Copyright stabroeknews
Dear Editor, The recent remarks by Saipem Guyana Inc.’s supply chain manager, Diego Vicke, inviting investors to “come make Guyana your playground,” carry despicable undertones that must not go unchallenged. Such language, whether intended or not, evokes imagery of foreign interests treating Guyana’s rich patrimony as a mere opportunity for amusement and exploitation. This is a sentiment that, if left unchecked, risks alienating citizens and undermining the integrity of our nation’s development. Citizens’ wariness toward foreign investors is not unfounded. Too often, locals have observed the red carpet being rolled out for multinational corporations and foreign investors, while their own aspirations and entrepreneurial ventures are sidelined. The perception that our natural resources and opportunities are being handed over as “playthings” to outsiders only deepens this divide. These are not simply matters of optics, but of genuine, lived experience—a feeling of being relegated to the sidelines in one’s own country, reflecting shades of our sordid colonial past, very disdainful and disrespectful . Reducing Guyana to a “playground” for investors disregards both the dignity of its people and the seriousness with which we approach our national progress. Development must be grounded in steadfast partnership, mutual respect, and, most critically, direct benefits to Guyanese citizens. There is a vast difference between welcoming productive investment and surrendering our pride and control of our resources. The former empowers us; the latter diminishes us. Such cavalier attitudes have no place in a maturing state that demands and deserves equitable growth and mutual respect. Guyana is not a stage for others’ amusement but a sovereign nation on the cusp of transformation. Our government and private sector leaders must reject rhetoric that frames our country as a playground, and instead insist on policies and dialogue that ensure inclusion, transparency, and genuine advancement for all citizens. Guyana’s future must be built on respect for its people and prudent stewardship of its resources—not on outdated models of exploitation and exclusion. Let us signal, both to investors and to our own citizens, that this is a country open for business, but never at the cost of its people’s dignity or rightful place in its development. Hemdutt Kumar
