Dear Editor,
The past week was another interesting time for Guyana. Guyanese have witnessed a new dispensation especially with regards to our politics like never before. The young vibrant politicians have taken on a different role from the politics that we have almost grown to accept. Today, they are saying enough is enough.
Editor, I am not sure if anyone was expecting or moreso if anyone was prepared to see what they saw in and out of parliament and what we (they) are now witnessing on the streets of Guyana. Growing up in Guyana I have seen and I have also witnessed protests some violent and others peaceful, what I am seeing today is interestingly different. I am appalled and I hope everyone knows that it is their prerogative to take a stand when things are not right and also when things need to be corrected. We must exercise our rights though peacefully.
Editor, our young politicians are exhibiting organized resistance to the government of the day and anyone would agree that is one’s democratic right. The tides are changing and one who would make a pronouncement on our future is starting to see a change in our political atmosphere. The young politicians are taking charge. They are certainly taking over and this is a good sign for Guyana and I am certain David Granger, Robert Corbin and even Aubrey Norton are blown away by this. Editor, they are probably saying to themselves what have I done wrong or even what have I not done.
Editor, it is time that Guyana frees herself from this contagious “winner takes it all politics”. We need new and workable ideas in order for Guyana to grow. Guyana is sixty-years-old not sixteen years old. She should have been way ahead of her Caribbean counterparts, the likes of Jamaica and Trinidad just to name a few.
Editor, others may argue that Guyana is booming ever since we have been sourcing oil but this in part is not true especially when you still have almost half of its populace still living within the poverty scale. Yes, we are seeing a lot of businesses being established across the country but are we seeing the financial gains? And this is key for both the private owners and our economy.
Editor let me zero in on the Essequibo Coast where I was born and where I grew up.
I am still familiar with Anna Regina and Charity and Supenaam. Editor, today in Anna Regina alone they are several hotels. Of course with those buildings, the landscape has been transformed but the key factor especially for the business owners who have invested in such a huge business affair is would those businesses be able to generate equal moreso meaningful profits at the end of the day. Editor, I believe that those business owners have thought out this being one of the key factors that led them to venture into such entrepreneurship but my answer is a sad no, I will explain.
Editor, the Essequibo Coast is yet to attain the credibility of being a successful outlet to do business moreso to venture into the business of a hotel. Essequibo is primarily a farming hub. They are a few cook shops and eating stations but for one to consider building a hotel with the expectation of surviving in that location I don’t think enough effort was put into that thinking.
Editor, who is going to come from God’s knows where every day to stay at a hotel in the country? And the other question is how many people and how often would those hotels be seeing them especially for the long term. Essequibo is not a viable business zone to conduct hotel business. It is sad to say but it is true.
Editor, the farmers are feeling the squeeze. Their primary struggle is that they don’t have sufficient outlets to sell their produce but this is another issue. Essequibo needs to establish and create jobs first in order for people to want to come and also for people to want to invest in. Why not look at promoting Essequibo for starters. Essequibo has beautiful lakes and streams.
Yours sincerely,
Yannason Duncan
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