During a recent trip to Ghana, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo said that Guyana, with its small population and limited labour force, would reach full employment soon. He said that Guyana would have to consider an active immigration policy. In August 2016, in an article entitled “Guyana’s future as an oil producer,” I wrote as follows: […]
Author Archives: Ralph Ramkarran
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO ELECTIONS’ LAW WOEFULLY INADEQUATE
The amendments to the elections’ laws proposed by the Government through the Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill are woefully inadequate. They are limited to the following: imposing higher penalties for elections’ offences; creating new elections’ offences with high penalties; adumbrating a new structure for District (Region) 4; and establishing new offices for District 4. […]
THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM
“Justice in not a cloistered virtue; she must be allowed to suffer scrutiny and respectful, even though outspoken, comments by ordinary men.” So said Lord Atkin, one of the last century’s greatest judges, in 1936. Since then, followed by other such statements by Lord Denning and others, criticisms of court decisions is normal, except that […]
WHY GUYANA’S ECONOMY BEEN IN SHACKLES SINCE COLONIAL TIMES
Guyana’s is and has always been a primary producer. During its years of Independence, although there was some economic growth, Guyana was unable to significantly diversify its economy by, firstly, adding value to what it produced and, secondly, advancing the process of industrialisation. Apart from political instability and consequential factors, the absence of an adequate […]
JUDICIALIZATION OF POLITICS IN GUYANA
The fundamental political problem in Guyana, as has been repeatedly emphasized in these columns and by others over the years, is the struggle for ethno-political dominance. It has long been recognized by most observers, and even by the two main political parties themselves, reflected at one time or another in their policy and manifesto promises. […]