An Eventful Life by Dr. Maurice Odle
This is the fourth and final part of Maurice Odle’s autobiography narrated in a reflective writing style, in which personal experiences, political analysis, and broader reflections on global issues are interwoven to give a comprehensive view of his life’s work and the contexts in which it unfolded. At the national level, Odle discusses the persistent racial and ethnic divisions in Guyana’s politics and society; the factors that led to the coalition government’s loss in the 2020 election; and the challenges of governance in a deeply divided society. His proposed remedy is for more inclusive governance, which also addresses the economic disparities between different ethnic groups.
Regarding regional issues, Odle reflects on the Caribbean integration process, discussing both its achievements and shortcomings. With his several years within the CARICOM Secretariat, Odle is critical of the Caricom integration experience, citing as examples, the issues of production integration and the establishment of an oil refinery by Guyana rather than utilising the virtually idle refinery plant in Trinidad and Tobago. He is also extremely critical of CARICOM’s tepid approach to helping Haiti, a failing member state, comparing this neglect to the Region’s approach to Guyana during its economic decline during the 70s and 80s.