Guyana returning to state of normalcy

By Hydar Ally
Guyana Chronicle
October 18, 1999


AFTER nearly two years of political and economic turbulence, Guyana is gradually returning to a state of normalcy. The elevation to the presidency of the young and energetic Bharrat Jagdeo has infused into the nation a renewed sense of hope and confidence in the future.

This sense of optimism must not be allowed to dissipate. It is time for us Guyanese to put the past behind and put our collective energies to work for the good of the nation. No good can come to a society that is at war with itself.

A society that is divisive and devoid of a shared sense of vision and perspective simply cannot survive, much less prosper as events in East Timor and elsewhere so forcefully reminded us.

Sociologists and development analysts are united in the belief that the single most important element in the development matrix is people. People are the main instrument of production and reproduction. It is impossible to even conceive of development, let alone human progress without the involvement of people.

But people are not only instruments of production or what economists refer to as factors of production. More importantly, they are the ultimate end to which all production is directed - the satisfaction of human wants and needs. As such, any development agenda in which people are not put at the centre is bound to fail. People-centered development is now regarded as the surest way to overcome poverty and backwardness and lead to sustainable human development.

The salient point to note is that development does not just `happen', it is the result of an interplay of purposeful and goal-oriented human activities which must be harnessed and mobilised to create wealth. As I said earlier, it is just not possible to speak of human progress unless wealth is generated. This is why it must be a matter of concern to all of us when the growth momentum of the economy is slowed down. This means that fewer resources would be available to finance development and to provide for basic social amenities such as education, health, housing and water.

It is therefore imperative that we strive in whatever ways we can to create wealth, provided of course that such wealth is created in a legal and legitimate way. In this consumer age, the tendency is for people to want to live up to social expectations even though their pockets often dictate otherwise.

The so-called `get-rich-quick' syndrome forces people to engage in devious and illegal activities such as drug trafficking, prostitution and smuggling, often with disastrous and life-long consequences.

The harsh reality is that we would never be able to get all that we would like to have in life, for the simple reason that wants keep on multiplying. The fulfillment of one need gives rise to the craving for another. Wants become needs and the cycle continues.

This is why we have to set goals in life that are attainable and realistic. To ask for that which is realistically not possible can be counter-productive and can result in disappointment, frustration and an undue sense of having `failed' in life.

Put in a different way, we have to learn to adopt positive attitudes to life and living. There are some people who are so negative that they simply cannot see positive coming out of society. Instead of being unrelenting, critical and negative, let us ask ourselves what we as individuals can do to transfer our frustration into challenges. In short, let us think positive. It may work to our advantage.

There is reason for optimism. The conclusion of the GEC privatisation deal coupled with the new wind of change blowing across the country should provide us with a new and fresh impetus to strive for peace, progress and prosperity.


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Guyana: Land of Six Peoples