World
'Signing the Belt and Road Initiative Puts Guyana in the Game'
Joint efforts are producing concrete benefits for the South American country
By Onicka Jones  ·  2019-12-13  ·   Source: Web Exclusive
A Guyanese pavilion at the First China International Import Expo in Shanghai on November 8, 2018 (XINHUA)

Bayney Karran, Guyana's Ambassador to China, likened his country's decision to sign an agreement within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative with China in 2018 to buying a lottery ticket, saying it now puts the country in the game.

He pointed out that since the signing of the memorandum of understanding, a number of projects that can transform Guyana's economy and landscape have been put on the table.

"We are also seeing an increase in the number of Chinese companies that are bidding for projects whenever bids are advertised," Karran said. "There is also increased activity in mining, where a number of joint venture agreements are in the pipeline, as well as in a number of smaller areas such as construction, services and commercial retail."

While critics claim that the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative is a push for Chinese dominance in global affairs, China has insisted that its aim is to enhance regional connectivity and embrace a brighter future.

Since Guyana signed on, the ambassador said the South American country has been placed in the spotlight.

"It makes Chinese concessionary funding for development works more accessible. For China, the Belt and Road Initiative is this means by which it can go abroad and cooperate with other countries and have projects. For a country like Guyana it is like buying a lottery ticket. Without it, you're not in the game," Karran said.

Reacting to criticism that the initiative is a debt trap, the Guyanese ambassador said although countries have to be careful as to whether they are dealing with lenders, there is no hard evidence to prove that China's initiative is a calculated policy.

"This kind of criticism is coming from countries and institutions in the North. You don't hear that in the South. There was an African Union summit earlier this year and not one single African leader made such criticism about China," he said.

Onicka Jones is a journalist with the National Communications Network of Guyana

Copyedited by Rebeca Toledo

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