Dear Editor,
Disturbing figures alluded to by contributor Alissa Trotz in her Stabroek News letter of Saturday, October 31, 2009, ‘How does Dr Persaud reconcile these disturbing migration figures with his claim of the growing middle class?’ referred to one indicator as “chronic and sustained human flight,” used as a factor in determining the conditions of a failed state.
It should be of instructive relevance to confirm that based on my own personnel knowledge and experience, that human flight from British Guiana/ Guyana started even before the turmoil of 1953 as a result of the infamous suspension of our constitution and which really spawned the growth of exile communities.
Relevant evidence will support indeed that it is the pull of the exile families that is more responsible for outward migration rather than anything to do with lacklustre economy.
The need to be more specific in contributing by the intellectual class should be scrupulously observed.
Yours faithfully,
David DeGroot
David Degroot is tampering in an area of research where he has no competence. What a generalization to say it is the family members of Guyanese who live abroad who are responsible for the excessive and horrendous out migration rates from Guyana. What then explains the reasons why the families left in the first place? This is an intellectual argument and political spinners like Degroot should leave the discussion to those who have the academic training and intellectual objectivity to present their views, diverse as they may be. This is what the academy is based on.
I read Randy Persaud’s propaganda letter and Alissa Trotz’s academic response, and having now read David DeGroot’s infantile attempt of an input, it does not even measure up to propaganda, let alone academic reading. It provokes no intellectual response. So basically, I think DeGroot, who literally worked for and was an overt supporter of the Burnham regime, and is now a supporter and emlpoyee of the Jagdeo regime, will say and do anything to get recognized by the powers that be. He is a basic low-level political opportunist.
What has the government done to demagnetize this hypnotic pull of countries to the North?
I have been reading these letters for a long time and I can honestly say that this is the biggest Bulls&$#* I have read. Get Real.
David DeGroot should research how many Guyanese are living abroad legally and how many are illegal. Better yet ask them how many of them went back track.
David.
As overseas based Guyanese, myself and the hundreds
of Guyanese brothers and sisters residing here
in T&T legally and illegally had no family
to pull or draw us to this twin island Republic.
We are all here for a fair wage and secured
Employment. Even situations where some have
lost their lives and live under trying circumstances,
cannot force the majority (of any racial background)
to return home to your Utopia and you beloved progressive
government.
Dem say Trinidad full of nuff crime and ting & it aint a nice place to live, etc. I tellin allyuh, I feel safe N secure here than in Guyana. Dont ask me why just look around & yall will see how Guyana is being run like a cake shop & how Trinidad is being run like a country.
Hogwash Mr. DeGroot. I was pushed out by the horrors of the PPP regime. No relative pulled me to Canada.
The reason for migration rates in Guyana is demonstrative in the news items that one reads here daily, Crime, lack of jobs, corruption in government, no economic growth you name it.
The PPP has failed socially, economically and politically to move Guyana forward and keep its citizens attracted to staying in Guyana and building a brighter future for their children there.
Jagdoe and the PPP used to hew and cry about migration rates when the PHENC was in power now they are barefaced liars and they put their stooges like Randy PErsaud to write letters to the press painting a picture and a story as if he is reading alice in wonderland to the people.
Give me a break!
One chooses to live where he or she pleases.Not because you ae a Guyanese you must stay in Guyana.Only a fool espouses his philosophy.Nevertheless, a correction.The term ‘human flight’ actually began before 1953.Indentured laborers, their families,arriving since 1838, were constantly returning back to India.However,a number of Guyanese, especially the overseas know it alls, live in a time warp of unimaginary proportions.These misinformed individuals, misguided, calling themselves patriots, do not even know Guyana, nor Guyanese.Hence their fabricatons should be readily debunked whenever it arises.The idea of a never ending paradise, Guyana of the past, is still lodged in the minds of these comprehensive haullicinators.