Dear Editor,
In a feature essay carried in the October 30th issue of the Daily Chronicle, Dr. Randy Persaud refutes accusations that Guyana is a failed state, by going to the Failed States Index of 2009 issued by The Fund for Peace and Foreign Policy Magazine. For different reasons, I am also skeptical of failed state claims, particularly when countries like the United States come out on top (with its ongoing history of occupation and interventionism to support its ‘brand’ of democracy, as noted by philosopher and public intellectual Noam Chomsky in his critique of the failed state thesis), and when countries like Somalia are written off as the culprit par excellence with no history or contextualization (like the role of Western interventionism, in which Canadian ‘peacekeepers’ also played a part).
But while I definitely have my own reservations about the Index, including how it defines and measures failed states, I went to the report as Dr. Persaud suggested and found that while Guyana is clearly not in the worst red or alert zone, it falls into the second “warning zone, reserved for countries with numbers between 60 and 89.9.” As the report points out, “all countries in the red [Alert zone], orange [Warning zone], or yellow [Monitoring zone] categories display features that make significant parts of their societies and institutions vulnerable to failure. The pace and direction of change, either positive or negative, varies.” (you can visit the report at: http://www.fundforpeace.org/web/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=391&Itemid=549)
The total score of each country is arrived at by assessing performance on a number of indicators. One indicator is “chronic and sustained human flight”, which the report defines as consisting of “brain drain of professionals, intellectuals and political dissidents fearing persecution or repression; voluntary emigration of ‘the middle class,’ particularly economically productive segments of the population, such as entrepreneurs, business people, artisans and traders, due to economic deterioration; growth of exile communities”. On this indicator, Guyana’s score is 7.9, which if I read the table correctly puts it somewhere like 24th from the bottom (or around 153rd of 177 countries). This is how the Fund for Peace/Foreign Policy Magazine Report describes it: “Human flight remained extremely high in the FSI 2008 at 7.9. Guyana is one of the poorest countries in South America and suffers from a significant brain drain. The main reason for human flight within Guyana is the lackluster economy, which has prompted many people to seek better economic opportunities elsewhere in South America, the Caribbean, or if possible, the United States.” These figures for Guyana are supported by the recent Human Development Report, as well as earlier statistics from the OECD that show abnormally high out-migration rates from Guyana.
Since these disturbing migration statistics pertain to the overall index and come from the same report that Dr. Persaud asks us to rely on in his feature essay, I wonder how he reconciles these figures and commentary with the views he has recently expressed on GUYEXPO and in response to Mr. Wiggins and Mr. Lall (in your letters section), on Guyana’s growing middle class and improving infrastructure and amenities, all of which seem to paint a picture of stability and growth that should surely keep far more Guyanese at home?
Yours faithfully,
Alissa Trotz
Do not expect Dr Randy Persaud to submit solid arguments here. Dr Randy’s mission is primarily to buttress the PPP regime by attempting to use his qualifications as a blunt instrument.
Maxwell’s letter (today’s edition) amply demonstrates the movement of the middle class to where most of the lumpen capital resides. There is no need for a master’s degree to witness this migration. We have all seen the rags to riches phenomenon under the PPP administration. We all know how “hard” and “honest” these folks toiled to make it to the top.
Randy will reply or he will have to explain to the President why he was hired to spin and defend the regime. Anyway, Randy did invite Guyanese in the Diaspora to join him in a conversation on Guyana’s developmental issues (or lack thereof).
Thank you Alissa for doing your homework for those of us who are either too busy or don’t have the interest or level of intellect to appropriate a response.
Ever country has problems, Guyana is no exception. The picture that Dr. Randy paints is good for the country and the diaspora. To paint a bad picture as some are doing will only serve to do harm. The hard fact is Guyana is moving forward with the limited resources. Every thing has a price, development has a greater price Dr. Randy is doing good for our country. He answered the call to serve.
