Shaping our nation’s foreign policy – renewing Guyana’s economic purpose

By Peter R. Ramsaroop, MBA
“Turtle can’t walk if he nah push he head outa he shell.” Only when you courageously decide to change your reality will you be able to progress. – Guyanese Proverb
Overview

Guyana’s foreign policy must be grounded on a sound economic platform.   Personally, over the years, my thinking has shifted as it relates to what should be the foreign policy of our nation. When one is not sitting in the seat of the presidency, it is difficult to second guess what you will do when faced with issues affecting the nation. The President’s visit to Iran did raise many eyebrows and he should explain why such a visit was necessary given the UN sanctions. I would have preferred if he had visited Brazil, which is right next door and has a significant role to play in our future development. And yes, it would have been a cheaper trip with better results for our nation. A country’s foreign policy is a set of goals outlining how the nation will interact with other countries economically, politically, socially and militarily.

The bottom line is that we have a roving and rolling foreign policy that must be refocused to contribute to the building of a sound economic platform for Guyana. Where do we focus? What countries should we have a stronger relationship with? Where would sound foreign direct investment come from?

Economic platform

Many investors are scared to invest in underdeveloped and unstable political environments.  Venezuela’s government has seized many private businesses over the last year causing significant loss to those companies. This scares off future investments in countries like Guyana that do not have a friendly investment climate.

It is well known that a shortage of human resources is a constraint in every aspect of life; it is a key reason to professionalize and reform the public service. It is the reason we need a national science policy, vibrant engineering school at UG, a business school at UG and enhanced vocational training in carpentry, refrigeration, auto mechanics, welding, etc.

The AFC Blueprint notes the need for a radical non-resident Guyanese (NRG) policy to fill this shortage in human resources. We have to see the extended Diaspora as our most important resource base and an extension of the stock of human capital (by the way, the LCDS sees the forests as Guyana’s most important resource).  This is all part of shaping our foreign policy.

Chapter II: Article 14 our nation’s constitution states: “The goal of economic development includes the objective of promoting and encouraging an economic system capable of achieving and maintaining sustainable competitive advantage in the context of a global competitive environment, by fostering entrepreneurship, individual and group initiative and creativity, and strategic alliances with domestic and global business partners in the private sector.”

1. Brazil: I believe in forging stronger ties with Brazil for both development and trade. As one of the top ten largest economies in the world, and a neighbour, I would like to posit that we create bilateral policies and programmes instead of tapping into the usual resources of the ABCs (America, Britain and Canada). I have written about the benefits of this and it would be a major pillar in a new Guyana administration in 2011. The fact is that Brazil exports over $100 billon of its agriculture products to North America and we need to see where we can feed that system. Northern Brazil desperately needs our waterways.

2. Venezuela: Hydropower needs to be a point of discussion between Guyana and Venezuela given the common position of a serious lack of reliable electricity supply. Chavez is a dictator and anti-private sector, so there is not much more we can hope for with Venezuela.  We are persuaded, though, that preceding any discussion with this neighbour, all claims to our land must be immediately dropped. Then as the sovereign nation we are, concessions should be given to large oil companies to drill in that area.

Why are we so sissy in that policy? Let’s test them; if they try to publicly come across our borders, it becomes an international issue and then maybe we can again attempt to get this claim resolved. We are not opposed to talking to Chavez on a joint oil development project but we must solve this claim on our land once and for all. Eastern Venezuela also desperately needs our waterways.

3. Suriname: Suriname continues to prove that Guyana’s defences are weak and this is how it pays us back for winning a disputed claim and our potential success for oil.

Suriname continues to embarrass us and we continue to fail to respond; instead, we act like diplomatic infants while Suriname continues its bullyism. Once we respond appropriately, we can also attempt joint oil development with this country. The recent incident involving renowned Guyanese Janette Bulkan and the government’s unjust accusations that she should have protested a map by Suriname that includes our territory, demonstrates the pettiness of our leadership.

4. Us: Open markets as per agreements already in place – we cannot let them die.  Given our large non-resident Guyanese (NRG) population we need to cater to their needs with our local products and create bigger markets.

Other: Additionally, Guyana, rather than seeking loans and financial aid from rich countries, should expend its efforts on developing strong economic relationships with globally successful countries, such as Singapore, Malaysia, Dubai – United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, India, and China.
Conclusion

We must be committed to protecting all Guyana from further erosion of its moral fabric by the changing global economic order. As we open our country, our economies, and our lives to the world like never before, we will be forced to fight harder to hold on to the values that we hold dear; many of the things that we now take for granted. Fundamental to us taking and holding that place of value in this new global order must be reformation of many of our tried and tested institutions and structures. The way in which we do business; the way in which we live overall must be altered if we are to stem this tide that seeks to engulf us as a country.

Wayne Forde in a letter to the editor in one of our daily papers said “Changing the economic climate in Guyana requires establishing new markets and bolstering existing ones – retention not loss; growth not retardation, increase not decline but this can only be achieved through new visionary leadership; fresh blood with bold innovative ideas and a clear vision for the future — leadership that will empower and invigorate; unify and harmonize for change we can embrace”.

Foreign policies are designed to help protect countries’ national interest, national security, ideological goals, and economic prosperity. Until next time “Roop”

Send comments to peter.ramsaroop@gmail.com