The Christopher Ram column
By Christopher Ram
Stabroek News
May 18, 2007
I thank the editors for the opportunity to share, once again, with the Guyanese public my views on a range of economic and accounting issues. I begin with some introductory comments. This column is being written by me in my personal capacity and not on behalf of Ram & McRae, the accounting firm. The views are therefore my own and while from time to time I will discuss particular issues with my colleagues in the firm, the positions taken in this column will be entirely mine.
The column will be shorter than the Business Page and more consistent with the length of those in Stabroek Business. It will however be more eclectic rather than single focus so that more than one topic or issue may be addressed in a particular column. The column will not be an alternative Business Page which I had initiated and ran for several years in the Sunday Stabroek and which is now done by Mr Patrick van Beek, a financial analyst. Our respective fields of professional training and interests differ considerably so that it is likely that even when we look at the same issue, the perspective and views may reflect that difference. The columns are completely independent of each other and any coverage of the same issue would be coincidental and unplanned.
Ethical rules requiring that there be no conflict between one's professional interest and duties mean that a professional cannot comment on his clients' affairs not only because of the obligation of confidentiality but because of perceived bias, whether or not there is actual or real bias. Mr van Beek's firm serves a number of companies and he will not be able to write on those and similarly, even writing in my personal capacity, it would be improper for me to write on any of the clients of Ram & McRae. Together however, there should be a fairly comprehensive if not complete coverage.
As before, I have been given wide latitude in scope and coverage in writing this column and I invite persons with similar interest to offer material for Guest Contributions. It would be helpful to me to receive criticisms and suggestions on the content of any column. Frank comments and adverse criticisms are far more useful and preferable to commendations, however disguised. Keep those.
I particularly invite the young accountants, other professionals, businesspersons, students and indeed all Guyanese to engage in the debate on the economic and financial issues - as indeed the social and political ones as well - taking place around us. Each idea contributes to a more informed discussion and better solution. Guyanese are not generally a demonstrative people by nature and while we are all cognizant of the privilege of being a citizen of a truly endowed country, we do not wear our patriotism on our sleeves.
But modesty and dislike of publicity must not be the cause for us not to share our ideas, aspirations and fears about our country. For all the faults we see around us, the criticisms we privately and publicly make about our country, its rulers and our fellow Guyanese, there is something special about our attachment to it - something with which we will not part and which no one can take from us.
It is that special attachment that causes us to be offended at the treatment Guyanese receive on arrival at some regional airports; that makes us bury our differences over the Providence Stadium when overseas guests are around; that enrages us when we see our leaders and fellow Guyanese act in ways we consider selfish, senseless, corrupt or embarrassing; that causes us to fill the newspapers with letters; that makes us look forward to returning to Guyana after visiting the so-called more developed countries of the world; that makes us instinctively use the word 'home' even after living the greater part of one's life overseas and that touches our deepest emotion to hear our children - born and schooled abroad - long for their summer vacation when they can go 'home' for their holiday.
What Guyana needs most now are fresh ideas, individual and collective action and genuine and selfless participation. Just imagine the impact of one good idea per year on the community and society around us. Too often ideas are withheld because of fear of offending some undefined 'someone', because of uncertainty of how the idea might be received and the criticism it might invite. There is indeed another side to us Guyanese when, unable to respond to issues on their merit we ask who is s/he to talk or who does s/he think they are speaking for? If we cannot deal with the message, let us kill the messenger. Let not any such person frighten us into silence.
Guyana is better off for having the range of letter writers to all our newspapers and the quality columnists who write for the Stabroek News. It is great to see that Professor Clive Thomas, one of the region's foremost economists and arguably its most prolific writer is back. But it needs the experiences and contributions from all levels of society. Hopefully, this column will play a part.
Next week we will look mainly at the Annual Report of the New Building Society for the year 2006.
'Til then, have a great week.