Rodway’s “arduous labour” was enslaved. Conceived by Dutch colonists with sea defenses expertise, this indispensable structure remains just that! Physical infrastructure requires cash or ability to mobilize capital plus effective technology. Here’s a cautionary note regarding technology.

An arrogant ‘can-do’ spirit exists amongst some who believe human capacity to create physical infrastructure defeats nature. This notion of ‘defeating nature’ is misplaced. A complex issue, it cannot be fully explored here. Suffice it to say, nature shall always win. We should cooperate with nature as the raptor does, gliding on an air current or updraft, rather than try to overpower elements of the natural world. Doing otherwise is futile! In the video below an enterprising young Guyanese highlights the issue:

The Ministry of Public Infrastructure continuously highlights destructive Spring tide flooding. Georgetown, coastal and riverain communities are vulnerable. Consider this 2011 image of the Sea Wall in disarray. Reconstruction work has been done.

Part of the Sea Wall in disarray. © 2011 Wilberne Persaud

Was this neglect, no funds? Was it both? Perhaps we need not answer that, for with the turmoil surrounding the recent elections over, one primary order of business is restoration and creation of infrastructure. The good news: hitherto unimaginable wealth creation is today’s possibility. Discovery and initial activities surrounding offshore oil production present true potential.

Billions in oil revenue should fund innovative infrastructure renewal and development. Among priorities: economic diversification, providing the population greater opportunities, increased trade with neighbours alongside connecting hinterland communities. Additionally, two bold thrusts for progress include relocation of the capital city and encouraging both return and new inbound migration. These are bold but not altogether new ideas. Stemming the migration brain drain and achieving critical population mass are obviously beneficial prerequisites for true development.

How achieve these? Apart from immediacy of reducing poverty impacts, transportation is a good beginning—roads, river bridges. Buses, commercial trucks and private motor vehicles in urban areas compete for space along continuously over-crowded thoroughfares. Public passenger transportation is indeed hazardous—much of it unsafe, operating entirely contrary to official regulations. For the ‘Interior’ as it is called, benign neglect is perhaps the only accurate description: see Parika Ferry Stelling below.

Transport and Harbours, Dept. Parika Ferry Stelling. © 2011 Wilberne Persaud

Transportation for commerce and developmental projects is also a drag. Yet the citizenry soldiers on in pursuit of a hard-to-win worthwhile life.

Yet the citizenry soldiers on in their pursuit of a hard to win worthwhile life. © 2011 Wilberne Persaud

Additionally, the change required is not merely maintenance and modernization of physical infrastructure! The conception of infrastructure we contemplate is a holistic one. It encompasses all the cooperating social and economic elements required for creation and maintenance of a fully functioning society in our world of rapid technological change.

This requires attention to all those activities which, often relegated to ‘Social Sector’, take second place. Institutional strengthening is a must. Electoral reform, Health, Education among others all need urgent attention. Fact is, precious little economic activity can truly be sustained by an unhealthy or uneducated population. Foreign language learning, precluded by our ‘British heritage’, today—despite GOOGLE translate—makes Spanish and Portuguese mandatory in school and necessary for effective engagement with our neighbours.   

Finally, abandonment of Winner-Take-All politics must accompany avoiding the dreaded Dutch disease, corruption and wanton misuse of windfall riches. We discuss these in future columns.

Wilberne Persaud, October 14^th 2020.

[i] Rodway’s work “A History of British Guiana, from 1668 To The Present Time, in three volumes (1891–1894)” is considered a seminal literary history of British Guiana. He was permitted by then Governor Bruce, access to both Dutch and British records. These records, translated from testimony and accounts created by the colony's former Dutch administration and Planters allowed his perceived accuracy.