Dear Editor,
Guyana’s population has gone past the one million people mark. For several decades hitherto, Guyana’s population stagnated due to external migration, mainly to the United States and Canada. Both of these countries have significant Guyanese diaspora, the majority of whom departed the shores of Guyana during the period of PNC authoritarian rule. The so-called ‘push factor’ due to economic and social decline, coupled with political victimization saw thousands of Guyanese leaving the country in search of a better life and the consequential emergence of the so-called ‘greener grass’ syndrome.
One consequence of such situation was a significant brain drain and a depletion of our human capital.
With the return of democratic rule on October 5, 1992 and the election to office of the PPP/C administration the exodus slowed but by then many overseas Guyana were fairly well settled in their adopted homeland and had family and other commitments which rendered it difficult to return to their respective homeland. Many had already ‘sponsored’ close relatives and developed new family networks.
The recent unsure in our population has to be seen in the context of a new dispensation fuelled in large measure by our oil and gas resources which created new opportunities for Guyanese to return home. Many of them have done well economically and have acquired valuable managerial and technical skills.
Guyana is now better positioned to absorb much of the skills and expertise of our Guyanese diaspora. Indeed, there is now a shortage of skilled labour especially in the construction sector. The country is currently experiencing a construction boom, thanks to massive infrastructural works and home construction.
The construction boom has created a labour vacuum which is partially met by migrant labour, the numbers of which have increased exponentially with the past five years. According to the latest census report, the unemployment rate has fallen significantly to a point of near full employment.
These are all positive developments which are impacting not only on our economic growth and competitiveness but also on the social fabric of our society. It is not uncommon to hear a diversity of linguistic expressions at our workplaces and other social gatherings, especially from our growing Hispanic community.
All of this, I wish to submit, augers well for the future of Guyana. As the country embarks on the road to modernization and transformation, the need for human capital will be critical. A growing population is essential in this regard.