Dear Editor,

As usual Christmas was a standing offence to the idea of economic rationality. Almost our entire population launched upon an orgy of gift-giving, card-sending and party-throwing, abandoning any rational determination of how much to spend and how much to hold back for looming new year expenses. Guyanese also abandoned any rational determination of where to shop or from whom. Christmas shopping is one of a whole array of spontaneous economic acts in which people are doing no more than trying to earn goodwill, create social obligations and cement their relationships to generate, in its broadest sense, mutual regard.

Once the threat of boycott was removed in its universality spontaneity returned to the shopping experience.  Impulse shopping, after all, is part of the culture and fun of Christmas when spreading goodwill is at its peak. By systematically excluding some businesses from our source list we would have been pitching into the world of political obscurity and subjective political judgement without any robust means, except a combination of distrust, prejudice and instinct, of assessing which businesses to punish and which to patronize.

In fact Christmas is also a standing offence to the idea of political correctness. Nevertheless, we must see the call to boycott, muted in its universality, as a cry for help. Our young people have spoken.

They are hurting and will not allow themselves to be swept under the carpet, linoleum or other floor covering. Collectively we must do something about their pain, disappointment, and frustration …something sustainable.

Recent events and the fear of boycott expressed by our private sector should have taught us that the problem of marginalized, disgruntled youth is not just a government one.

If only out of enlightened self interest the private sector clearly has a role to play. We must stop seeing our youth as mere consumers whose sole purpose in life is to boost our profits, enhance the bottom line and contribute positively to our cash-flow problems.

They see themselves, and rightly so, as being able to contribute a lot more to society and the political economy than mere purchasing power if given the opportunity to do so. Let 2012 be the year we dedicate to youth development.

The aim must be to create an environment within which the public and private sectors can work together to meet the needs and aspirations of our young people.

The task is to find out how best we can help our youth achieve their goals for self improvement. In so doing we must clearly define mutual rights and responsibilities as we go forward.

Yours faithfully,
F. Hamley Case