I
belong to a generation that, like generations
before, hopes for a better Guyana. Having learned
the lessons of the past, we can foresee within the
span of the next decade and beyond, Guyana has the
potential of becoming a united, productive,
innovative and prosperous nation, free of ethnic
strife and built upon the foundations of freedom,
faith, self-reliance, and accountability. Working
together, all of us can build a disciplined, caring
society, one in which every citizen has an equal
opportunity to achieve their fullest potential.
But
to reach our goals, we must have optimism, courage,
and the commitment to on-going effort even in the
face of frustration and setbacks. Most of all, we
must have the certitude that can raise the fortunes
of our land.
I
recall how, when I was a child, my
dad
left a promising career and brought the whole family
to the Essequibo and the Pomeroon, where he worked
among the native Amerindians. The region was
beautiful, but I remember days of no running water
or electricity, brushing our teeth with black sage,
and with a bicycle as our only means of
transportation. My dad worked hard and dedicated his
life to the cause of making a better life for
others, and he passed that dedication on to me.
Today, I am determined to carry his spirit forward
and to work toward helping Guyanese achieve a better
life. My father dreamed of healing “the land of six
peoples,” and I mean to keep that dream alive and to
make it a reality. From my parents, I learned the
two great commandments set forth in the scriptures:
to love God with all our hearts, souls and minds,
and to love our neighbours as ourselves.
I
lived in Guyana for the first eighteen years of my
life, where I served in the Cadet Corps of the
Guyana National Service, and learned how to reach
across racial lines, how to overcome prejudice and
work among all races, and there I learned how to
lead. I then went to the United States and Europe,
and I served in the Middle East during the first
Gulf War as a military officer. During those years,
I was exposed to the global economy and successfully
participated in it. With God’s grace and the help
of family and friends, I’ve been able to build many
businesses and learn much about the way successful
economies are built. In 2000, I returned to Guyana
with the intent of contributing to its political
welfare. Back here at home, I am filled with a
passion to contribute to all phases of Guyana’s
development.
All
of us can join this effort. In Guyana, political and
ethnic tensions divide Indo- and Afro-Guyanese. But
in all my meetings with Guyanese around the world, I
never encountered any racism or prejudice. We
embrace at airports, talk about where we are from
and the friends we have in common. Despite our
surface differences, we are all Guyanese, brothers
and sisters who can achieve the dream of living
together in harmony.
That dream that has led me to write this book, a
book that sets forth my vision for a united,
prosperous Guyana. Many of the thoughts and ideas
presented here are my own–some adopted from my 2000
Manifesto for the People’s Unity Party (PUP), which
was merged into the REFORM Agenda for Change. Many
of you who read this book may not have had access to
World Bank Reports, or be privy to the details of
the Guyana 21 plan and the National Development
Strategy. I have integrated many of their
suggestions into this book as well, in order to
present a comprehensive plan that can turn Guyana
into a nation of hope and prosperity. The common
denominator of all the proposals is the recognition
that we must work together, crossing party lines and
social barriers, in order to construct an integrated
and multi-faceted policy agenda that deals with the
needs of the nation in a sustainable and holistic
manner.
I
call on each and every Guyanese citizen to join this
effort, regardless of your political convictions. We
can surely accomplish miracles. The only question
is: Do we have the courage to do so? I am ready to
step forward and be counted. What about you?
Please join me in this true adventure of a lifetime:
to remake our nation for the good of all of us and
the good of our children.
Peter Ramsaroop, MBA
A
Proud Guyanese
