Chapter 4:

Taking the Side of Innovation:

 Technology

Rain ah fall ah roof yuh put barrel fuh ketch am.

(Take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way.)

            Guyanese proverb

Overview

echnology is the genie of the twenty-first century. With it, we perform wonders. Without it, we are stranded in a barren desert. For Guyana to emerge from the stigma of being a backward republic, it must welcome technology and master it. 

This topic is dear to my heart, as technology was one of the major focuses of my Master’s Degree, and I have served as Chief Technology Officer for many large organisations.   In that capacity, I have experienced first-hand how technology has radically changed the way we work, making us more efficient. I am saddened when I go to a Guyanese store and see the clerk writing down every item on a piece of paper, or when I visit a government office and see the massive amount of paper that is generated.

The introduction of modern technology is one of the most important and radical changes that we must inculcate in Guyana. And we must take the shortest period of time possible to do so. Unfortunately, there is still a great deal of resistance to such change, as became during CelStar’s failed attempt to implement new cellular service with advanced features. And I remember just a few years ago offering the Ministry of Health and Georgetown Hospital an almost free computer application that could automate their medical records and coding systems.  But, whether for political motives or just plain lack of understanding, the bureaucracy did not pursue this opportunity, and so it was never adopted.

My technology company in Washington, D.C. (EVOLVENT Inc.) serves many United States government agencies.  Our team has modernised many critical functions within the government, and the lessons learned from these experiences can be applied to many of Guyana’s institutions, such as Land & Surveys, the Tax System, HealthCare Management and many others.

Ours is the age of communication, and technology is its necessary vehicle.  Without technology, no nation can communicate or effectively compete with other nations and business entities.  Technology eradicates distance and the limitations of place. In the virtual realm of technology, whether you are in a high-rise in Buenos Aires or a shanty in Skeldon makes no difference. Technology is the great leveller of communication, where all meet on an equal footing.  But those who cannot meet in that virtual cyber-space are doomed to insignificance.

Of course, technology means much more than just communications. Technology has revolutionized every human activity: agriculture, health care or transportation systems, and so forth.

Guyana cannot afford to let the technology revolution pass it by. We must use technology to bring Guyana into the global community.

To this end, we must immediately initiate a radical improvement of our technological infrastructure and education, extending technology across the nation, including its rural communities. In doing so, we will provide fresh opportunity for communities and individuals.

Because technology is such a powerful resource, it must be made available to all Guyanese citizens. This is vital to our ability to correct disparities and promote the welfare of all Guyanese citizens.

The ultimate result will be measurable improvement in trade, education, agriculture, health and the environment.

But there is a caveat. Technology in and of itself will not solve Guyana’s problems.  That is attendant upon change in Guyana’s political culture. Only with such change will we attain the environment necessary to promote success: an environment that encourages hard-working entrepreneurs, promotes innovation, rewards risk-taking and provides equal opportunity.

Independence and self-sufficiency must be essential components of the new political culture.  This is because wealth is created not by the government but by the people as they employ creativity, enterprise and risk-taking. Good government merely creates an environment where businesses, entrepreneurs and families can flourish.

In such an environment of good government, technology will propel us into commerce and exchange with the world, giving us access to the great wealth flowing amongst nations and businesses.

 

Guyana’s State of Technology

uyana’s present state of technological development is rudimentary. In the realm of communications, for instance, although local and long-distance telephone and telegraph service are available throughout the settled coastal area, they are not available in the interior.

Nevertheless, our telecommunications infrastructure as it exists now is sufficient to support the further development of information and communication technologies.

However, this must evolve in tandem with another great shift in Guyana’s economic development.  Guyana’s economy has traditionally relied upon primary products and linked services.  For instance, almost all net foreign investment in Guyana—averaging US$50 million per year—has gone into mining. This economy must be replaced with a new stress on manufacturing, tourism and other high-value services—chief among them, those dependent upon modern technologies.

