Dear Editor,
“Petit Bourgeoisie” a Marxist term, hardly used since the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the communist Eastern Block, resurfaced in a Stabroek News Editorial that cast former President Jagdeo as an enabler of this class. For those not immersed in Marxist ideology, and who may be unfamiliar with that failed philosophy, the term ‘petit bourgeois’ is intended to be an insult, it implies a yearning after the money and power of the higher economic class. I would ask what exactly is wrong with this and extend my warmest congratulations to Jagdeo for embracing the ambitions of the Guyanese in the 21st Century. The editorial reminded me of the struggle non-communists and non-socialists went through at the University of Guyana in the 1970s-90s and it may be worth sharing a few thoughts on how that period of dogmatic education continues to affect the country negatively to this day.
Many Guyanese lack a basic understanding of how for-profit businesses function, there is no better example than the oil industry that has sprung up in our midst; while some are trying to capitalize on the numerous lucrative opportunities, others are spending much time and effort to disparage and discourage the new investors in our economy. A simple primer in investment and return may be helpful; if we add every budget from our independence in 1966 to 2023 (present-day) we would not get to half of the USD 40 Billion (plus) being invested in the Stabroek Block. At no point in our nation’s history (before oil discovery) could we have raised USD 4B to explore oil in the deep waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The Production Sharing Agreement may be in favour of the Oil companies but that in turn benefits us as those conditions make continued investment in Stabroek viable even as green energy production increases. Guyana is reaping a windfall with no investment risk. For those who will argue for a larger share, I say to ease the grabbing and embrace the increased flow of oil and the prosperity it brings.
I urge all Guyanese to chase that bread, be ambitious, go forth and do business for yourself, earn by the sweat of your brow and the ingenuity of your grey cells; grate that cheese. Let those stuck in their communist/socialist mindsets call you ‘petite bourgeois’ while you drive a vehicle or live in a nice house, take those holidays and post plenty of pictures to ensure they burn with envy. Communism failed miserably, those still embracing it are failures by default, bitter people who are envious of what will be achieved by Guyanese embracing globalism, that non-ideological market-driven reality that rewards those willing to make the sacrifice of starting a business. Viva Irfaan Ali, Viva Jagdeo, Viva Capitalism and Viva le petit bourgeoisie!
Sincerely,
Robin Singh
