No. 2. I think a realistic combination of a small business and cooperatives model within an inclusive governance arrangement can provide an impetus in harnessing inherent human resources to improve livelihoods and communities in the former “Cinderella County”.
Why Region # 2. Between 1981 and 1983 my job took me there frequently with teams of Government Officials headed by a Minister who had policy responsibility for Cooperatives, Community Development, Craft production, and friendly and burial societies. Last week , almost a generation later, due to my current employment, I had the privilege of spending three days as part of a team headed by a person of Ministerial stature visiting several investment projects facilitated by Go-Invest. Naturally, I was apprehensive about the developments to be discovered; what physical and institutional changes would be evident, I wondered? This was an exceptional opportunity to compare and contrast some aspects of the current Regional Administration responsible for monitoring government supported private sector projects with its predecessor which had oversight for Cooperatives and Community Development projects three decades earlier. The Cooperative was the vehicle for Guyana achieving a socialist economy then; the private sector is now the engine of growth in a free market economy.
Physical and institutional Developments. Upon approaching the Essequibo Coast I noted a telephone transmission tower dominating the skyline at Supenaam where modern berthing facilities designed to accommodate roll-on roll-off vessels are constructed. A wharf was also specially constructed to offload farmers produce. The marketing centre, no longer a white elephant was fully occupied with stalls doing brisk business. However there was no operation at the large timber complex that used to bustle with sawmilling activities and ships receiving lumber for overseas markets.
I also observed the following:
A paved highway from Charity to Supenaam with connecting bridges in pristine condition. All -weather access and internal village roads abound throughout.
New schools have been built; The Pomona secondary school is breathtaking to behold and an impressive Essequibo Technical Institute is challenged to keep up with the demands of industry for skilled employees.
Well stocked Supermarkets carry a wide range of products including several manufactured and developed in Region 2 and as far as the Berbice River.
A four-storey shopping mall with roof garden is under construction overlooking the Pomeroon waterway.
Several rice farmers are banking on reaping an average of 50 bags padi per acre from recently introduced varieties. Thanks in part to their successful adaptation to the challenges of El Nino
Rice mills have multiplied. At least six of them are improving on their intake, drying, and storage and milling capacity for added efficiency. Three different millers related their efforts at securing a “colour sorter” to improve the quality of their output for export; and another is installing a state of the art parboil line.
Many fish, goat and duck rearing projects are flourishing individually or are integrated with rice, timber, crop farming and other core businesses.
A water coconut processing facility on the Pomeroon is applying the “KISS” principle in manufacturing a nutritious export product.
A large coconut plantation having recently changed ownership under a joint venture arrangement will hopefully stimulate a significant reduction in the prevalence of coconut shells floating up river. Instead, many aspects of the coconut now discarded will be utilized to add value.
Several wood processing projects are operating at full capacity throughout the region while some are installing production lines for downstream processing.
Scores of buildings with splendid architectural designs are manifest throughout the coast and river banks. A building in the final stages of construction to house a shopping complex at Affiance is testimony of this trend. In general, the environment is clean and aesthetics are endearing.
Regional Administration: As expected, the current Regional Administration manages much more resources than that of 30 years ago. Toyota and Nissan 4x4s, many inherited from closed out donor funded projects have replaced limping series 3 Land Rovers. The Region’s boat is propelled by a 200 HP Yamaha outboard engine with accessories. New offices and an expanded bureaucracy are evident.
I observed the Regional Chairman telling a top executive from a foreign owned company operating in Region 4 who had travelled to scout for talented prospective employees “while we are pleased that you are targeting our Region in this way………….I would much prefer that businesses be set up here to provide employment for the hundreds who are graduating annually with outstanding qualifications from the various institutions of learning “. On another occasion the Regional Chairman bemoaned the insularity displayed by some business persons. He seized every opportunity to plug for value added production and conversion of waste into usable items.
I was amazed that two dissimilar people from different political persuasions could apply similar approaches in advocating to officialdom for benefits to be accrued to their Region. The major variation was conditioned by the sector being targeted. In the 1980’s the emphasis was on cooperatives and a strong Regional Cooperative Union. This time, the Chairman was rooting for a stronger private sector bolstered by an effectual Regional Chamber of Commerce. I was impressed that it was the Regional Chairman who was leading the public sector in embracing the private sector by encouraging the revival of the Essequibo Regional Chamber of Commerce to partner in lobbying Central government. Further, I was heartened to learn of Chairman Ali Baksh’s “respect and admiration “ for the “goodness” of deceased former regional chairman of the early eighties, Kenneth “Baggie” Hopkinson whose portrait is mounted prominently in the RDC chamber. He also disclosed among other things, his predecessor’s conviction that someday his home village, Dartmouth could fall victim to the effects of climate change. Hopkinson had extracted a promise from Baksh to never give up on efforts to ensure the residents can access suitable land to minimize such a threat.
In highlighting the positive achievements above, I am conscious that the previous Regional Administration operated until October, 1992, some nine years after my sojourn and many of the said developments might have been in the pipeline or policy groundwork initiated during this period. It is apposite to note that Carl Greenidge, former finance Minister while delivering a brilliant lecture in honour of the late President Hoyte at the Hotel Tower about a month ago, went to great length to illustrate that contrary to a widely held view, many of the late President’s policies had their genesis during the Burnham administration. However, The Regional Administration of Region 2, along with the resilience and ambitious nature of Essequibians must take kudos for the inspiring developments that are evident for all to see; since the current administration has been “running things” for almost twenty years and consequently would have had to face relentless brick bats were the situation the opposite.
It is this track record of regional development coupled with an obvious passion for/and commitment to improving the lives of the citizenry, along with their magnanimity in acknowledging positive aspects of the previous administration that cries for recognition as a trail blazer. Blend this with the Region’s past successes with cooperatives and community development projects; current energetic, entrepreneurial pursuits together with a desire of residents to live in peace and harmony with each other. These are the ingredients that have led me to suggest that Region 2 be chosen as a pilot for experimenting with some aspects of inclusive governance. The building of trust is evident within. This may sound like an unsophisticated argument for a system that has far reaching implications. However, let’s recall that the case for replacing the “First pass the post system” with that of “Proportional Representation” was simplistically promoted to the populace in the early sixties.
I rest my case! And by the way, while we are at it, how about looking at Region 5 as well? After all “yu can’t walk pun one foot”.
Yours faithfully,
Derrick Cummings