– economic and social scenarios
AS GUYANESE join with people of the world this weekend to celebrate Christmas, they can well take comfort from a continuing healthy state of the nation’s economy.
Even, that is, as they share the apprehension of fellow nationals from the rest of our Caribbean Community (CARICOM) about the crime epidemic that plagues so many member states, including Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica.
From no less a quotable source of importance than the International Monetary Fund (IMF) came the following assessment last month:
“Despite external and domestic economic shocks in 20I0, Guyana’s economy has exhibited resilience to register the fifth consecutive year of robust growth…”
Further, according to the IMF, “the banking system remains liquid and quite well capitalised…amid an ongoing housing boom…”
No wonder, therefore, President Bharrat Jagdeo has found it possible to provide generous disaster relief in the form of some US$200,000 to hurricane-bashed St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, as well as just this past week, announcing Christmas bonuses for the disciplined forces and a one-time five-per cent payout to sugar workers.
In such an atmosphere, the President of the Pubic Service Union chose to signal warning to the government to stick to a wages accord or face protest action in the coming year.
For their part, Jamaicans have determined that neither a harsh economic climate nor rampaging gun crimes would prevent them from incurring expenditures to ensure enjoyment of this unique international birthday bash — Christmas in 2010.
Nor, from all reports, have the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago allowed the epidemic of murders and related gun crimes to spoil their customary shopping frenzy, or ignore some of the ‘picong’ on governance by the People’s Partnership administration, and the  politicking of its opponents and detractors.

Antiguan politics: However, when the holiday season is over, there is one CARICOM state in which the Community Secretariat and the administrators of the Organisation of American States (OAS) would have an obligation to assess how parliamentary democracy and good governance are being endangered by raw partisan politics of the state, involving the offices of both the Governor-General and Prime Minister.
Neither the functionaries of CARICOM nor the OAS can objectively claim unawareness of the most recent public statements of Opposition Leader and former Prime Minister, Lester Bird, about gross interferences by the Prime Minister and, more surprisingly, the Governor-General, in controversial public statements. More on this later.

Passing parade: For now, on this Christmas weekend eve, I take the opportunity to express personal good wishes to families who have lost their loved ones during this year — either by the mindless criminal violence, or as a consequence of serious illness.

Among the more notable citizens who have departed from us were Prime Minister David Thompson of Barbados; the intellectual/cultural icon, Rex Nettleford, and the distinguished media crusader, John Maxwell of Jamaica; and in Guyana, the gentleman politician, Winston Murray, who had served in the governments of Forbes Burnham and Desmond Hoyte.

Weather: I also wish to empathise with the trauma of the many thousands stranded at airports in the United Kingdom and other European capitals (among them Caribbean nationals), frustrated and distressed by ghastly freezing weather, wondering if they would be home for Christmas.
The contrast in weather conditions is so sharp and pleasing in our Caribbean that, for all the social, economic and political problems we confront, it seems so pointless to grumble over too much rain.

Cost-of-living: On the other hand, grumblings over the punishing cost-of-living — across our region — is quite understandable. For all the assurances being given, the worse may yet be experienced after the holidays.
These days, governments are quick to rationalise falling incomes, increasing joblessness and skyrocketing food prices by summoning to their rescue the delayed recovery from a global economic crisis.

Dialogue: In this context, manoeuvres to marginalise the influence of trade unions are some of the issues that would require new approaches to be undertaken by the CARICOM Secretariat and the Caribbean Congress of Labour (CCL) getting back to scheduled structured dialogue consistent with the claimed commitment to a consultative process for improved governance and social/economic advancement.
A sorrel toast in wishing a peaceful merry-making Christmas to all readers.