Appeal for greater corporate social giving

Dear Editor,
I write to commend businesses, organizations and individuals who go out of their way to help the less fortunate and/or those in distress, while I also simultaneously appeal to other businesses to give to worthwhile causes.
The act of the wealthy and/or businesses giving assistance to others is called social entrepreneurship, or corporate social responsibility, or philanthropy; but, regrettably, only a small percentage of Guyanese businesses and individuals engage in this practice. In the Indian culture, it is called daan; meaning: to give freely and generously to charities and other worthwhile causes.
The less wealthy sections of society seemingly give more daan than the wealthier sections, as per conversations with many individuals from all strata of society. Some of the businesses and individuals who practice social responsibility are kinder, gentler, and more altruistic and helpful than others. And there are wealthy businesses (persons) who do not engage in any charitable giving; they comprise a higher percentage than those who give.
The less wealthy tend to be more generous than the giant businesses. Smaller businesses (persons) tend to be more generous than larger ones. Several of the larger businesses are the epitome of selfishness, and there are quite a number among the business class in the country. In fact, based on empirical evidence of efforts to garner assistance for benevolent causes, over half of large businesses don’t give to charitable causes.
The lower-income people are more free-handed in helping the less fortunate. And if you talk to the public, they will tell you the names of the meanest and stingiest business persons in their neighbourhoods. “Dem na give even a lemonade to the poor”. Although not wealthy and not in business, I contribute a significant portion of my income to helping the less fortunate and NGOs.
It is not easy to induce wealthy business people to share a little of their wealth to charity, or to the poor. As an illustration, I tried in vain to get some businesses and wealthy persons to give to a worthwhile cause of aiding a mandir. They are interested only in earning or exploiting, not in helping people to lift their lives, or in plowing some profits into their purchasers as a thank-you measure.
A recent experience in seeking to assist a temple in Region 3 is an illustration of the preceding conclusion and the meanness of some businesses. In 2017, in organizing the 100th anniversary of the end of recruitment of indentured labourers, or girmitiyas, I encountered a similar experience. Just last week, I went around to some wealthy businesses to plead a case to assist a mandir in dire need in a very depressed neighbourhood in Region 3. Of twelve very wealthy businesses I approached to assist the collapsed temple, only three (all from the Corentyne) gave assistance in kind (meaning food materials) for proposed opening of the mandir. Five wholesalers of food in G/town would not even contribute potatoes or dhal or channa, or any food item for the mandir’s opening on Feb 19. All of them are Hindus.
A Muslim businessman not in the food business has expressed his willingness to contribute to the project. Two businesses gave cash for the building construction fund. Two other entities not in the food business made a pledge, and are expected to deliver soon. A small businessperson from Canada, based in Bel Air, who is only now starting out his business and who seeks no mention of his contribution, committed to donating food materials without even being asked; he understands the concept of daan, and the need to give and of aiding the poor.
No other individual has come forward to assist the worthy mandir project, although it was brought to the attention of many prominent and wealthy individuals. Government officials also have not helped in their private capacity. The President pledged his personal contributions, not from the state, for a project related to the mandir. It is hoped Government officials would contribute in kind.
Societal giving, or social entrepreneurialism, is a wise business model. It wins over hearts and minds, and grows a business. Very few companies understand this business model. Mohamed Enterprise, Nand Persaud, Queens Atlantic, among a few others, are very generous social entrepreneurs. They ought to be commended. More companies should follow in their footsteps.
I would like to thank those who contributed funds and/or materials to the Mandir and other worthwhile projects. Those gigantic, mega-profitable businesses that don’t practise corporate social responsibility should be exposed and blanked by the public.

Yours truly,
Vishnu Bisram