Guyana Foreign Policy

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Guyana Foreign Policy

Guyana’s foreign policy must be grounded on a sound economic platform.   It is understandable that when one is not sitting in the seat of the presidency, it is difficult to second guess what one will do when faced with issues affecting the nation. However, it should always be at the forefront that a country’s foreign policy is a set of goals outlining how the nation will interact with other countries economically, politically, socially and militarily.

The bottom line is that Guyana has a roving and rolling foreign policy that must be refocused to contribute to the building of a sound economic platform for Guyana. Where do we focus? What countries should we have a stronger relationship with? Where would sound foreign direct investment come from?

Economic platform

Many investors are scared to invest in underdeveloped and unstable political environments.  The Government of Venezuela has seized many private businesses over the last year causing significant loss to those companies. This scares off future investments in countries like Guyana that do not have a friendly investment climate.

It is well known that a shortage of human resources is a constraint in every aspect of life; it is a key reason to professionalize and reform the public service. It is the reason we need a National Science Policy, a vibrant engineering school and a business school at the University of Guyana and enhanced vocational training in carpentry, refrigeration, auto mechanics, welding, etc.

The VG Blueprint notes the need for a radical non-resident Guyanese (NRG) policy to fill this shortage in human resources. We have to see the extended Diaspora as our most important resource base and an extension of the stock of human capital (by the way, the LCDS sees the forests as Guyana’s most important resource).  This is all part of shaping our foreign policy. According to:

Chapter II: Article 14: “The goal of economic development includes the objective of promoting and             encouraging an economic system capable of             achieving and maintaining sustainable competitive             advantage in the context of a             global competitive environment, by fostering entrepreneurship,             individual and             group initiative and creativity, and strategic alliances with domestic and global             business partners in the private sector.”

In this section:

1.    Renewing Guyana’s Purpose

2.    Changing Foreign and Domestic Policies

3.    About Our Neighbours

4.    Lethem

1. Renewing Guyana’s Purpose

VG is committed to protecting all Guyanese from further erosion of its moral fabric by the changing global economic order.  As we open our country, our economies, and our lives to the world like never before, we will be forced to fight harder to hold on to the values that we hold dear, many of the things that we now take for granted.  Fundamental to us taking and holding that place of value in this New Global Order must be reformation of many of our tried and tested institutions and structures.  The way, in which we do business, the way in which we live overall must be altered if we are to stem this tide that seeks to engulf us as a country.

2. Changing  Foreign and  Domestic Policies

One of the weakest links in our system is the lack of a foreign policy agenda which in turn affects the development of our nation. Our current Government has failed to discuss and formulate a plan as to its relationship with the Global Community of Nations.

The VG has proposed that we cooperate and focus on countries which can best become a partner with economic, industrial, social, infrastructural, and financial assistance.

America has chosen a new President, Barack Obama. It was a historical moment and has inspired millions that they too can dream.

Historically, a Democrat in the White House has not focused on developmental programs in countries like Guyana. Most monies are put back into domestic social programs and this will most likely be the case during an Obama Presidency.

During the Clinton (Democrat) tenure, many large companies outsourced jobs to countries like India because of the hefty taxes on medium and large businesses.

Obama’s plan once again preaches this method. Maybe this time around we can try to attract some of those jobs to our country if we streamline the way the government operates when it comes to new investment.

Either way, we must forge a new relationship with the U. S. Administration and lobby for improved trade agreements. As our foreign policy is non-existent, this new goal opens the door for what it should be over the next few years.

We must also focus on our immediate neighbours. Over the years, we have not been able to forge any major relationship with any of our immediate neighbours. Two of our neighbours have claims on our land and one we have ignored for no reason at all except for occasional discussion about the road to Brazil.

3. ABOUT OUR NEIGHBOURS

(a) Brazil: The VG believes in forging stronger ties with Brazil for technical and economic development and trade purposes. As one of the top ten largest economies in the world, and a neighbour, we would like to posit that we create bilateral policies and programmes instead of tapping into the usual resources of the ABCs (America, Britain and Canada).

With the bridge between Brazil and Guyana completed, we should move beyond the sporadic visits by Ministers of the Government for the odd photo opportunity.

We should instead concentrate on partnership industries with Brazil, such as Ethanol production that we have emphasized for over four years. This area can be an export free zone similar to Boa Vista on the Brazilian side.

We must work together today to make these changes to our domestic and foreign policy. The question of financing does arise. This can be done via the utilization of strategies known as Build-Operate-Transfer (BOPT), Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) and Build-Own-Operate (BOO).

For Guyana to transform its economy it has to become a transhipment point for Brazil Cross border development is vital for Guyana’s growth and future economic expansion.

The VG will continue to be a strong believer in the benefits that could be derived from cooperation with Brazil. This type of involvement would be a major pillar in a new Guyana Administration in 2011.The fact is that Brazil exports over $100 billon of its agricultural products to North America and we need to see where we can feed that system. Northern Brazil desperately needs our waterways.

(b) Venezuela: Guyana and Venezuela share the same problem of the lack of reliable electricity supply for their people. Both countries should use this common position to address the issue of a joint hydropower plant. The VG is convinced that the only way forward for Guyana and Venezuela to pursue this kind of venture is that preceding any discussions with this neighbour all claims to our land must be dropped immediately. Then as the Sovereign Nation that we are, concessions should be given to large oil companies to drill in that area.

We should put Venezuela to the test – if they try to come across our borders publicly, it becomes an international issue and then maybe we can again attempt to get this claim resolved

The VG is not opposed to talking to Hugo Chavez on a joint oil development project but it is imperative that we solve this claim on our land once and for all. Eastern Venezuela also desperately needs our waterways.

(c) Suriname: Suriname continues to prove that our defences are weak and it is their way of paying us back for winning a disputed claim and our potential success for oil.

Suriname continues to embarrass us and we continue to fail to respond; we, instead, act like diplomatic infants while Suriname continues its bullying. Once we respond appropriately, we can also attempt joint oil development with this country. The recent incident involving renowned Guyanese Janette Bulkan and the government’s unjust accusations that she should have protested a map by Suriname that includes our territory, demonstrates the pettiness of our leadership.

Additionally, the VG will opt to maximize its efforts for loans and financial aids from rich countries, and will expend its efforts on developing strong economic relationships with globally successful countries, such as Singapore, Malaysia, Dubai –the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, India, and China.

The United States of America: Open markets as per agreements already in place – we cannot let them die.  Given our large non-resident Guyanese (NRG) population we need to cater to their needs with our local products and create bigger markets.

Conclusion

We must be committed to protecting all Guyana from further erosion of its moral fabric by the changing global economic order. As we open our country, our economies, and our lives to the world like never before, we will be forced to fight harder to hold on to the values that we hold dear; many of the things that we now take for granted. Fundamental to us taking and holding that place of value in this new global order must be reformation of many of our tried and tested institutions and structures. The way in which we do business; the way in which we live overall must be altered if we are to stem this tide that seeks to engulf us as a country.

Wayne Forde in a letter to the editor in one of our daily papers said “Changing the economic climate in Guyana requires establishing new markets and bolstering existing ones – retention not loss; growth not retardation, increase not decline but this can only be achieved through new visionary leadership; fresh blood with bold innovative ideas and a clear vision for the future — leadership that will empower and invigorate; unify and harmonize for change we can embrace”.

Foreign policies are designed to help protect countries’ national interest, national security, ideological goals, and economic prosperity.