Land ownership, use and some distribution considerations

Several weeks ago I started a series of columns on the ethnic security dilemmas (ESDs). I also briefly reviewed Minister Carl Greenidge’s book on land settlements, and discussed the issues of income and wealth (asset) distribution. All these issues are connected. Before I close the series, I want to share some findings on land ownership (and control or use) in Guyana.

One of the ways to store wealth is in land. Wealth managers would tell you land might not be the best store of wealth, but that does not take away from the fact that many Guyanese see land as a source of future streams of income. Another store of wealth would be the embodied education, skills and imaginative talents of individuals. Would such an embodied asset produce a greater stream of future incomes compared with owning ten acres of land in Guyana? I think it does, assuming the education and training are not for the purpose of Dr. Politics.