A surprise
It must appear as a surprise to investors from China that many in a country with which it has shared friendly ties for four decades view its economic participation in the Guyana economy rather dimly. It is not that China is a stranger to Guyana even though the reticence of those Chinese present in the country would make it appear that way. China-Guyana relations started in the early 1970s and manifested themselves, initially, in strong social and cultural ties. With time and China’s rise to global economic prominence, the relationship with the administration has evolved into a passionate economic romance. As a consequence, China is today supporting an array of economic ventures in Guyana and many of its nationals are active in various aspects of the domestic distributive trade. Of late, however, many of the activities that China is associated with in Guyana have come under severe criticism from political and civil quarters. The Marriott project, the expansion of Guyana’s international airport, the construction of the Amaila Falls hydro station and part of the road leading to the hydropower site are some of the high-profile activities where money and expertise from China are involved. Complaints about these join the long-standing ones about the Skeldon sugar factory project since its commissioning in 2008.
Bad publicity
The bad publicity surrounding the projects makes China appear to be a country that is insensitive and unfriendly to the needs and interests of Guyanese. Some even feel that the economic romance is an exploitative one. The tensions that have arisen seem out of character with the type of diplomacy that China is known to practise. China is associated with a quiet diplomacy that has allowed it to grow its influence without alarming its
