Dear Editor,
I refer to a letter published in the local press on October 5, 2024 under the caption “Regulation, not restriction, is a sovereign right and necessity to justly and fairly protect and preserve Guyanese businesses”.
This letter was written by Professor Dr Stanley Paul, who was responding to Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo’s statement made at his last press conference, when, among other things, he said it would be discriminatory to impose restrictions on the Chinese on the basis of their nationality.
The Vice President was speaking to concerns that surfaced in the media from some quarters in the private sector relative to the increasing presence of Chinese supermarkets in particular, and the notion that this trend is displacing local businesses.
Unfortunately, it would appear, Prof Paul may have only read the “headline” on the subject carried by Gordon Moseley (News Source), thus he may not have had the benefit of the full and correct context of the Vice President’s statement. The very premise of Prof Paul’s letter is exactly what the Vice President has asserted: that the rules, regulations and laws have to be strictly complied with by all businesses, the Chinese included. He acknowledged that there are issues in regard to some businesses not complying with regulations, and said that, in those instances, measures would have to be put in place to ensure full compliance.
Concerns regarding the increasing presence of the Chinese in Guyana have long been surfacing within certain quarters of the private sector; but, to date, I am unaware of any study that had been done by any private sector agency to empirically justify their case. As such, I do agree with the Vice President that, as a country that practices the principles of a free market economy, we cannot arbitrarily discriminate against the Chinese.
Further, since we are raising concerns about one group of people, what about the others; for example, the Trinidadian conglomerates in Guyana, the Massys and the ANSA McALs? Should there not be restrictions imposed on them too?
What if Home Depot wants to come to Guyana? Should the Government prevent Home Depot from entering the Guyanese market?
What if the hundreds of Guyanese businesses in Liberty, Queens, New York were told they are displacing Americans and were prevented from operating there? (The whole of Liberty Avenue in Queens, New York is dominated by Guyanese businesses.)
More importantly, what about the consumers? What about protection for the Guyanese consumers? Some of those same locals complaining are engaged in price gouging, and if Chinese supermarkets are helping to stabilize market prices, then so be it!
Some locals are more guilty of the very accusations being levelled against the Chinese when it comes to compliance with the regulations and laws, and in regard to tax evasion.
The reality is such that the Chinese presence is not the only threat — or real threat, I should say — for the locals. There are threats more dangerous than the Chinese; for instance, the emerging e-commerce industry in Guyana, which is aided by Government policy viz-a-viz the enactment of several pieces of legislation to accommodate the e-growing commerce sector. Should the Government restrict the inevitable rise of e-commerce in Guyana? Absolutely not!
Businesses, locals especially, must learn to adapt to the ever-changing environment, and to constantly seek ways in which to build their resilience and become more dynamic. These are the consequential effects of the inevitable transformation taking place in the Guyanese economy. Complaining would not get you anywhere, and that quest to hold on to the old traditional way of doing business: the refusal to accept the new realities of the environment and resistance to change and growth, will become the hallmark for a guaranteed failure in business.
Finally, it is worth reminding ourselves that Guyana is a country of six peoples which we are proud of, and the Chinese are included. As demonstrated herein, the issue is much more complex than the case currently being made out by the complaining parties; therefore, the Government cannot arbitrarily, unfairly and unjustly target one group of people.
Sincerely,
Joel Bhagwandin
