Sixty (60) years ago, on May 26, 1966, Guyana achieved independence from its colonial ruler Britain, chartering the course for self-governance and determination of its own future development and that of its peoples. This meant that, as of that date, sovereignty of the Country was in the hands of the people. Guyana continued to recognize the British Monarchy under Queen Elizabeth II as the ceremonial “Head of State,” until February 23, 1970, when the Country became a Cooperative Republic.
One would have thought that the fanfare that followed would have represented the upliftment of the Country and its peoples, not only from a state of dependence, but also to unveil the creativity and innovation of a people, emerging from the pangs of slavery and indentureship and with the Almighty’s blessings of enormous natural resources within the bounty of its lands. On the day Independence was declared, the observing masses would have destroyed any hapless critic, who may have mistakenly alluded to possibilities of impending developmental seizures or prolonged poverty. Such negative outcomes were unimaginable, because the 83,000 square miles of territory that was occupied by the initial approximation of 648,646 people, offered so much per capita.
Notwithstanding this remarkable ratio, and the purported innovations by Governments over the 60 years of nationhood, the population of the country seems irreversibly buried in the morass of poverty, as the Country’s vast wealth was squandered by poor political decision making, mismanagement and corruption. Irrespective of what went wrong, the major underlying factor of “Unity,” which was meant to be achieved through the nation’s belief in the national motto of “One People, One Nation, One Destiny,” was noticeably absent mainly because of politically driven divisions and partisan greed.
The deep-seated divisions did not escape the international community, which in their own self-interest engineered economic obstacles to Guyana’s profitability, in almost all major indigenous exports, such as, sugar, rice, and bauxite. Balance of payments became unstable, leading to foreign currency shortages (a situation that still persists) and for which the nation was asked to forego costly and unnecessary imports and to find or plant economic alternatives. The nation rebelled under persistent opposition political goading and was eventually faced with severe currency devaluations. There were the state managed devaluations in the 1970’s, beginning with the pegging of the United States dollar at G$2.55 to US$1, and then to G$33 to US$1 in 1989 and later to G$100 to US$1 in 1991. The rate stabilized in 1996 at G$140 to US$1, and from 2010 onward the rate has consistently slipped to G$210 to US$1. The exchange rate now totters between G$230 and G$240 to US$1, even though significant gold and oil deposits were tapped and related revenues have transformed Guyana into one of “the fastest growing” economies.
It is clear Guyana is in the middle of an economic conundrum, where foreign exchange earnings have gone up significantly, as is the foreign debt and its currency has become more unstable as are the real wages per capita. This is a remarkable story that would bring tears to future generations, who would question the current stewardship.
Over the 60 years of our “independence,” which we now eagerly seek to celebrate, the nation was separated from some economic forms of transportation that facilitated internal and external travel, viz.
· Our iconic railway that was put into operation since 1848, as a first in South America, was dismantled in stages and officially closed in 1972.
· The Government controlled interconnected bus system that provided safe and reasonable transportation within the Country was dismantled in the late 1970’s because of the high cost associated with maintaining the buses.
· The Guyana Airways Corporation that served domestic destinations in Guyana, such as, Annai, Bartica, Bemichi, Ekereku, Imbaimadai, Kamarang, Kurupung, Lethem, Mabaruma, Mahdia, and Matthews Ridge, together with the international destinations of Bridgetown, Barbados, Boa Vista, Miami, New York City, Paramaribo, and Port of Spain. This Corporation became bankrupt in June 1999 and its assets used to form a successor carrier called Guyana Airways 2000, which operated for a short time before also going bankrupt and shutting down in May 2001.
The fallout of all these closures required citizens to pay considerably more to travel, whether to secure new work opportunities or recreational purposes. Many Guyanese who live on the coastland have never had the opportunity to traverse the hinterlands due to the significant transportation costs. It is cheaper to visit some Caribbean destinations than to visit some parts of Guyana.
While natives of this beautiful land Guyana wrestled daily for survival over the sixty (60) years of “independence,” a few political elites, together with their families, friends and cronies became inexplicably rich, powerful and oligarchic. As if that was not enough, natives found that their livelihoods were being transferred to foreign interests, engaged in the supply sector and other areas such as, construction, mining and the production of government services. The bauxite industry was scuttled by Government and handed to foreign investors, with little labour, environmental and other protections or checks and balances that would guarantee accurate payments of royalties.
Amid all the chaos, the people languish and scramble for a livelihood and exchange rates grow unexplainably higher, amid an eerie silence from Public Information sources, where anything questioned is not answered and nothing is garnered if not questioned, but Parliamentary appropriations and payments from the Peoples’ coffers are guaranteed without redress.
The workers thrust to achieve a living wage seems even more elusive considering the economic downturns since independence and the failure of Governments to seriously address the declining purchasing power of the masses. It is more significant to note that the diaspora in the USA alone remitted approximately US$550M in support to family units in 2025, which points to a growing mendicancy, countrywide. This is particularly troubling when it is considered that country’s overall growth rate was estimated at 19.3 percent, following the payment of a miniscule 8 percent to Public Service Workers. How independent could we be, if we are dependent on persons in the worldwide diaspora to survive?
Remarkably, the pervasive unity seemed unshaken when Venezuela’s challenge for two-thirds of Guyana’s territory was aired to all and amid the furor and excitement, majority consensus was clear. Haplessly, for political power it seems that the majority believes that only majority must rule, whether it brings more nonsense than sense, in our Country’s defense. So foreign firms in the guise of investments present plans to the unwise and wins favour for development of themselves, their shareholders and ultimately their countries, much to the exclusion of Guyana that is forever condemned to lose, irrespective of who the Government may choose.
The reality is that as a nation there is enormous potential and coupled with the existing natural resources the Country has the potential to succeed. If however the existing disunity is arrested and wasted energies redirected, Guyana as a nation would be unstoppable.
May the Almighty bless the patience of Guyana’s people, and may much wisdom be granted to them, as they choose future leaders worthy of the challenges they are to face in the future. May the Almighty also guide the nation to the path of unity, so that as one we can withstand the trials and tribulations ahead. As an independent nation, let us take a unified stance towards the rooting out systemic corruption and put Guyana on a path to recovery before it is too late.
With a new beginning in mind, I would like to extend best wishes to my Countrymen and Women on this 60th Independence Anniversary, on behalf of the Executive Council, Members, and Staff of the Guyana Public Service Union. Together we must aspire to achieve a future in unity, working and living together in love and harmony.
