Guyana: Americas newest and fastest rising Petrostate and its profile of persistent poverty

Introduction
In response to the Tricontinental Institute of Social Research’s circular call for assistance for crafting a new development theory and practice that seeks to release the poor from their persistent poverty, I ventured a response based on this long-running series on Guyana as the “newest and fastest rising petrostate in the Americas.” In the two columns preceding this, I had focused on advancing the development theory aspect of the call. Going forward starting today, I shall focus on the “taking the poor out of poverty” aspect, of the Tricontinental Institute’s circular call.

At this juncture I should remind readers that this column series has advanced the following theses 1] poverty eradication is the leading growth/development priority at this stage of Guyana’s windfall crude oil discoveries 2] this thesis conforms to Guyana’s national commitments as a signatory to the seventeen [17] United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, UN, SDGs, 2015-2030; and 3] cash transfers play a central role in poverty eradication policy. Additionally, I have elaborated a cash transfer proposal for Guyana; the Buxton Proposal last reviewed in this series of columns over the period.