Economic Growth Must Improve People’s Lives

Dear Hon. Minister Dr. Singh,

Guyana stands at a historic moment. Our GROWTH  in OIL and GAS has placed GUYANA on the GLOBAL map, and the QUARTERLY GDP figures rightly inspire pride.

But GDP alone cannot tell us if a mother in Region 5 can feed her children, if a young graduate in Region 10 can afford a home, or if the air, rivers, and forests our children will inherit are being protected.

To truly LEAD as the FASTEST DEVELOPING Country , we MUST MEASURE  what matters to PEOPLE LIVES..

With ALL DUE RESPECT, do Respectfully urge YOU and the Government of Guyana to Adopt and Publish a QUARTERLY  “Beyond GDP” Well-being Dashboard alongside GDP. This dashboard should include the Human Development Index (HDI), a Cost-of-Living Index, and an Environmental Sustainability Indicator.

Countries like New Zealand, Scotland, Bhutan, and Iceland now use well-being budgets because they learned that GDP COULD RISE  while people’s LIVES STAGNATE. We have the chance to build it right from the start.

Cost-of-Living Reality: HDI and a localised Cost-of-Living Index will show if wage growth, housing, and food prices are keeping pace with oil revenues.

People Before Barrels: The HDI tracks Health, Education, and Income. It ensures oil wealth translates into classrooms, clinics, and skills — not just barrels.

Protect Our Future: An environmental indicator safeguards our Low Carbon Development Strategy, forests, and fisheries — our long-term economic base.

Global Leadership & Investment: Investors and development partners are shifting capital to countries that prove they manage growth responsibly. A well-being dashboard signals that Guyana is a stable, forward-thinking destination.

We do not ask to replace GDP. We ask to complete the picture. Publish it quarterly, make it public, and let Guyanese see how policy decisions affect their daily lives.

Guyana can be the FIRST major OIL PRODUCER to say: “We will not repeat the mistakes of the past. We will grow, and we will grow well.”

GLOBAL ECONOMIC MODELS:  YES to Singapore, Doha, and Dubai. NO, NO, NO, to Angola 2.0

 We stand ready, along with many Guyanese Professionals AT HOME and in the DIASPORA, to support the Technical Design of this DASHBOARD for TRANSPARENCIES.

For the Prosperity and Well-Being of all Guyanese, Now and for Generations to come.

Yours truly,

Dr. Shamir Andrew Ally