Dear Editor,
There is not a day that goes by that I do not take the time to read your editorials.
Your editorial of Thursday, 10th April entitled ‘Human capital’ is one of the timeliest, most refreshing and revealing editorials. The opening statement, “Investment is to development, what water is to crops. Plants can’t grow without water; in fact, without water plants will shrivel and die. Similarly, if there is no investment then there will be no development; no growth, and the economy, the country will stagnate.”
In the third section of your editorial, after mentioning the nation’s need to invest in its people, you alluded to countries in Europe and North America that benefited from programmes that invested in people and such investments redounded to those nations’ advantage.
That is a true statement to which I can attest. Both locally and abroad I worked with an international organization in the mid ’80s, and constant training and seminars were encouraged amongn this organisation’s senior staff. I believe that even though many members of staff had their certificates and degrees, the training (Conferences, seminars and workshops) helped to developed the human capital of that organization in a positive way.
Again, in London, England, I spent one year studying, and in so doing, attended over one dozen conferences and seminars and even poetry workshops, which I believe have enhanced my value as a human being (self-value is a vital aspect of human development and is a result of education and training). The British government financed and sponsored those events in Hammersmith and Fulham, including computer classes; occupational safety; community policing programmes; caring for the elderly; child care and leadership, etc.
Human development programmes are in most cases costly, but in the end they serve a greater purpose and help to bring maturity to a nation.
The Government of Guyana may just be lacking in its efforts to bring such maturity to our nation. The infrastructural and building projects under the Ministry of Education that are gaining attention in the National Budget have nothing to do with the development of the human soul (mind, will and emotion); intellectual capabilities; decision-making processes and values.
Human development programmes have been dimensions of university education to classroom training; from leadership conferences to workshop sessions; from secondary to nursery school development – all are necessary in nation-building. Human development programmes (in the arts and culture) could instil fine qualities and help to promote a balanced and mature nation.
For this reason as a church leader, we have put together a human development programme to be launched at the National Library on the 1st May 2014 which hopefully will take in several aspects of human development such as punctuality; accountability; credibility; communication skills; human relational techniques; concern for subordinates; innovation and creativity on the job; and familiarity with policies, procedures and mission statements.
Maximum performance on the job, the growth and maturity of officers and interpersonal activities such as reading, drama and poetry are all included on the three days.
Such development would culminate at Moray House on Camp and Quamina Streets, Georgetown resulting in a monetary award presentation to the most outstanding presenter (US$300).
Using the CROW concept – challenges, rewards and opportunities – and working with the theme, ‘Making a difference in a world that is indifferent,’ participants will be able to score in the scheme of life, covering the reality of challenges; the dimensions of rewards; the dynamics of opportunities and the pleasure of work.
This activity I believe will enhance our human capital in a tangible way.
Yours faithfully,
Apostle Vanrick Beresford
