The deputy Gabriel Serville created the surprise by winning the Territorial Collectivity from Guyana, Sunday June 27. His list of union of left-wing forces obtained 54.83% of the votes against 45.17% for the list of outgoing president, Rodolphe Alexandre. A victory with a high participation rate compared to France: 46.78% against 34.69% nationally. In the new president’s roadmap: making the excellence of the territory shine, bringing serenity back to a country “Fractured”, or even review the status of the community for more autonomy
How do you explain the success of your list and participation?
These 47% of participation, we owe them a lot to young people. I believe there was a real desire to see a different policy emerge for our territory. Many voters were disappointed by elected officials who were deaf to the expectations of the 2017 social movement. Guyanese society is fractured and the various communities express the need to regain serenity.
How healthy is the community?
We have indicators that point to catastrophic finances. We will need to quickly address the demographic emergency, in that Guyana’s actual population is much higher than official figures. We therefore operate with underestimated public endowments.
Will it go through a new Guyanese status?
The Guyanese must be freer to decide their destiny. This will require more autonomy in the face of decisions from Paris. Many laws are not adapted to our local realities. I am not talking about independence, but about a statutory framework which will allow us to no longer be so passive in the management of the territory.
Will regional cooperation be a lever for Guyana’s development?
It has not worked well for years with our neighbors in Brazil, Surinam, Guyana. Even with Haiti, given the large diaspora that we have in Guyana… The European laws and standards that apply to Guyana prevent many joint projects, especially in the fisheries and agriculture sector. Cooperation cannot be conceived only from Paris or Brussels.
You were one of the opponents of the industrial gold mine project. What future for the gold industry?
We must not deny it, but ensure a framework that is more respectful of the environment, able to counter harmful practices. I can understand the legal miners who have strict rules imposed on them. They see, in the face, illegals plundering this wealth in a murderous madness.
You are also betting on green and blue gold …
Our forest, our coasts are full of under-exploited resources. How can we accept that our freshwater reserve, our medicinal plants, our fish are not valued more?
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