Comments on: There needs to a breathing space to produce a national industrial strategy for development http://www.stabroeknews.com/2008/letters/09/08/there-needs-to-a-breathing-space-to-produce-a-national-industrial-strategy-for-development/ Guyana News, Sports, Businesss and Entertainment Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:58:39 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Evan Thomas http://www.stabroeknews.com/2008/letters/09/08/there-needs-to-a-breathing-space-to-produce-a-national-industrial-strategy-for-development/comment-page-1/#comment-26300 Evan Thomas Tue, 09 Sep 2008 15:51:51 +0000 http://www.stabroeknews.com/?p=22770#comment-26300 Mr. Ramphal rightly recognize that Guyana will be totally isolated by its more progressive sister cariforum countries. so rather than waste time complaining why not come up with strategies to deal with the percieved (justified or not)implications of the EPA. This is a smart recourse given that the initial process was flawed and the same persons who defined the Carifourm negotiating framework and positions, the Heads of States. People should bear in mind that the Caricom negotiating machinery did not negotiated on their own; they were guided by the heads of Government and reported to that body and requested guidance during the EPA negotiations. Mr. Ramphal rightly recognize that Guyana will be totally isolated by its more progressive sister cariforum countries. so rather than waste time complaining why not come up with strategies to deal with the percieved (justified or not)implications of the EPA. This is a smart recourse given that the initial process was flawed and the same persons who defined the Carifourm negotiating framework and positions, the Heads of States.

People should bear in mind that the Caricom negotiating machinery did not negotiated on their own; they were guided by the heads of Government and reported to that body and requested guidance during the EPA negotiations.

]]> By: Joe Coxall http://www.stabroeknews.com/2008/letters/09/08/there-needs-to-a-breathing-space-to-produce-a-national-industrial-strategy-for-development/comment-page-1/#comment-26038 Joe Coxall Mon, 08 Sep 2008 23:45:33 +0000 http://www.stabroeknews.com/?p=22770#comment-26038 When Jagdeo and other third world leaders are called upon to go in front of these various economic trade tribunals, they are not there as equals to the financial vampires who dictate to them what the "agreement" will be. They are brought there to be told, here is the agreement now you all will agree or else. To understand what trade is all about and can be all about, we must go back into history when our ancestors from Africa, India ,China and the Middle East came together by the thousands on their camels, horses and elephants laden with precious metals,gemstones, silks, spices and perfumes. They met up in the bazzarrs and market places in Damascus, Cairo, Zanzibar and Timbuktu. They spoke many different languages but it was no hinderance because they followed a long tradition of meeting, bartering and haggleing, when they came to an agreement it was right there on the spot, a fair exchange of goods and trade and they all went home richer and satisified. This system went on for thousands of years while the Europeans were still cutting each others throats in their customary system of plunder. There is a tale of an African king who travelled with his caravan to Cairo, he was so generous with his gold that he destabilised the economy of Egypt for a decade. Where is all that gold today? it is in the meuseums and private vaults of these same merchants of destruction, they stole all of it. So why should we believe they suddenly had a change of heart and now want to trade on a level and fair playing field? Now who are these people who now dictate to us how we must trade? Do we know them? Yes we do, They were the same ones who after hearing tales of these rich kingdoms to the East came in with their swords and cannons and robbed us of every thing including our cultural identity, they then broke our spirit and our will with the seering pain of the whiplash. Today they have changed their strategy, but still found a way to bound us to their dollar for interest and to their one sided trade decrees. They have changed their system so that they remain for the most part invisible while still plying their trade of taking all of the worlds wealth for nothing. These are men with no heart and no soul only greed for money. We all came from once rich societies that knew how to trade, trading is therefore in our genes it is our birthright if not for these bloodsuckers who are now telling us that they are here to help us set up viable trading systems. Signing that decree is like selling your soul and that of you children to Satan. Cheer mates Joe. When Jagdeo and other third world leaders are called upon to go in front of these various economic trade tribunals, they are not there as equals to the financial vampires who dictate to them what the “agreement” will be. They are brought there to be told, here is the agreement now you all will agree or else.

To understand what trade is all about and can be all about, we must go back into history when our ancestors from Africa, India ,China and the Middle East came together by the thousands on their camels, horses and elephants laden with precious metals,gemstones, silks, spices and perfumes. They met up in the bazzarrs and market places in Damascus, Cairo, Zanzibar and Timbuktu.

They spoke many different languages but it was no hinderance because they followed a long tradition of meeting, bartering and haggleing, when they came to an agreement it was right there on the spot, a fair exchange of goods and trade and they all went home richer and satisified. This system went on for thousands of years while the Europeans were still cutting each others throats in their customary system of plunder.

There is a tale of an African king who travelled with his caravan to Cairo, he was so generous with his gold that he destabilised the economy of Egypt for a decade.
Where is all that gold today? it is in the meuseums and private vaults of these same merchants of destruction, they stole all of it. So why should we believe they suddenly had a change of heart and now want to trade on a level and fair playing field?

