Thank goodness that the government of this nation, led by the majority PPP/C, is pressing ahead with diplomatic and investment initiatives in the face of ongoing political shenanigans by the APNU/AFC representatives in parliament.
Consequently, while President Donald Ramotar was engaged in a one-day official visit to Suriname, where quite fruitful discussions took place with President Desi Bouterse,  here at home Prime Minister Samuel Hinds was participating in a formal launching ceremony of China’s Haier Electronic Appliances Ltd. which is establishing an assembly plant estimated to cost of US$10 million that will be a further boost for jobs creation.
The Haier Service Centre, that will be locally managed by a group of Guyanese business executives, is the latest symbol of an expanding service sector. Its opening event on Friday has followed the start of oil drilling projects of wider significance for the national economy and employment through the investments of CGX and Repsol. **(See story on page ??)
The meeting between Presidents Ramotar and Bouterse covered an impressive agenda that included the proposed construction of a bridge linking the two border states whose people share much in common in terms of ethnic and cultural diversity and desire for friendship and peaceful development.
To help make the bridge project a reality the two Heads of State have agreed on a joint approach to seek funding from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).We look forward to learning of the progress in this initiative.
Fisheries development and combating piracy and other forms of dangerous crime that waste lives and spread fear, as well as initiatives to boost agriculture with a focus on enhancing food security, are also part of the areas of agreement reached in the Bouterse/Ramotar meeting and which will further inspire optimism or social and economic development.
Now that President Ramotar is back home, and would receive, if not already done, a report on the latest challenge posed by the APNU/AFC anti-government alliance in parliament, he must also give urgent consideration to bringing an end to the current work stoppages in the sugar industry.
The government, GUYSUCO and GAWU should seek to negotiate in good faith for a speedy resolution that may not necessarily be ideal but practical. The sugar sector is too vital to national economic progress and the workers’ would be well aware of this in terms of their own livelihood.