Guyana moves up on human development index
UNDP Report acknowledges progress by PPP/C in providing nation with a better quality of life
By Hydar Ally
Guyana Chronicle
July 30, 2003
GUYANA continues to make significant progress in terms of human development. According to the latest Human Development Report issued by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Guyana has moved up on the human development index by eleven, moving from 103 last year to 92 this year from the list of 154 countries examined in the Report.
The Report, in a sense, can be seen as an acknowledgement of the progress made by the current People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration in providing a better quality of life for the Guyanese people as measured by a number of basic indicators such as access to quality education, potable water, health services, distribution of house lots and other public goods which have a direct bearing on the standard of living of people, in particular the poor and the marginalised.
The UNDP has, quite justifiably, moved away from the purely statistical indicators such as economic growth rates, per capita income, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Gross Net Product (GNP) growth often used by international agencies, which, though useful, can mask the way in which the benefits of growth are distributed to the population as a whole. It is quite possible, as is the case of so many countries of both the developed and developing world, to have growth without development due to high levels of income disparities.
This is no mean achievement for a poor developing nation such as ours which has had to face up to the challenges of a hostile international environment and a less than favourable domestic political environment.
As I said earlier, the policy of the Government is promoting "development with a human face" is having a positive impact on the socio-economic conditions of the Guyanese people. The fact that our country managed to move up the index ladder when some 30 countries have been downgraded can be seen as a vindication of the enormous efforts of the current administration to pursue people-oriented policies and programmes.
This is how it should be. The goal of development must be to advance the well being of people. People are not merely the instruments of production but, more importantly, the end to which all production must be directed. Any development plan or programme that does not have people at the centre is flawed and therefore cannot be considered a true or genuine development.
This is not to suggest complacency or a let up in the momentum of development. Indeed, the momentum must be accelerated and sustained if we are to safeguard the economic and social gains of the people and to guard against slippages. The key to our continued progress is to raise our productivity levels and to ensure that our products are competitive on the world market. We have to export more so as to generate greater inflows of foreign exchange in order to buy more of the things we cannot produce. By the same token, we have to consume more of the things we produce locally. In a nutshell, we have to break away from the syndrome of consuming what we do not produce.
We have to add to our existing stock of goods and services if we are to distribute more. In other words, the national cake must be enlarged before we can enjoy a bigger slice of it. This means that we have to work together to create wealth for the common good. We have to put aside differences and allegiances, which serve to impede our participation in the process of growth and development. This country belongs to all Guyanese in equal measure regardless of ethnicity or political affiliation. The potential for the creation of wealth is enormous when seen against the background of our economic potential. Few countries of the world are endowed with the resources we have, especially when seen against our population size. Yet, despite the progress made over the years, we still remain a poor country.
I have no doubt that things will get better but the pace and extent of that progress will depend on the extent to which as a people we are prepared to work together. The Government, for its part has demonstrated a willingness to accommodate a policy of inclusion and participatory democracy. This is reflected in the several constitutional and statutory bodies aimed at deepening democracy. There are not many countries in the world in which the opposition is provided with opportunity to monitor and meaningfully participate in the affairs of the state.
We have come a long way since the days of authoritarian and undemocratic rule. Our democracy is still evolving, but we have certainly come a long way since the days of authoritarian rule. Given our history and culture, there are bound to be perceptions of discrimination based on ethnicity and culture. As United Nations Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Racism, Racial Discrimination and Xenophobia, Mr. Dou Diene, correctly observed, there are hopeful signs that recent political developments could go someway in resolving fear and insecurity which has affected the country from realising its full potential over the past decades.
According to Mr. Diene, there is a strong sense of belonging from all ethnic and political groups. He said and I quote, "I strongly believe something new is happening, a new political atmosphere which implies that the political authority recognises their responsibilities in finding solutions."
These are indeed encouraging words, which should serve to inspire hope and confidence. At the end of the day, however, it is we, as individual members of society that will have to make our country a place where all of us can be proud of.
