The global poverty rate has been cut in half in about the last 20 years, so why not try our best to eliminate poverty in the next 20? Guyana, joining in this worldwide crusade enshrined in the United Nations “millennium development goals,” is seeking to reduce poverty towards zero.
Reaching towards this objective achieves all the elements of a better life – longer and healthier life-spans, improved literacy and greater access to education at all levels, a huge increase in worthwhile jobs, reduction of crime and greatly enhanced security of persons and property, enjoyment of a wider range of goods and efficient public services and, since material good is not the be-all and end-all of existence, increased opportunity to develop and participate in those ‘activities of the mind and soul’ which distinguish a nation when at its best in peace and prosperity.
Happily, the goal of poverty reduction is not a contentious issue in partisan politics. The government of the day and those who seek to take their turn again in governing can readily agree on this national purpose and should have no difficulty regularly meeting to thrash out the best policies and programmes to achieve the objective. Now I come to think of it why don’t they regularly meet on this non-contentious issue?
