A sign of real progress and development is when people gain more understanding and enlightenment over time, as they access information, have experiences, and attain data that they learn from and use to make better decisions that protect, preserve, and promote health, happiness, and wellness for themselves and others in the present as well as the future. This is real progress. False non-progress is when the same mistakes are made again and again, when there is no learning from past errors, and when superficial bandaids are applied instead of real, systemic transformational change being made. Extractive industries like large scale gold mining ALWAYS harm and destroy life, ALWAYS promote inequity and iniquity, and NEVER allow real sustainable development.

We can and need to do better, Guyana!