Guyana can be proud of many things in 2013, but there were also disappointments. Guyana continues on an upward development trajectory.
Several countries in the Caribbean Community (Caricom) experienced negative economic growth, but Guyana’s gross domestic product (GDP) of about five per cent for 2013 was the highest in the region. This has been so for at least the last five years.
Guyana’s debt continues to be stable. Many Caricom countries were warned by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) of the devastating impact of debt burdens on their economies and on the social welfare needs of their people.
Jamaica has a debt ratio of more than 140 per cent its GDP. Never before has the IMF engaged in bailouts as much as it is doing today in Caricom countries. Even Barbados seems to be on the path to IMF interventions.
Yet the IMF continues to be upbeat with development in Guyana.
Wages and salaries
For 21 years, government has increased workers’ wages and salaries. The five per cent increase that public servants and others received for 2013 appears modest, but compared to reduced salaries in Grenada, a freeze in salaries in Jamaica, Barbados and other countries; and the termination of 3000 public servants, with more anticipated in 2014, in Barbados; Guyana continues to increase wages and salaries.
2013 is the first time in Guyana’s history that rice production topped 500,000 tons, rice export reached 400,000 tons, export earnings from rice topped US$ 200 million, and gold broke production record of more than 460,000 ounces.
External investment topped US$ 1 billion in 2013.
Guyana’s students again took the majority of prizes for top students at the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) in 2013. Guyana now has universal access to primary and secondary education. No country in Caricom matches Guyana’s housing growth in 2013.
Guyana is approaching 100 per cent access to drinking water. Open heart surgery, dialysis and kidney transplants are becoming routine services in Guyana.
Life expectancy continues to increase, surpassing 71 for the first time in Guyana’s history. Electricity, telephone and internet connection are accessible to more people in the country.
Guyana won several prizes for tourism products at the Caribbean Tourism Exhibition and the country has been recognised by international organisations, including National Geographic, as one of the top 10 destinations in the world for 2014. Guyana earned high praise for successfully hosting the Caribbean Week of Agriculture.
Yet on reflection, 2013 was a frustrating year. The worst offenders for causing frustration in Guyana in 2013 are opposition politicians who blatantly used Parliament as a pawn in their brazen war for political power.
Budgetary allocations
They voted in Parliament against budgetary allocations for the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project, the Amerindian Fund, the Specialty Hospital, the One Laptop Per Family Programme, the Cunha Canal, the Cheddi Jagan International Airport expansion, and other projects.
The A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance For Change (AFC), disregarding the calamity of nationalisation through the 1970s and 1980s, now essentially want to nationalise the Berbice River Bridge, seeking to have Parliament take over policy decisions. Yet for years, they opposed government’s efforts to liberalise the telecommunications sector.
They agree that the anti-money laundering bill meets all requirements, but the AFC continues to vote against the bill because they want the government to appoint the Public Procurement Commission.
APNU says the anti-money laundering bill is flawed, but will not say what changes they want. APNU and AFC voted against the bill to stop trafficking of arms and ammunition because they hate Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee.
Guyana has an abundant mass media and social media that are unimpeded. There is a commissioner of information under the Freedom of Information Act. Yet, Parliament has twice silenced the voices of Guyanese citizens. The opposition parties combined to stop the private sector from petitioning parliamentarians in November and, in December, sport administrators and stakeholders were denied from petitioning.
Both parties earlier in 2013 tried to prevent Rohee from speaking in Parliament.
These same politicians were silent when women were at least twice denigrated by the Kaieteur News simply because that newspaper is opposed to such women occupying important positions in Guyana.
These are frustrating experiences. Without them Guyana would be on an even steeper upward development trajectory. 2013 must be a barometer of who cares for Guyana, and of how the lust for power can derail national development and diminish national aspiration.
Readers are invited to send their comments by email or Facebook to times.notebook@gmail.com.
