Very real progress
Editorial
Guyana Chronicle
October 14, 2003
The "doubting Thomases" in our society apparently avoid ingesting the realities of progress they can see if only they would look directly at the facts and open their eyes instead of casting them downwards.
In this year alone, Guyana has shown in no uncertain terms that very real progress has been made, despite the blocks and uncertainties of the beginning and the many efforts to halt the way forward during the period 1992 - 2003.
Despite the almost yearly manifestations of violence since 1997 and the many efforts to sabotage progress, it is remarkable that real progress, recognized by the international community, has been made.
Year after year United Nations Human Development Reports have shown steady progress in reducing infant and maternal deaths, one of the true indicators of the state of a nation as far as its people are concerned. We have indeed made progress in this area of human development.
This year's report has also shown a significant shift in Guyana's international position as regards progress in human development. We have moved from 103 to 92, quite an achievement and one that should open the eyes of our doomsayers.
Guyana has also moved ahead in an area that shows impressive human development. The Water Poverty Index developed by Britain's Centre for Ecology and Hydrology lists Guyana 5th among 147 countries in the provision of fresh drinking water and sanitation services.
The provision of safe drinking water and adequate sanitation is recognized as vital services that also affect child mortality, poverty and hunger as well as the development of women.
And just a few days ago a report made public by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) states in the Performance Index section that direct foreign investments accounted for 7.5% of Guyana's Domestic Product. Guyana now ranks 17th in the world for inflows of direct foreign investments compared to 58th in the 1988 - 1990 period.
This means that Guyana averaged US$53M per year between 1991 - 2002. These investments were concentrated in information and communications technology, mining, wood, processed food and the services sector.
We are reminded of complaints made by the then Vice President of the USA, John Adams, who in 1793, making a similar complaint that their achievements were un-acclaimed, referred to the "sour, angry, peevish, fretful, lying paragraphs which assail it on every side." So, it's nothing new for a government's achievements to go unheralded.