When we look at countries in Central America and the Caribbean that have experienced rapid growth over the past two decades—such as El Salvador—we see that they have engaged in diversified economic activity, moving from primary goods towards manufacturing and other high-value services.  As these countries diversify, they attract foreign investment, creating an on-going cycle of prosperity.

Guyana must travel the same route. The development of its technology is a necessary condition but not in and of itself sufficient. And so, Guyana must do more than develop its framework for a shift into modern technologies. It must also take on the policies of free enterprise and economic diversification.  Then this small country, a backwater among nations, can become a significant and powerful participant in the global economy.

The Challenges

uilding a modern technological framework will not be easy. Two major barriers stand in our way.

The first is cost. Updating current systems will be expensive. Related to that, it will be exceedingly difficult to attract foreign investment (even as Guyana diversifies its economy) if a number of problems that Guyana faces are not tempered: political divisiveness bordering on violence, lawlessness, and continuing policy restraints upon the private sector.

Secondly, Guyana must improve the manner in which it has been privatizing state-owned enterprises. Until now this privatization has not been integrated with adequate regulatory mechanisms to ensure competitive practices, resulting in the formation of monopolies. In the case of telecommunications, the new monopoly has raised costs, put obstacles in the way of developing wireless technology and made the introduction of Internet services difficult.

Modern technology cannot fit into an otherwise backward country. All of Guyana must move forward together: governance, economy, reform.  We have the potential that we need.  Now it is necessary is to activate Guyana’s will and intellectual power. Although this is not easy, it can be done.  Indeed, because there is no reasonable alternative, it must be done.

Goals

espite the many challenges that lie ahead, we must commit ourselves to a Guyana that will enter the twenty-first century, engaging in diversified business activities that are heavily biased toward modern technology.

The following presents, in brief outline form, the many changes and improvements that Guyana must make in order to step into the league of twenty-first century nations.

 

Infrastructure

 

!          Open Guyana’s Information Infrastructure to Competitive Forces

"          We must initiate structural reform by attacking the present monopolistic system that stifles reform and growth.

"          We must allow competition in this area or at the very least introduce regulations that will facilitate Guyana’s access to modern telecommunications technology.

 

!          Introduce Wireless Capabilities

"          Develop blueprint to inaugurate wireless capabilities in rural areas.

"          Wireless capabilities must be expanded throughout Guyana.

 

The Global Economy

 

!          Create an Integrated Approach to Entering the World Market

"          Think of attaining world-class telecommunications capability within the context of entering the world market, and thus as part of an overall strategy involving improved electric power, and road, port and air facilities.

 

!          Encourage Investment

"          Increase connectivity and access in order to attract multilateral aid.

"          To motivate private sector investment, improve a galaxy of factors, including inclusive political development, internal security, macro-economic stability and structural reform.

 

!          Create an Export Processing Zone

"          Create an export-processing zone to stimulate the development of an entirely new brand of entrepreneur in Guyana and to create thousands of new jobs.

"          Demonstrate our commitment to increasing and broadening the foreign direct investment base by establishing export processing zones or free trade zones, which can facilitate diversification and export growth, and expedite reforms to catalyse country-wide reform.

 

!          Create an Informatics Park

"          Establish an informatics park in order to compete with and complement other developing countries that have established call centre and back-office processing services.   Attract major players such as Dell, Microsoft and others that are currently outsourcing to India.  Many of them do not even know we speak English much better than those in India.  Imagine that!

 

!          Use Foreign Investment to Upgrade Technology. This is in line with the observation in the World Bank’s 2003 report on Guyana that “numerous studies show that foreign direct investment plays a key role in fostering economic diversification and integrating countries into the global marketplace. Moreover, developing nations that have utilized global economic integration to foster structural change and sustained rapid economic growth have had the best track record in reducing poverty.”

