KEEPING HOPE ALIVE
Editorial
Guyana Chronicle
January 1, 2005
IN THIS fifth year of the 21st century, when the Caribbean region and the international community in general would still be reflecting on the horrendous tragedies of wars, natural disaster, tribal, racial and religious conflicts of 2004, the great challenge is to generate confidence in the future.
The moreso in small, poor and developing states like those of our Caribbean region lacking in human and financial resources to make the necessary impact on social and economic development for a better life for their peoples.
Debt burden and declining flows in international economic aid and private investment would only add to the miseries of the poor and disadvantaged nations of the so-called `Third World’, or southern patch of the globe, including the Greater Caribbean region.
Guyana and its Caribbean Community partners are left to hope that they would not be short-changed in promised aid and trade commitments as a consequence of the massive aid flows that, quite understandably, must now flow to the dozen countries in Asia and Africa which fell victims to the unprecedented underwater earthquake in the Indian Ocean.
Measured against the backdrop of tragedies and misfortunes suffered by various nations of the world, our own problems in Guyana and some other CARICOM states pale into insignificance.
The comparison is not intended to minimise problems yet to be overcome. Rather, to encourage an attitude of concern for others while we steadfastly work to improve our own living standard and social relations for a better society in 2005.
Thanks to the cooperation of the Guyanese people, across ethnic and political boundaries, it received in the face of deliberate attempts by some forces to foment divisions and destabilisation, the PPP/Civic administration has managed to make substantial strides in moving this country forward in various sectors.
These would include health, housing, education, road construction and more, while reducing by at least fifty percent the debt burden it had inherited when it first came to power in October 1992.
Now, as we move into 2005, there is the promise of what the President's Office itself has described as an "investment explosion", involving approximately US$357 million, primarily in the vital sugar and bauxite industries as well as in oil exploration.
Let us hope that nothing happens to affect this level of promised investment flows as well as the aid commitments already in the pipeline for 2005.
A Happy, Peaceful New Year to all of our readers, advertisers and Guyanese at home and abroad.