Flatty. You said that Guyana is moving forward with limited resources. May I remind you that Human Resource, is also a resource. Why not return to Guyana and help decrease the limited resources. It’s nice for some people to talk trash in the comfort of their American abode. Go back and give The Doctor a helping hand. Go and educate those keeping the PPP in power. Maybe then we will have a growing middle class.
Flatty – The view is better when you are on your feet than when you’re lying flat on the ground.
Guyanese do not need sugar coated stories about progress and an expanding middle class when the reality is the opposite. Guyanese need truth and veracity. We do not need a hired P.P.P. propagandist dishing out pablum to childish supporters incapable of critical thoughts. Flatty, what would happen to Guyana if the ABC countries passed a law prohibiting the sending of remittances to any country? Guyana will rival Somalia.
Flatty you are just another apologist, while you’re flying the stars and stripes, you should be back in guyana flying the golden arrowhead then i would believe you.
Flatty, there is a saying that goes something like this, “it is better to keep your mounth shut and let them think you are a fool rather than to open it and expel all doubts” You and Randy are done just that!!!!
Guyanese are running away from the country,many of us here in the diaspora that are willing to go home and help our country are given the royal runaround,unlike mr.Persaud an alleged propagandist for the P.P.P.
Alissa, excellent analysis. Dr. Persaud will not be able to proffer a reasonable explanation to the important question you posed because he is a PPP apologist and spin meister. He was speaking to a PPP audience that blindly supports whatever drivel the inept Jagdeo administration puts out as gospel. The nonsense that you see coming out of him is designed for the overseas audience to continue to give emotional and financial support to the PPP kleptocracy and the flying beggar when he goes to Queens and Toronto.
Randy is just a puppet! He is living with his head in the sky.
By virtue of his closeness to the ruling cabal, the PPP is in Dr. Randy Persaud’s BLIND SPOT so he cannot see the immediate threat to our country’s survival.
He sees failure in past administrations and failure in any future administration beyond the PPP.
But, Dr. Persaud just turn to your head slightly to your right and tell me what you see. Did I hear, “OMG! Massive corruption, gross incompetence, ineptitude, cronyism, executive lawlessness, lack of democracy, lack of transparency and victimization?”
Yes, that’s what I thought. The real danger lies immediately beside you, right in your blind spot.
Touchau have ever visit a rum shop friday afternoon in Guyana in the country side……dat is how the PPP does wuk rum shop mentality.
Sister Alissa becareful how you writing and rebutting some letters no matter how you teck a pig and clean the animal up…..fancy hair do, sweet smell, and things. The animal will still take back to the mud…..you can change that animal a pig is a pig.
That man would never go that deep to do the work you do. Its always nice to read your works….just remember you one of the perls of the our nation.
I would love to see you call him to dibate on Guyana Middle Class in a neutral spot in New York City. Give him all the time to prepare. We will cary it live on radio, TV, and hard copy.
I am truly amazed that there is a need to discuss the obvious. It is well known that Guyana’s main export is human capital. All forms of this export have emerged to accomplish the goal of getting out of country. Is backtracking a Guyanese invention.
What Dr. Trotz failed to mention is the litmus test of migration for any society? What are the numbers like in terms of numbers of people trying to get into Guyana legally or illegally versus those leaving legally or illegally? I think the answer is quite clear. Guyanese want out of Guyana.
Randy is correct,the middleclass in Guyana is growing by leaps and bounds. However, love of country and Patriotism is very low in Guyana.
Most Guyanese leaving Guyana, have with them CAPITAL, Cash,Jewellery/EDUCATION(earned cheap or free in Guyana)and other resources, and a big PLUS, They FLY to their destinations(most of them).Contrast this with citizens of other countries leaving their homeland with much much more love of country in their hearts but very light in their pockets,makeshift rafts/boats their transport!!
The DOG and BOne/Fox and Grapes Mentality prevalent in Guyana today, means that no matter how welloff WE are,Whining/Bellyaching/Cheating/Stealing/Laziness, will continue,until a GOVT of our (CHOICE) is in POWER!!Well..there was this guy who fought windmills!
