Category: Editorials

In mid-February, as Guyana observed Youman Nabi, President Bharrat Jagdeo issued a call to the leaders of the Muslim religion to work to defeat the scourge of racism that still vexes some aspects of civic life. And through- out the many contests and events to mark this country’s 41st Republic Anniversary, the theme of national unity was observed and expressed in costumes, both individual and band representations; in calypsos, and in messages to celebrate the occasion. While we acknowledge that the call for national unity is not a recent development,…

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Over the last decade or so, there has been massive development in information and communications technologies (ICTs) worldwide. Almost the entire developed world is rapidly moving towards a generation of advanced technology, and most would agree that the results have been tremendous. In addition to job creation, ICTs have been used for boosting education delivery and enhancing the health and security sectors, among other applications. While the authorities in Guyana, having decided to go this route, have had the correct vision for a very long time, they have been somewhat…

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One of the ironies of the last century and a half is that, while the great ideological battle between capitalism and communism ended two decades ago with the victory of the capitalists, the latter had by then completely accepted their opponents’ premise that, fundamentally, man was an economic animal. As a result, we all measure progress and development using various economic metrics, especially Gross Domestic Product (GDP). But, of recent, there has been a dramatic shift away from this orientation and towards recognition that, when all is said and done,…

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Of recent, there has been a concerted effort from some quarters to designate the government of the day in provocatively extreme terms. Two terms – dictatorship and fascism – have been thrown about frequently and they bear some examination; especially in this period before the next general elections. The elections, we all know to our cost, have a tendency to become quite tense (to say the least) and we certainly owe it to ourselves to clarify these labels before the election season actually begins. As to “dictatorship”, events in North…

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Ensuring food security for the Caricom region is certainly one of the main challenges we face, considering the fact that the region’s food import bill is approximately US$4 billion annually, and this does not look as if it will change anytime soon. Not so long ago, Trinidad and Tobago’s Food Production Minister, Vasant Bharath, had referred to this issue, stating: “We are importing most of what we can grow ourselves… We have to organise our individual farming sector and encourage young persons to embrace new technologies to see farming and…

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Guyana’s attainment of republican status from Great Britain, on February 23, 1970, remains an indelible part of the country’s history; and each year, colourful celebrations following the ceremonial hoisting of the Golden Arrowhead are undertaken to remind the nation of its struggle to become independent. This year’s Mashramani celebrations are held under the theme: “Showcasing our culture, sustaining our pride”. Over the past few days, we have seen spectacular costume competitions, float parades, masquerade bands, and dancing in the streets to the accompaniment of steel pan music. This is in…

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After two weeks of intense discussions and debates, the $161.4 billion national budget was approved by the National Assembly. The 2011 budget, the biggest ever in the history of this country, was subjected to passionate scrutiny, with both the government and the opposition firing salvoes at each other. Even though the figures in the budget may sound abstract to the ordinary man, the government has ensured that every citizen benefits in some way. The naysayers will always have something negative to say about the budget; but, as Guyanese wanting to…

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Our single-parent mothers have, over the years, found it very difficult to make ends meet. In some cases, they lack the necessary skills and qualifications required to get suitable jobs to earn enough to provide for themselves and their families. Up to a few years ago, it was very difficult for single-parent women to access loans from commercial banks to do business; since, in applying for loans, there were several strict criteria they had to satisfy, such as having collateral and a secure job, in order to be qualified to…

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There is no doubt that Guyana’s indigenous peoples have experienced numerous improvements in the quality of life they live. Efforts are currently being made by the administration and a few non-governmental organizations to provide the necessary support to assist in sustaining the livelihoods of Amerindian communities. This has indeed been one of the main challenges indigenous peoples face on a daily basis. The National Secure Livelihood Programme, a government initiative carried out in collaboration with Volunteer Services Overseas (VSO) International, is a fine example of how the government and NGOs…

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Last year, Guyana’s tourism industry undoubtedly made tremendous strides, capturing the attention of the world with its truly unique ecological nature and adventure tourism. The tourism sector holds great potential. It can contribute, and has been contributing, to our development by helping to generate income, investments, foreign exchange, and employment for the benefit of every Guyanese. The administration, having recognised the true potential of the sector, has been investing wisely in its continued growth and expansion, which is quite evident in the 2011 National Budget, wherein Gy$150M has been allocated…

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