Dear Editor,
Ravi Dev’s caution about Girmitiyas, former labourers or People of Indian Origin, PIO, does not have to begin or end in disappointment. (SN – 2024-12-08). He cites an example that is already appealing to politicians. ‘They hope Bharat would follow the African Union, which declared its diaspora as “Africa’s 6th Region”. This is an opening that Overseas and Local Girmitiyas could be encouraged to pursue. Guyana’s recent Hindu Conference before PM Modi’s visit sets a very high level of expectations on many fronts. The bilateral agreements signed between the two countries are assignments that Guyana could pursue to receive top performance grades.
The 3Cs policy program, with a top level recognition by ‘External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’, in Ravi Dev’s letter could be a pivotal instrument that educators, private sector managers, and entrepreneurs could use as a model for mutually beneficial programmes envisaged under the 3Cs policy (Connect, Celebrate, and Contribute). A model for contributing and removing disappointment could be emulated using the US – Africa Business Summit model. This is an annual conference in which academic and business leaders discuss issues and policy frameworks of mutual benefit to policy makers. For example, the theme for 2024 was “U.S.-Africa Business: Partnering for Sustainable Success.”
The areas in which mutual contributions may be made already have signed bilateral frameworks. For example, with a future free-trade capstone agreement, mutually beneficial developments in the areas of manufacturing – drugs and pharmaceuticals, solar panels, digital platforms, boat building, and agriculture, especially sugar and coconut by-products could result in bilateral developments if the mantra ‘Trade, not Aid’ is pursued.
Sincerely,
Ganga Persad Ramdas
