I recall, vaguely, that in some one of the Mighty Sparrow's classic calypsoes he warns that we should "examine the horns" because there was/is "A traitor on board". Apparently an unwelcome, subversive (?) agent had infiltrated an innocent group to cause mischief.

Over this weekend some friend will remind me, in more detail, about that old calypso, but even though the analogy might be oblique there is one type of "traitor" in our beleagered society today who is easy to identify and recognise. They are the professional malcontents and mischief makers whose express objectives include fomenting discontent and facilitating protests, Demonstrations and other specific activities that would lend themselves to economic, social and political destabilisation. Turmoil, no matter how "mild," is the name of their game for it is in their long term interest to ensure that the environment is not peaceful or secure wherein development could take place. Perhaps they are really the true traitors who were described by Burnham or his young Turk, faithful lieutenant McDavid as "enemies of the state."

I say to you that in this little old hick town of ours a few of the national destabiliser/traitors are well known and high profile, some of them using the popular media to good subversive effect. They are great rumour mongers who manufacture rumours and half truths to cause widespread anxiety, uncertainty and even chaos. Whether it is a mini bus strike for all the wrong reasons or about the imminent collapse of some bank, they are at work. In may other places, especially in Africa or Latin America, they would be effectively neutralised on a long term basis.

In our town however, we are now either too democratic or too darned scared to move against these high profile destabilisers who cause their well planned and directed havoc. Especially among the more gullible, vulnerable and illiterate amongst us.

But who or what am I going for? Well though I appreciate the well founded criticism of a now laughable prison system; though I realise that no one would really welcome dangerous escaped criminals in our midst (because they strike with deadly, murderous force even at "their own"), I keep asking myself if anyone or group would benefit from the fear filled, destabilising factor of a jailbreak, who would that be?

As well, perhaps I'm being far fetched and overly suspicious of the centrally directed traitors against peace and security who are on board. Many of my doubts and questions are somewhat justified but can't be developed at this time. It won't be prudent or wise to do so.

I, however, invite those with knowledge of these matters or even those with political savvy to contemplate the following: observe how the focus will shift from the murderous convicts to the other factors which, though relevant, distract and deflect from the primary business at hand their recapture. There are commentators and critics who, seemingly, benefit from leaks from the police and elsewhere, thereby thwarting or delaying efforts at re capture. But more on all this at the right time.

Guyana: Ready for Business?

I've decided to offer Mr Christopher Ram and his accounting firm a 99% apology. I did not contact him, as I promised myself and editor before rushing this to press. So the apology is in order.

There is no other credible group conducting the type of business survey as Ram's December Business Outlook Survey 2002, with its plunging graph. Ram's mix and spread of companies the respondents is therefore his very own. The integrity and sincerity of the response of those polled could not be questioned. The problem a few of us have with the survey is that an over whelming percentage of the respondents are really domestic companies which concentrate on the local markets and are not at all export oriented. Issues such as local market to absorb the goods and services must therefore be of concern to those respondents. But the economy has to become export oriented to grow.

I sat with an objective government type gentleman versed in these matters who has found the 2002 survey to be most useful to both those in the private and public sectors. It cannot be at all discredited, but we agreed that the emphases the predictions of gloom were unfortunate. It might not be fair even to the respondents themselves. Whilst they may not be as contradictory as they seem, a few significant examples tend to preplex, if not be purely positive.

For example we are told that: thirteen of the 43 companies polled indicate that staff levels will grow in 2002 and 19 anticipate no change in 2002 staff levels. This translates to 75% anticipating no decrease; "despite their gloomy outlook...for 2002, 83% of the 43 companies indicate that they expect their companies' profitability to increase; despite the gloomy outlook too, 17 respondents (39.5%) still foresee an increase in the size of their operations and 22 (51.1%) are not planning to change the size; that's 80% not expecting the worst.

There are many other instances of hope and confidence by the business people who responded, but these were overwhelmed by the more dire predictions. A question of emphases? Are we therefore really ready for any successful business? Check the following item.

Investment: hope springs eternal!

Want some good news? Well for starters, Stabroek News supports organic agriculture. The European Union has given DDL $2.2B as a grant to be used in regaining its rum markets or capturing new ones. A miniature Milk Pasteurisation Plant has been launched on the East Coast of Demerara and Dynamic Engineering Company (DEC) is planning to take full scale electricity to Mahdia and Tumaturmari.

As I did when aligned to the PNC, I became cynical at these, announcements. Will they fructify? Or last the course? Another government official in the know about actual investments and their prospects, encouraged me to "print more actual solid good news on the investment front." I promised.

So do you all know that Guyana is now the fourth largest supplier of frozen peeled shrimp, to the USA, by volume? We are!

Pritipaul Singh investments is expanding its shrimp processing. Canning is to come on stream. DIDCO now has the most modern poultry complex in the Caribbean with pens that stretch one city block in length. Variety Woods is set to produce new special wood products in Berbice. The airy fairy Yarrowbabra Glass Factory is set to produce wood shingles. Sanata Textiles has employed 100, invested another $9M US and is off and running. Call Centres are guaranteed for Essequibo, Linden, two for Berbice and another for the East Coast. Minister of Housing Baksh knows that contractors from Brazil and Guadeloupe are here right now to build houses and a PNC friend of mine and his West Indian buddy are already manufacturing special soaps in South Ruimveldt for niche markets in Europe and West Africa!

All cannot be lost!

Parting shots...
1) Don't dismiss all that Ravi Dev says, disparagingly, about certain aspects of Mashramani.
2) How are we coming along with the Poverty Reduction Programme?
3) Next week: Local Government Elections What to look for and ACDA's new school.
4) What do these persons have in common: Henry Jeffrey, Odinga Lumumba, Hamilton Green, Hilton Quan, Robert Williams, T. Anson Sancho, Philip Bynoe, Gwen Mc Gowan, Uhlan Leander? No not Dr Ken King, PM Clem or me.
5) Two wishes I have: that Stabroek's Editorial writers help plan Guyana's foreign policy and Tony Cozier administer or play cricket for the West Indies.