Now who are these people who now dictate to us how we must trade? Do we know them? Yes we do, They were the same ones who after hearing tales of these rich kingdoms to the East came in with their swords and cannons and robbed us of every thing including our cultural identity, they then broke our spirit and our will with the seering pain of the whiplash.

Today they have changed their strategy, but still found a way to bound us to their dollar for interest and to their one sided trade decrees. They have changed their system so that they remain for the most part invisible while still plying their trade of taking all of the worlds wealth for nothing. These are men with no heart and no soul only greed for money.

We all came from once rich societies that knew how to trade, trading is therefore in our genes it is our birthright if not for these bloodsuckers who are now telling us that they are here to help us set up viable trading systems.

Signing that decree is like selling your soul and that of you children to Satan.

Cheer mates

Joe.

]]> By: crystal dunkins http://www.stabroeknews.com/2008/letters/09/08/there-needs-to-a-breathing-space-to-produce-a-national-industrial-strategy-for-development/comment-page-1/#comment-26014 crystal dunkins Mon, 08 Sep 2008 22:21:00 +0000 http://www.stabroeknews.com/?p=22770#comment-26014 If I'm not mistaken, the difficulty with a goods only agreement is that it would have to be a collective agreement and, therefore, the other Cariforum member states would have to sign on. This places Guyana on the other side of the spectrum. What about the economic consequences of not signing the present EPA as it is? These will not only affect Guyana but other Cariforum member states as well. How will we rationalize this? If I’m not mistaken, the difficulty with a goods only agreement is that it would have to be a collective agreement and, therefore, the other Cariforum member states would have to sign on. This places Guyana on the other side of the spectrum. What about the economic consequences of not signing the present EPA as it is? These will not only affect Guyana but other Cariforum member states as well. How will we rationalize this?

]]> By: Evan Thomas http://www.stabroeknews.com/2008/letters/09/08/there-needs-to-a-breathing-space-to-produce-a-national-industrial-strategy-for-development/comment-page-1/#comment-25960 Evan Thomas Mon, 08 Sep 2008 19:39:13 +0000 http://www.stabroeknews.com/?p=22770#comment-25960 Very good arguements and pinpointing of the failure of the government. Bharrat Jagdeo, the President, has served for 15 years as chief economic and development czar; this is the result, still arguing and doing nothing. As the world moves, CARICOM slept and Guyana experimented with arrogance and inexperience and "party control' in place of visionary and skillful leadership. Mr. Jagdeo is parroting some 'cold war' warriors on the subject of the EPA. Why should the EU wait another 15 years for us to put our house in order? We need immediate assistance to embark on a regional and national industrialization policy that will make us competitive in 25 years.....lets fight the EU to finance our programs for diversifying our manufacturing base. Very good arguements and pinpointing of the failure of the government. Bharrat Jagdeo, the President, has served for 15 years as chief economic and development czar; this is the result, still arguing and doing nothing.

As the world moves, CARICOM slept and Guyana experimented with arrogance and inexperience and “party control’ in place of visionary and skillful leadership. Mr. Jagdeo is parroting some ‘cold war’ warriors on the subject of the EPA. Why should the EU wait another 15 years for us to put our house in order?

We need immediate assistance to embark on a regional and national industrialization policy that will make us competitive in 25 years…..lets fight the EU to finance our programs for diversifying our manufacturing base.

]]> By: evileyes http://www.stabroeknews.com/2008/letters/09/08/there-needs-to-a-breathing-space-to-produce-a-national-industrial-strategy-for-development/comment-page-1/#comment-25899 evileyes Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:04:07 +0000 http://www.stabroeknews.com/?p=22770#comment-25899 would you not agree that the unskilled are making a comfy living.the president is right not to sign anything that looks like a fish and smells like a fish coz it stinks when it comes to your europian masters would you not agree that the unskilled are making a comfy living.the president is right not to sign anything that looks like a fish and smells like a fish coz it stinks when it comes to your europian masters

]]> By: bgsbny http://www.stabroeknews.com/2008/letters/09/08/there-needs-to-a-breathing-space-to-produce-a-national-industrial-strategy-for-development/comment-page-1/#comment-25848 bgsbny Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:44:50 +0000 http://www.stabroeknews.com/?p=22770#comment-25848 .....Pretty well thought-out with robust suggestions about how the PPP is a failure, despite all that the President has done and is continuing to do. Those at Freedom House have as their skills socialist theories, which are not worth a pint of parrot piss in the global economy - hence the reason for the ever deepening abyss that the nation is sliding towards. The reason for the sugar and rum based economy is to keep the mass of unskilled labour as a tool for election. …..Pretty well thought-out with robust suggestions about how the PPP is a failure, despite all that the President has done and is continuing to do. Those at Freedom House have as their skills socialist theories, which are not worth a pint of parrot piss in the global economy – hence the reason for the ever deepening abyss that the nation is sliding towards. The reason for the sugar and rum based economy is to keep the mass of unskilled labour as a tool for election.

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