Dear Editor,
Last Sunday, Mr. George Abrams, an overseas-based Guyanese, formally declared open a sewing establishment in his village, Buxton. This small business, which already employs eleven workers, mostly from Buxton, is a reflection of Mr. Abrams’ commitment to the regeneration of the village economy both in terms of providing much needed services, but critically, in providing employment for villagers. I salute Brother Abrams for taking this giant step and hope that others with resources invest in our villages. As I told the villagers at the opening ceremony, they must see the project as an inspiration to lift the community through self-activity and that the success of the venture requires the support and protection of all villagers.
I also hope that the government on its own or in partnership with community groups encourages the flowering of small businesses in the communities. I had begun work last year with a certain Government Ministry in this regard. I had helped to mobilize several communities, including Dartmouth, Buxton, Melanie, Plaisance, Anns Grove, Stanleytown WCD and Sisters Village, to come up with projects to take advantage of an initiative which is housed in that Ministry and that is aimed at encouraging entrepreneurship in so-called depressed communities. To my utter amazement not a single one of the communities was awarded any funds. And what is worse, none of these communities was told why they were rejected and nobody from the Ministry sought to contact me with an explanation. When members of some of the groups called the Ministry they were greeted with rude responses.
Here are poor people in their villages who organize themselves and came up with initiatives for small community business and are unceremoniously rebuffed by their government. What more must poor people do to get some respect? Mr. George Abrams invited four government Ministers to the opening of his business in Buxton—not one of them attended. There was an item on the programme for remarks by these dignitaries; they were not there. I have seen Ministers socializing with the rich, attending their functions, gracing the opening of businesses. But Buxton and similar villages are off-limits, it seems. If any reminder is needed—Buxton and similar villages voted 99.99% for this government. That does not entitle them to monopoly of government attention but it certainly entitles them to more than the ignoring they have been receiving.
Yours faithfully,
David Hinds
