HOW mighty are fallen! Although it is sad to see, this is also a reality check for people who always feel that America is the best and would do anything to get there. How the Today, the United States, which was once one of the best places in the world, has fallen to rank 13 on this year’s United Nations human development index.

The super-power once seemingly invincible is now ranked below countries like Norway, Australia, Iceland, Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, France, Switzerland and Japan among others. And this year’s index was based on data from 2007 and does not take into account the impact of the global economic crisis.

I have also read about the World Bank commenting on the US dollar losing its position as the world’s predominant reserve currency. There is already talk that the euro is a respectable alternative to the dollar and it is believed that its acceptability could grow. The WB President even went on to say that the US is losing its pre-eminence along with other wealthy nations and faces a loss of influence on the international economy.

We have seen the closing down of several prime US business entities which have resulted in staggering losses in terms of employment. Many people lost their jobs as a result of the economic crisis which has hit those countries the hardest and the crisis is not at an end.

Guyana is luckily not affected by these external shocks due to prudent management of the economy by the Government. Guyana has been thriving despite the economic problems affecting countries and Guyanese can testify to the fact that their lives have not been negatively impacted by those external problems. Policies and programmes implemented by this administration have been working to ensure that the Guyanese people receive the necessary push to develop and prosper.

Am I to think that since the US Government has been unable to prevent all these things it should be asked to resign? I am asking this because in Guyana, as soon as things go a little off centre, people call for the administration to resign.
D. RAMLALL