"          Use foreign direct investment to create links between Guyana and more developed markets, import technology and know-how, and improve management and productivity.

"          Institute special promotional measures, private-public partnerships in areas such as export processing zones or informatics parks, and make a long-term commitment to establishing infrastructure connectivity with Brazil and Venezuela.

"          As private investment increases, downsize and professionalize the public sector, with pay linked to performance measured according to well-defined program outcomes;

"          Introduce a more modern budgeting and debt management system.

"          Build the foundation of a commercial legal framework on the basis of an effective first-tier system of dispute resolution.

 

The Private Sector

 

!          Initiate Public-Private Partnership

"          To reduce costs and ensure the efficient delivery and management of strategic assets, consider some measure of public-private partnership.

"          Develop tax schemes to encourage training, skills development and the location of technology companies in Guyana

"          Provide incentives for private sector to offer technical training, and participate in internship schemes with the local technical training schools referenced earlier.

 

!          Support Innovation

"          Provide the private sector with incentives for innovation.

"          Provide grants and other assistance to technology innovation in key areas for development such as value-added agricultural products and an emerging manufacturing sector.

"          Institute National Innovation Competitions in key areas of research and development to encourage the youth of Guyana to dream about the possibilities of their nation, and develop the practical ideas to make those dreams reality.

 

Technology in Traditional Fields

 

!          Utilize Modern Technology for Agricultural Growth

"          Use modern technology to help grow Guyana’s fruits, vegetables and other crops (in addition to its rice and sugar, whose marketable potential is at present depressed).

"          Implement automated crop forecasting tools

"          Promote the use of genetic engineering to develop seeds and plants that can grow in sub-optimal soil conditions.

"          Use modern technology to build the next generation of Guyanese businesses through the innovative development of products built from agricultural derivatives.

 

!          Utilize Modern Telecommunications for Improved Health Care

"          Increase the use of tele-health in rural areas, such as tele-radiology, tele-laboratory and tele-consultation.

"          Provide telecommunications and technology capabilities throughout the country to support the use of electronic, lifetime clinical patient records thus improving health care for all Guyanese.

 

Information Transfer

 

!          Expand Internet Access

"          Expand Internet access in personal and business transactions.

"          Provide clear, strong leadership to integrate information technology into the business of government.

"          Establish high-speed Internet capabilities to increase business transactions.

"          Use technology to streamline government financial services.

"          Develop new markets in electronic commerce (e-commerce).

 

!          Use Modern Technology for the Secure Transmission of Information

"          Ensure the highest level of security for the confidential transfer of critical information.

"          Increase the use of technology in trade to make it possible for producers, exporters, and consumers to easily learn about each other’s products, product quality, cost, and supply and demand capabilities.

"          Use technology extensively for taxes, licenses, and health records.

 

!          Initiate Skills-Training Programs

"          Install satellite-based distance education learning in areas currently not reached by the education system.

"          Maintain a workforce prepared to seize the opportunities of the new economy.

"          Provide training and technical assistance in information technology to governmental and private sector entities.

 

A Word of Warning

As stated above, it is imperative that we bring Guyana into the twenty-first century. The necessary new technology will change Guyana’s economic standing radically, and this will accrue to the benefit of every Guyanese citizen.

At the same time, we must maintain our Guyanese culture and way of life, which are so precious to us. As we welcome greater participation with other nations and overseas businesses, we run the risk that Guyana’s unique culture will be overrun by that of others.  Therefore, we must exercise great caution. In the coming years, it may even be necessary to pass legislation that will limit the extent to which outside cultures affect Guyana—for instance, a limitation or even a ban on certain international fast food franchises.

We must maintain a holistic approach, working for Guyana’s best interests in all areas. We dare not succumb to the temptation of financial gain at the cost of our national character, yet we dare not succumb to narrow interests that would hold us back.  The future prosperity and hope we long for are within our grasp—but we must always hold to our heritage with honour and respect.