I must offer some pointed criticisms on the editorial published in the Guyana Chronicle on Monday July 6, 2009. The editorial has 14 paragraphs and attempted to deal with the subject of private sector involvement in development. The title is sort of a misnomer, but the article still has merit. The first, like any good article, introduces the subject and establishes the writer’s position. Because I also believe that the private sector must play a major role in national development, I was interested in reading the rest of the article. The editor then dedicates 9 of the remaining 13 paragraphs to provide the readers with overwhelming statistics and evidence of the development and growth of the private sector in China as the main case study. Less than half-way through this lengthy presentation of data from various sources, I think the reader gets the point–the private sector has really improved the economic situation of China.

The 10th paragraph briefly describes the old socialist nationalist move in Guyana and the editor informs readers that the situation has changed. However, here is where the editorial fails miserably. The editorial falls short of providing systemic facts, statistics–any form of description (anecdotal or otherwise), to substantiate or make the point that the private sector in Guyana has indeed been thriving as is claimed. Simply stating that “the private sector is playing the dominant role in economic development” in Guyana without any data, any statistics as was done to make the Chinese case, is misleading. As a matter of fact, it’s incomplete. We need an in depth analysis of the contributions of the private sector from 1992 to 2009. We must also note that the years chosen for the Chinese case are within the same timeline as the PPP/C ascension to the seat of power. I’ll be looking out for a part 2 with real data for the Guyana case concerning the rise of the private sector and its role in making Guyana a rich nation.
KOFI DALRYMPLE