Opportunities for national development lie in human resource – former T&T PM

As Guyana travels closer towards establishing itself as an oil producing country, former Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Kamla Persad-Bissessar is urging Guyana to invest in its human capital.
Making these statements during a recent visit to Guyana, she stated, “Guyana now stands at the crossroads of a pivotal moment in its own history; the opportunities coming its way will certainly result in increased employment and investment. The real investment that you make has to be the development of your country’s most important resource – your human resource – the people of Guyana.”
While education is of utmost importance, Persad-Bissessar is of the view that the health and infrastructure sectors should also be upgraded.
“I recommend that Guyana invests heavily in human capital development. Education and training of people, as well as the improvement of all areas of health, education, and infrastructure are critical.”
She further stated that “Investments into education by providing the resources, staffing and housing of educational establishments should be made from pre-school all the way to PhD for Guyanese citizens. In addition, access to electricity; clean water availability; and preservation of the natural environment, including

climate change mitigation, is a fundamental pillar to national development.”
Equality to all regions of Guyana is a necessity and it was related that Guyana should seek to construct more medical outlets with skilled personnel. Presently, a number of persons in the hinterland are faced with difficulties when there is a shortage of medicines. Most health centers are also not equipped to handle complex cases.
“In the area of health, new hospitals and health centres need to be built and staffed by the brightest minds available, as well as more doctors trained and hired throughout the country and of special importance to visit and attend to remote areas where the Indigenous peoples live are important,” she recommended.
In planning for the future, the Opposition Leader of the twin island republic noted that it is imperative to keep in mind hydrocarbons are naturally declining resources. As such, priorities should be made to establish Guyana when oil production is at its peak.
“The wells that may produce massive flows of crude oil and gas today, may one day decline substantially. This may very well be at a time when a lot of capital has already been invested in the infrastructure in place, notwithstanding that alternative sources of energy should be a priority even now.”
Her recommendations to Guyanese in preparation for the oil sector continued , “A system of highways to open up the country and probably a rail network to bring raw materials like silica, bauxite and manganese ore out of the jungle and to the ports will be needed.”