GUYANA moves on a path today that positions the country to enter the big league among nations of the 21st century, and, given the decades that the nation existed under trying socioeconomic conditions, this almost sudden dawn of spectacular prosperity presents an interesting challenge: how could the society overcome the conditioned mindset of certain public leaders to perpetuate small-mindedness as the national worldview, always becoming confrontational and myopic and spreading innuendos and suspicion? How could the society engineer a rise in the way leaders across the national spectrum see Guyana? How could Guyanese of all walks of life be encouraged to see the new horizon that has opened up?

Three news items in the current media cycle show how delicate is the balance between raising the bar on how Guyanese see and think of their country, and overcoming the default fallback of some folk into a narrow-minded perspective of how the nation conducts its business.

Guyana cannot any longer afford to cultivate a small-minded worldview. Guyanese could now stand up and see their nation as a standout success on the global stage. Guyana is there, on the threshold. This message needs constant massaging to drive it home, until it becomes the national way of being.

The national media reported that an opposition Member of Parliament is seeking clarification concerning a contract that government entered into with an international lobbying firm to conduct Guyana’s lobbying in the United States. Any sensible leader would welcome such a move. For a country like Guyana to exercise the foresight and insight to engage a powerful, well-connected lobbying firm to push Guyana’s interests in the most powerful political corridor in the world, the U.S. Congress and Senate, and to engage with influential global private sector organisations for foreign investments and other goodies for the country, one would think every Guyanese would feel elated and proud.

Instead, with predictable suspicion, aspersions of nefarious intent, and downright pettiness, a national MP sees it fit to spend time and resources on what should be a matter for congratulations and cheers, to question this move. How could it possibly be bad for a worldwide lobbying firm to take on Guyana’s interests, and make sure its national interests receive adequate attention in the global corridors of power? Every major country in the world loves to do this, to lobby for its interests worldwide. The world powers even engage their secret service organisations to engage their interests in foreign lands. Every country in the world knows that it is sensible and common sense and a necessary geopolitical exercise to propagate its interests wherever possible. For Guyana to be able to do this today, is a wonderful blessing to the nation, and it signals government’s wisdom and understanding of how the global political playing field works. In fact, such a lobbying would go a long way to secure Guyana’s case at the International Court of Justice in the Venezuela border case. Therefore, for an MP to object to such a thing, well, it boggles one’s mind.

The second news item making the rounds is a dogged persistence in certain sections of the media and among certain oil-and-gas advocates, that Guyana and Exxon Mobil are engaging in nefarious activities that need to be scrapped. Seeming to lack an understanding that Guyana’s oil-and-gas sector is in its infant stage, and that Exxon Mobile came in when there was no discovery yet, that the company had to make serious up-front investments and outlay of drilling capital, these critics would prefer to see the Guyana Government tear up oil-and-gas contracts and shun Exxon Mobil. Such a thing is inconceivable and makes hardly any sense. Yet, it is disseminated daily across national media platforms.

While there must be a structure in place to make sure public officials do not abuse their powers, as Guyana is a full-fledged democracy, one is perplexed and at a loss to see how much criticism the oil- and-gas sector receives. There’s hardly any celebration in these quarters when oil revenue flows into the country’s coffers.
Then, a third news item saw criticism against Minister of Sports and Culture, Charles Ramson Jnr., for disbanding and dissolving the Guyana Cricket Board to bring into effect the cricket administration legislation that was passed under former Sports Minister Dr Frank Anthony. Cricket is Guyana’s national sport, and it is encouraging to see that government is taking a keen interest in beefing up the sport and bringing better administration to its governance.

In cricketing powerhouses around the world – India, England, Australia, New Zealand, the administration of the sport is the central reason for cricket to bring so much pride and joy to the hearts of citizens. Guyana needs strong administration of its national sport. Cricket plays a vital social function in this nation, bringing entertainment, pleasure, and deep satisfaction to Guyanese. Cricket plays a psychological, emotional and unifying role. Therefore, it is important that government does not take a laissez faire attitude to such an important driver of the national well-being. Every Guyanese should be thankful that government is making sure the sport operates in a way that is conducive to that well-being of the nation. Yet, critics show up to question the minister’s actions.

How could Guyana cultivate a national conversation whereby public leaders see the big picture, rather than their own narrow, parochial viewpoints? One solution may be for the state to lay out a structure for a national conversation that points to the big picture, that lays out the direction of the nation, and that paints the picture of Guyana’s brilliant future. The state would do well to sensitise the entire nation, through an engaging, inspiring, inclusive and ongoing national conversation, maybe using the arts and culture scene and media channels, on Guyana’s new horizon.