75% of Guyana`s goods and services is IMPORTED,Is this possible in a (POOR) country like Guyana??
Berbician: Since you are so different to us in the diaspora, when will you be making that permanent return trip?
BERBICIAN, MUCH OF WHAT YOU SAY IS SOUND AND VERIFABLE,… . MADAM TROTZ AND THE GANG ,,.. WRACK THEIR BRAINS TO FIDDLE AROUND WITH SELECTIVE STATISTICS AND SUBJECTIVE AVAILABLE DATA…. . LET ME ADD… SO MANY OPPOSITION EXILES HOLD ON TO THE PHENOMENON OF CONTINUOUS MIGRATION, AS A YARDSTICK OF JUDEGEMENT , FOR GOVT.’S EFFECTIVENESS OR OTHERWISE…. .. SOME EVEN USE THE WORD FAILURE,… …. I WOLDN’T EVEN ELEVATE SUCH COMMENTS TO THE LEVEL OF DEBATE… AND I THINK GUYANESE OF SOUND MIND AND LOVING HEARTS SHOULD’NT EITHER…. ..BUT TO SUMARISE A BIT….. STIMULI TO EMIGRATE GENERALLY RELATE TO TWO FACTORS,… THE PULL” FACTOR,.. AND THE PUSH”FACTOR IN GUYANA’S CASE… the immigration tide was stimulated by THESE “PUSH” FACTORS…between 1970 to 1992, the escape from an OPPRESSIVE AND BANKRUPT DICTATORSHIP ;; FROM 1997 TO THE PRESENT, FLIGHT FROM A DESPERATE OPPOSITION, AT WORK INSTIGATING VIOLENCE AND FEAR ON A HAPLESS GOVT. AND ITS SUPPORTERS AND OTHERS CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE;;… … THE ‘PULL’ FACTORS WERE AND STILL ARE THE NORMAL ECONOMIC REASONS, AND THE REALITIES THAT MEN OF ALL PERSUASIONS TEN TO BELIEVE “THE GRASS IS GREENER ON THE OTHERSIDE” DREAM… ; the other PULL factors.. , during the present GOVT.S watch.. comprises, the natural phenomena, of consolidating the family overseas,… . in most cases,.. especially in USA,;;.. IMMIGRATION PROCESS TAKES NEAR TO NINE YEARS, .. SO WHEN THEY COME THROUGH,.. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR FOLKS TO TURN DOWN THE OFFER….RELATIVES OVERSEAS WORK OVERTIME TO CONVINCE THOSE BACK HOME THAT LIFE IS ABUNDANT WHERE THEY ARE,…. TRUE IN SOME CASES, FALSE IN OTHERS ….. SO THE EXILES WOULD LOVE TO perpetuate the obvious MYTH… THAT GUYANESE FLEE THEIR COUNTRY BECAUSE OF THE ACTION OR OTHERWISE OF THE PRESENT GOVT….. NO ONE SHOULD BE SO NAIVE TO THINK THAT THERE AREN’T EXILES THAT HAVE LEFT DUE TO LOGICAL, AND PERSONAL DISLIKE OF THE PRESENT ADMIN.. .. NOT TO MENTION THE PERCEIVED ETHNIC COMPOSITION OF THE PARTY IN POWER… .. AND OF COURSE THERE ARE LEGITIMATE GREIVIANCE AGAINST GOVT. ACTION OR INACTION…. BUT THESE PALE IN COMPARISON TO THOSE FLEEING FOR OTHER REASONS FORWARDED HERE…..
Feathering my nest Borapork, feathering my nest.Lets see..I can drink one less Banks and buy about 12peterD or about 13EasuP. Get my drift Borapork? Now if you and your buddies think dat is DEALING…who am I to differ.
It’s a shame when an educated person cannot engage in critical thinking. I wonder where this chap got his credentials from. Soup drinking should be left where ignorance is bliss Mr! Persaud. U would not have survive at the University i went to.
The man’s mind is under the control of the government in power.