Guyanese Online

We Got Oil! Realizing Change in Guyana and the Role of Diaspora Hometown Associations

Lear Matthews

By Lear Matthews

The nation of Guyana has been in the news lately for good reasons. Stained  by the horrific tragedy of Jonestown in the late 1980’s and recently maligned by a New York  Times writer, according to Exxon-Mobil, oil discovery off Guyana’s northern coast will top 4 billion barrels, becoming a leading oil producing nation in the region. However, owing to the large number of Guyanese who emigrate, much of the nation’s skills and expertise, including those that could contribute significantly to the oil industry’s success, reportedly reside in the Diaspora. There has not been an effective strategy to engage expatriates – perhaps until now.

Despite the almost euphoric optimism expressed by Guyanese at home and abroad there are challenges only marginally discussed, but are beginning to emerge. One observer noted, “with major oil set to flow as soon as 2020, authorities are bracing both for the shock of wealth and its attendant woes”. This article focuses on the potential role of Hometown Associations (HTA) in helping to understand the socio-cultural ramifications, identifying the risks and harnessing required skills, attitude and cultural adaptation needed to ensure reaping the benefits of this unprecedented, historic natural resource discovery.    Continue reading →