WHAT stood out as most interesting over the past weeks while I was abroad, was the beehive of development and social activities in Guyana’s rural and hinterland areas. Ordinarily, those would miss the mainstream media, so I started to put together the many pieces of events that would be celebrated by folks who had longed for a better life.
Looking at those changes, I noted that in spite of concerted efforts by some to create distractions by brewing a political tempest over every issue, Guyana continues to navigate unalterably the path of progress. This is evident is its most depressed and vulnerable areas – rural and hinterland communities.

ECONOMIC GROWTH
But first, I want to briefly refer to one of the distractions in which a feeble attempt is being made to beat up on Guyana for an average 2.7% economic growth for 2016-2017. Though disappointing, as Finance Minister Jordan himself admitted, our performance is not worse than the average rate of growth for the entire Caribbean and Latin America for the same period. Several regional states are unfortunately still trying to get back on their feet and with early hurricane alerts already being issued, fresh fears have arisen over prospects for full economic recovery of countries that had fallen victim to the last bouts of disaster.
The truth of the matter is that Guyana remains a stable society in spite of its many challenges, the worst being the inherited situation in the sugar industry. The crippled entity had nothing to show for the almost $50 billion bailout by both the previous and the coalition governments.

SIGNS OF PULL-BACK
But here too, some initial signs of pull-back are emerging, though the industry as a whole is still in deep trouble. The good news is that the Enmore factory has been re-activated, and Skeldon could come on stream in another two weeks’ time. Some 1,200 persons have been employed as independent contractors in the sugar belt from amongst those who have been severed.

The pro-active nature of our government is evident in other vulnerable communities. I have been looking at events from afar, and I could note the many projects either being undertaken or completed, almost simultaneously in several hinterland and rural towns and villages. I could feel the changes.
That was also how some of my friends in Toronto felt when I had lunch with them recently as I was passing through on my return journey home – home, sweet home. “Mo, many good things are happening back home,” my lawyer-friend Narvin said with excitement and satisfaction.

Unlike me, he lives permanently abroad, but as the American author-poet Robert Morgan observed, “Distance not only gives nostalgia, but perspective, and maybe objectivity”.
Others in Canada mentioned the commissioning of Radio Orealla in East Berbice (Region Six) as well as the new Radio Aishalton in South Rupununi, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo (Region Nine). I would interject that four other regional outreach radio stations have been launched previously in Lethem, Mabaruma, Mahdia and Bartica, which are new towns in our hinterland. How and why these communities were not connected before with Georgetown and the rest of Guyana via public information networking, even after Guyana completed 50 years of independence status, would remain an indictment on regimes before the advent of our coalition government.
These outreach radio stations have expanded the social space and have initiated perhaps the most profound integration of our Guyanese people in our contemporary history. I give the APNU+AFC coalition government full credit for this development.

Similar notice has been taken of the expansion of potable water facilities in communities, stretching between Port Mourant to the South Rupununi. For example, residents in the East Bank of Berbice are getting, for the first time ever, potable water on a 24-hour basis from a new water-distribution system. For these folks, neglected for decades, water is immediately more precious than oil. It is good to note also the provision of free, safe drinking water to some schools in nearby areas through initiatives taken by the Rotary Club.

STORY OF PROGRESS
The story of progress about which I had written before, is on the lips of every resident of Nappi and surrounding communities in Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo, which had been affected periodically by prolonged droughts. Farmers have been devastated, and it had appeared that there was no solution for that dilemma. But not for long: Minister Trotman handed over to the communities a huge reservoir, which is situated at Nappi, with a capacity to hold 4.5 million cubic metres of water. The reservoir will provide water to Amerindian farmers, as well as animals that roam the natural vegetation of the vast Rupununi.

Recently, the township of Bartica has been very much in the news mainly on account of its signature Easter Regatta and its Miss Bartica Pageant. The new riverside boardwalk is the latest attraction in this mining town that is famous for its “nite-life”. The island-town will soon light up for bigger social and economic ventures when a new power station is completed.

Simultaneously, I have noted on-going projects in far-off Mabaruma to complete its roads, and to renovate the riverside Kumaka market area, the latter being once a bustling site for fresh provisions and fish. Whilst a stand-by generator has been installed, Mabaruma will benefit in time from a mega solar farm.
I tried not to be lost in the cross-talks over the legacy of corruption of the former governments and the in-fighting within certain political entities. I just wanted, for now, to bask in elation over the improvements being made at the grassroots of our society, which add meaning to the quality of life of our people. I could only imagine the impact on the safety of commuters of the newly installed road-lamps along the No 19 stretch of road. For too long, we have lost precious lives in wanton accidents, with darkness being one of the main contributory causes.

PROPAGANDA SMOKESCREENS
I conclude with this vignette. While in Iowa, the temperature had dropped below zero, as we were hit by a mild winter storm. In the morning while we were looking at the heavy sheet of snow around us, I mentioned to my seven-year-old grandson that the sudden change looked “magical”. He retorted, in what has become an occasional word-game between us, in unintended alliteration:” It’s a mythical, misty morning, grandpa”.
I have tried to follow the concurrent polemics over some issues, foremost being the impending oil and gas industry. Though these testify to our robust, open democracy, even involving a leading Western diplomat (against whom no “feral blast” has been unleashed), they are essentially propaganda smokescreens. They tended momentarily to cloud the daily positive changes that are taking place, and could be likened to the “mythical, misty” cold spells that hide every other pretty thing around.

It is good to know that, that notwithstanding, our people in all corners of Guyana are benefitting from new projects and initiatives that affect and change the quality of their lives, which in turn promote our country’s human development index.
April 14, 2018