Guyana at a Crossroads

“The book is a highly noteworthy addition to the scholarly literature of the challenges of uneven development in nations with newly exploited natural resources. A look at countries that have fallen into autocracy and corruption during oil and gas booms provides a cautionary tale as Guyana seeks to navigate the minefield of equitable and social inclusion as it transitions to a much wealthier society.”— Mark Lusk, Professor Emeritus, College of Health Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso, USA This book examines the current needs of identified vulnerable sub-groups in Guyana, including children under the care of the state, persons living with disabilities, and migrant children. This book interrogates some of these issues in light of the changing social landscape that has been driven by the effects of colonial histories and recent economic change. It approaches these topics from a practitioner’s perspective, looking specifically at the mental health of social workers, psychologists, and other helping professionals in delivering care to vulnerable groups. This book aims to develop a professional identity for social work and related fields, presenting calls for policy adjustments and discussions of policy implications to provide foundations for actionable change. This book may be of particular interest to academics, students, and policy practitioners specializing in social work, social development, and sociology in Guyana and the Caribbean. Paulette Henry is Senior Lecturer at the University of Guyana, Tain Campus. Dionne Frank is Lecturer II at the University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus. Duane Edwards is Senior Lecturer at the University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus. Dianna DaSilva-Glasgow is Senior Lecturer at the University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus.