Dear Editor,
The media has reported that the Contractor for the East Bank/East Coast Highway road development has recruited some sixty truck drivers since he claims that he cannot find truck drivers locally. I find this revelation worrisome and demonstrates lack of planning and the implementation of an overall development strategy.
If this is true, it is a serious indictment against a government claiming to have an interest in and concern for citizens of our country. The government agencies responsible for planning and overall development of what we are told and very well believe that Guyana is the fastest growing economy in the world.
Below points to what any sane, sensible government should have done and can still do.
One, over a year ago, the Head of State announced that they had run short of certain skills, artisans, tradesmen, craftsmen, mechanics, machine operators, etc. Immediately we should have either introduced a modified National Service, which would have served two purposes to bring together our young people from every region in Guyana to mix, meddle and learn of our history allowing them to dispel prejudices that exists, post and pre-independence and to make the concept that we are one people, one nation with one destiny a reality.
All the while giving them the skills necessary to push ahead our goals for development.
Second, with information gathered from the Private Sector, Ministries of Education and Labour to produce the list of skills required for the next stage of national development.
This could very well result in putting a temporary halt to this massive infrastructural building programme ie. bridges, roads, buildings etc, until we have in place the necessary management, materials and manpower to forge ahead with a building programme.
The reason why we have so much bad work is the lack of the three Ms, Management, Materials and Manpower.
The training of these skills is not rocket science and should be a national priority supported by the government, the Opposition, and all Patriarchs.
May I add this caveat, when the announcement was made that the Contractors are importing skills, it would have been comforting that if at the same time a Statement was made, that the government and the Contractors had explored recruitment from Caricom countries including Haiti and Guyanese in the diaspora.
Of course, we are yet to be told who these aliens are and whether they are being paid and given similar conditions of employment to our people.
Hamilton Green
Elder
