Dear Editor,
Guyana is no longer a ‘heavily indebted poor country’ but for many, the mindset that was programmed during the PNC/ Burnham era is difficult to shake. Despite Guyana’s exit of HIPC II in 2006 after years of prudent financial management and tough debt-forgiveness negotiations, many are still slaves to the mental begging bowl perception of self. This has to change for Guyana to progress into a first-world nation; for we cannot until a critical mass of our population changes their standards, expectations, and behaviors.
Guyana’s recent participation in firstly, the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC, Texas) and Expo 2020 (Dubai) has attracted criticism as social media postings from many have highlighted our vibrant Guyanese presence at these events. Joe Harmon is reported to have said that OTC was a ‘friends and family junket’ implying that those in attendance had their tickets and expenses paid for by the Government of Guyana; Harmon is a prisoner to his perception based on his experiences when in government, however, apart from a small contingent from G-Invest (who operated the Guyana Booth) and a handful of members of Government, the Guyanese contingent so loudly and proudly represented paid their way (myself included). OTC, like all such conventions, attracted businessmen from all fields looking to invest, and conversely, for investors; connections made at OTC have/will flourish to the benefit of our nation for many years to come.
Similarly, the Guyanese presence at Expo 2020 attracted criticism including that of Leon Suseran who made assumptions that all who posted from Dubai were/are there on the taxpayers’ dime. Suseran well knows the adage about what assumptions make us but forged ahead bravely because he (Suseran) does not yet comprehend a Guyana where we (Guyanese) can afford to travel on their earnings; Suseran and Co. must seek to be more responsible in the future as opinions such as this affect how others treat us in the shark tank of business, a perception from our own that our business class is incapable of paying their expenses for a trip to Dubai (or elsewhere) immediately puts Guyanese at a disadvantage in any negotiations. To those making assumptions, a simple Guyanese adage applies ‘nah tek yuh mattie eye fuh see’.
To the Guyanese who have embraced the first-world future and who are utilizing every possible resource to deliver quality goods and services, I salute you and look forward to you being rewarded for your efforts; to those among us that are yet to grasp the vision, I suggest you spend more time in the present envisioning a prosperous future and less time mired in the HIPC past. For those yearning for those ‘good old days of poverty and want,’ there is always the palm tree waiting to take you there.
Sincerely
Robin Singh
