By Ryhaan Shah
“We live under the curse of the six sisters,” President David Granger said in his address to the Guyanese Diaspora in New York recently. It is a clear and simple statement that can hardly be misconstrued or misunderstood.
Taken in the context of Granger’s intent that this curse – as he puts it – has been a stumbling block to the establishment of a manufacturing sector, the statement is even more troubling.
He bemoaned yet again the lack of manufacturing industries and, as before, this was nothing but fatuous talk since, to date, there has been no follow-through on Government’s part to initiate and establish the policies, and the physical and financial infrastructure needed to attract and drive large-scale investments and development.
The move by the Private Sector Commission to hold a summit this week would provide leadership and direction for the business sector and help them to formulate strategies that should reverse the downward economic trend and boost the country’s development. They would hope, at least, that Government would support their efforts.
Perhaps, Government’s continued harangue is intended to throw the blame elsewhere for the economic decline that the country has suffered since the APNU/AFC Government took office. But going to the extreme of calling the commodities of sugar, rice, timber, bauxite, gold and diamonds curses appears even unpatriotic.
All economies are reliant or dependent on certain commodities or services and, far from being cursed, Guyana is blessed with a diversified economic portfolio. Many of our Caribbean neighbours who are wholly dependent on tourism would gladly welcome the diversity that Granger sees as a stumbling block to progress.
It is short-sightedness on Government’s part to believe that creating a manufacturing sector cannot be accomplished while providing continued support for the traditional industries on which this country is built. Why not have seven thriving economic sectors? Why does a possible new opportunity mean cursing the old? In a country with rising unemployment and a high migration rate, would this not be a winning strategy?
Government’s complete abandonment of the rice industry hardly creates investor confidence in Guyana and points up the repeated lament over the lack of manufacturing industries as being wholly fatuous. Thankfully, Mr Nand Persaud of the Corentyne has stepped in and opened up a Cuban market for Guyana’s rice and, hopefully, there will be other like-minded business people who will ensure the future prosperity of our traditional crops and commodities which, far from being curses, are vital to the local and the world economy.
Guyana does suffer from the curse of divisive race politics which politicians mine for their own gain and glory while assuring our continued impoverishment despite the blessings of a diverse economy. When he invited hurricane stricken Dominicans to come to Guyana to settle then brushed off his critics as lacking compassion, one can only ask: where is Granger’s compassion for our own Guyanese people?
Shutting down the Wales sugar estate has thrown hundreds of workers and their families on the breadline and there are no citizens worthier of Granger’s compassion than these. Charity always begins at home and grants of land can help these now unemployed workers to rebuild their lives. But they are mostly Indian Guyanese so this will never happen.
Granger’s invitation was a naked ploy to gain African votes for the PNC. President Burnham tried that tactic and since Granger is a beloved follower, it is not surprising that he should attempt to do the same. No doubt, the PNC base would have no issue with this strategy since it could mean winning elections without having to resort to electoral rigging as the party has done in the past.
The invitation does also reveal Granger’s obvious compassion for his own race. Since he has a perfect understanding of identity politics, this should move him to press for constitutional change that will establish a system of government whereby every race and ethnic group will have fair and equitable representation.
As it stands, Guyana is being strangled by a Government that does not even attempt to hide its anti-Indian racism. There is no shame and no guilt and the “coolie” pejorative can now even be used by Office of the President employees as long as it is used in a proper context, according to Granger.
It is unlikely that the public will follow suit. Being mostly decent and upstanding citizens, no one ethnic group will ever think it appropriate to use racial slurs against another.
There is a curse, indeed, that stalks this land. It is the corrupt, racist and shameless Granger Government.
