–in this nation’s stability and development

ACCORDING to international reports, approximately 17 per cent of our Gross Domestic Product comes from remittances. This amount is not a true representation of the diaspora’s contributions to Guyana and the standard of living of resident Guyanese.

International reports could not have counted the numerous ‘small pieces’ a friend or loved one sends when someone is coming home, or the value of the clothing and barrels that supplement the incomes of those here.

There is no denying the diaspora’s investment in Guyana, which takes many forms, including the creation of entrepreneurial avenues, the boosting of self-esteem, and presenting a sense of well-being — of being able to provide for self and family. That contribution, in several instances, determines whether someone can have a meal on the table, a bus fare to get to work, meet a medical expense, keep a roof over one’s head, pay a bill, or even save a life. In short, remittances have become a significant tool in fighting poverty and other social ills.

When Guyanese migrate, irrespective of the circumstance under which they did, their hearts never leave Guyana. They take their love for country, its people and way of life with them to their adopted homes, even though they may express reservations about our politics. Their offspring are, from very early, socialised about life in Guyana, including the foods, customs, morals and history, thereby internationalising our culture.

Businesses in the diaspora have sprung up as a result of the felt need to preserve Guyanese culture, even in a foreign land — maintaining that bond between those who have left and stayed. Products from the native land, when exported to adopted countries, create employment and economic opportunities for those at home, given that there exist more markets to ply their trade. We cannot ignore or take this love and symbiotic relationship for granted.

Some of the investments are not necessarily obvious, are taken for granted or simply ignored, but all are of equal importance. When overseas-based Guyanese bring teams into Guyana on trade missions to provide free information technology training, medical services, etc., they are investing in the country and its people.

Remigrant Guyanese are also part of the investment community. The spending of foreign currency, be it from their pensions, establishment or expansion of businesses, add value to the society. And though some overseas loved ones have come to see that a telephone call made to them would invariably lead to their being asked to send something rather than to just say hello, this relationship, notwithstanding, adds value.

In our politics, the diaspora continues to play a vital role. Their residency in societies where the system of governance and standard of living may be considered better than ours causes critique of our system, leadership and standard of living, but also adds value to the society. This does not mean that the diaspora is always right in the things they say or do, but in acknowledging that they foremost are Guyanese and the love of country remains can inform having an open mind.

Man is foremost a social being, and interacts with his fellow man through language. Guyanese at home had benefited, and can continue to benefit, from numerous conversational exchanges; for these not only spring idle chats and condemnations, but create vistas for knowledge-sharing, mobilising, and getting things done.

Last week I learnt from a social media posting by USA-based Guyanese Wesley Kirton that President Barrack Obama would soon see a bill on his desk to sign into law measures that would strengthen that country’s relations with the Caribbean. Advisedly, this bill would require the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the U.S Agency for International Development (USAID) to provide the legislature with a multi-year strategy to enhance engagement between the two sides.

This U.S/Caribbean development could have only been possible through love for country. It is as a result of this love that ideas of this nature would spring from those in the diaspora who are resident in the region, leading to engagement with the lawmakers, which resulted in a specific action, and now awaits a signature to bring to fruition.

None can deny the role of the diaspora in our recent elections. With the presence of social media, this group was engaged in cyber campaigning, getting out the vote, providing financial assistance to those at home to do likewise, and some came home to campaign. There have been open support, defence and representation for political party, group or individual of their choice; the planning and hosting of events, including fundraisers; and setting a bar, based on experience in their societies, as to what Guyanese at home should demand and expect.

The relationship between the diaspora and resident Guyanese is a valued investment that should see continuous effort to improve, strengthen and deepen. Neither side is always right. Building a relationship of mutual respect requires acknowledgement that both sides have a right to speak about things relating to Guyana, what each considers best for the country, and the measures to be put in place to achieve these. The only constraint in such engagements should be that of ensuring that our laws and time-honoured principles are not trampled in the process.