Dear Editor,
In a highly developed area in the U.S., it takes approximately 5 years to build out a new subdivision with all of the infrastructure in place. Considering this benchmark, it is important for the government to slow down and do things properly to develop the new housing schemes and villages that they are trying to establish. House lots should only be given after the water system, sewerage system, electricity infrastructure, and road network has been completed. As for the model village concept in the works, it is a good idea but most of the discussions are still focused on the basic infrastructure needs that are currently missing across the country. These basic requirements must be met countrywide first and foremost before expansion continues. Many citizens in the new housing schemes are already complaining about this problem.
A new chart was recently released showing that Guyana’s GDP per capita had surpassed many developed countries. It is encouraging, but the reality is that the wealth has not reached most families in Guyana. In our beautiful country we have approximately 29,000 distinct family surnames. Establishing a head village approach where the head of each family surname is provided an acre with a well-built quality family cottage and 40 acres behind it of pre planted land with dwarf 3-year coconut trees will help lay the foundational sustainable wealth needed for each Guyanese family. CRG recommends that the head villages follow the preplanned build out concept where all of the supporting infrastructure is first put in place with a gated entrance to control access, a police outpost at the entrance to ensure public safety, a fire station for a quick response to fire emergencies, a health clinic for easy access to medical care, and a central Benab for a meeting place for the heads of the families within each established head village. A ministry of agriculture annex should also be present in each head village to assist with the coconut farming and a commercial rail or river network around the head villages should be used to transport the coconuts and associated byproducts for government purchase in support of an established long term export contract. The purchase should be done in a manner that meets the terms of the export contract and covers government expenses, with government earnings coming primarily from tax charged on the sale of the coconuts and its byproducts. Thus, maximizing and securing the profits of each family, and providing an approach to Guyanese family financial independence that will result in over 1800 square miles of land dedicated to coconut farming. Achieving a scale that will help provide our nation with a strong foothold within the multibillion USD market for coconuts and its highly sought after byproducts. The market is also currently growing at a very attractive CAGR (compound annual growth rate).
Note: 150 acres per family head was considered, but this may be too much to start with. The amount of 40 acres or 150 acres may be something that Irfaan may want to decide upon after determining which amount would be more reasonable. Either way, after the head village approach has been established, further deployment on a slightly smaller scale should continue for additional family members as the agriculture export business continues to develop.
Best regards,
Mr. Jamil Changlee
Chairman
The Cooperative Republicans of Guyana
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