Gajalakshmi Paramasivam

15 June 2021

 

 

GSP+ OR DEBT

 

"An equation for me has no meaning unless it expresses a thought of God" - Mathematical genius Srinivasa Ramanujan

 

A Sri Lankan asked me about the 100 Cities project recently announced by the Sri Lankan government  - ‘Do we have the funds for these? My response was ‘More debts. But we need to worry about only that which is within our control. The rest will happen as per our belief.’ The question is which came first or is one the other side?

 

As per European Commission terminology:

Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP)

[GSP+ is the special incentive arrangement for sustainable development and good governance. It slashes these same tariffs to 0% for vulnerable low and lower-middle income countries that implement 27 international conventions related to human rights, labour rights, protection of the environment and good governance.]

As per Financial Times article ‘EDB expresses concern over EU Parliament resolution to withdraw GSP+’:

[The resolution on Sri Lanka was adopted noting the Government’s persistent failure to adopt and enact human rights reforms and repeal the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). Up to 628 votes were cast in favour of, 15 against, and there were 40 abstentions.]

The most important measure of Human Rights in the case of Sri Lanka is to value other local cultures as our own. It is based on the principle that we are all born as sovereign individuals. Reliable cultures protect this basic human right to be sovereign. Any law that fails to protect our sovereignty is not applicable to us. Likewise, any effect that happens around us when we uphold our sovereignty was not caused by us.

The GSP+ program is an opportunity to become members of global community. I said recently to an Australian Tamil – that the opportunities to be global minded in Australia, would be blocked if his community practices were applied as per his convenience. When there is a law and we complete that law in practice, it becomes Energy. This Energy is the power that balances the two sides – law and practice.

Mathematical genius Srinivasa Ramanujan said - "An equation for me has no meaning unless it expresses a thought of God" .

To my mind, that thought of god happens when we carry previous investments for which we are yet to draw benefits. When I act on my own my truth alone is enough for me to lead a harmonious life. But when I live as part of a family, community, nation and beyond – I need their truth as well. The closest to that is the laws produced by them in a free environment. The laws so produced are enough for any group. Such groups would naturally merge with wider world. Hence GSP+ to encourage such a spread.

A debt that cannot be settled becomes a sin beyond its due date. Sin naturally opposes ownership and hence works against ‘good governance’. Good governance at family and community levels need to be facilitated to spread themselves. Hence the right to media freedom.

I wrote yesterday ‘The way 100 cities program happens will tell us whether it is dowry from their home areas or donation to compensate for lack of homemaking skills in the areas from which they have come. If dowry – they will contribute to developing Sri Lankan children. If donation they could easily be demoted by the more skilled owner of that area who would have global support.’

The parallel of it in cash flow is GSP+ is shared ownership and Debt to China is loss of ownership due to China – a foreign entity taking over more of Sri Lanka. A person who is connected by common policy is a shared owner. One who deals foremost at money level – is a foreigner. This government discarded the shared owner to facilitate the foreigner to takeover.