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July 13, 2016 The Skanner Page 9 News Botswanan Officials Tout Economic Success During 50th Anniversary Ambassador David Newman calls his native country ‘the world’s best-kept secret’ By Barrington M. Salmon NNPA News Wire Con- tributor When the southern African nation of the Republic of Botswana gained independence from Britain in 1966, it was ranked as the third poorest country in the world. Through pru- dence, fiscal discipline and good governance, Botswana earned the reputation as one of the fastest growing econo- mies in the world in the mid-1970s and is now a solidly middle-income country which boasted “ and since then, diamond mining has fueled much of the country’s infra- structure expansion and growth in areas such as education, agriculture and healthcare. Reve- nues from diamond min- ing accounts for almost 80 percent of export earnings, more than one-third of GDP, and, ac- cording to the World Dia- mond Council, generates almost one-third of the government’s revenues. “The British were will- ing to part with [the country] and expected Botswana to be a chari- ty case forever,” he said headed by President Lt. Gen. Ian Khama, former commander of the Bo- tswana Defense Force – has made. “At a time when our world is overwhelmed with negative news, the 50th anniversary of Bo- tswana’s independence is evidence of enduring good news,” said Chavis. “The NNPA is very inter- ested in getting and shar- ing the stories of Botswa- na’s stable democracy and the significance and improvement of the qual- ity of life of African peo- ple in Southern Africa.” “We look forward to working with our counter- parts in Botswana who’re in- volved in the media, both print and digital. Botswana is a global story of what all people should be made aware.” For 10 days in early June, Newman, tourism officials and represen- tatives of the DeBeers Group traveled to the largest diamond show in the world in Las Vegas, and to New York, Chica- go and Washington, DC to drum up exposure and nail down trade and in- vestment opportunities. “We’ve been in Bo- tswana for almost 50 years since they found diamond deposits at Oka- vango in 1967,” said David Prager, De Beers’ Global Head of Corporate Af- fairs. “We have a joint venture called, ‘Debswa- na,’ which is a true 50-50 partnership. Botswana does the mining which has helped fuel tremen- dous economic growth. Diamonds are our long- term proposition. De- Beers is blessed to be a The British were willing to part with [the country] and expected Botswana to be a charity case forever a per capita gross do- mestic product (GDP) of $16,600 in 2014. Ambassador David Newman, Botswana’s en- voy to the United States, calls his native country “the world’s best-kept se- cret,” and as the 2.2 mil- lion citizens celebrate 50 years of independence, Newman said that not only will he spread the good news about the country’s success, but tourism officials, corpo- rate partners and others will also share the posi- tive reports. “We are a modern de- mocracy and success story,” said Newman during an interview prior to a June 10 black- tie gala at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in down- town Washington, D.C. “Botswana is the world’s largest producer of dia- monds in terms of value.” Newman said it was fortuitous for natives of Botswana, that diamonds were discovered in 1967 with a chuckle. The Ibrahim Index ranks Botswana as the best governed nation on the African continent and, according to Forbes magazine, two major in- vestment services rank Botswana – a landlocked republic that gained in- dependence after being a British protectorate – as the best credit risk in Africa. Newman credits a num- ber of factors for Botswa- na’s stability, including the people themselves, who he said naturally practice tolerance, re- spect and humility. “We’ve developed some good partnerships. We’ve had 50 years and 10 elections, one every five years. It’s a very sta- ble, secure country,” he said. Benjamin Chavis, pres- ident and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), praised the progress the country — Make The Skanner part of your daily routine for a better day today and tomorrow. Ambassador David Newman (left), Botswana’s envoy to the United States, and Mrs. Changu Mazana Newman pose for a photograph during a black-tie gala at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in downtown Washington, D.C. (Travis Riddick/NNPA News Wire) partner. For DeBeers, it was the right thing to do. We’re proud corporate citizens.” Debswana is the coun- try’s largest private-sec- tor employer. Jillian Blackbeard, marketing manager for Botswana Tourism, echoed Prager’s com- ments about diversifi- cation, as she discussed her country’s efforts to expand its tourism and conservation sectors be- yond diamonds. She said the country’s leaders have set aside 40 percent of the land for wildlife management in the wetlands of the Okavango Delta in the north. Botswana is home to about 40 percent of all the surviving elephants left in the world, and the country which is the size of Texas, has what is described as the larg- est game reserves on the African continent with giraffes, big cats, rhi- nos, zebras, large dogs, giraffes, wild dogs and the largest population of African elephants — 200,000 – in Africa. Read the rest of this story at TheSkanner.com We honor the many accomplishments of African Americans. It is our primary goal as a labor union to better the lives of all people working in the building trades through advocacy, civil demonstration, and the long-held belief that workers deserve a “family wage” - fair pay for an honest day’s work. A family wage, and the benefits that go with it, not only strengthens families, but also allows our communities to become stronger, more cohesive, and more responsive to their citizens’ needs. Our family wage agenda reflects our commitment to people working in the building trades, and to workers everywhere. In this small way, we are doing our part to help people achieve the American Dream. This dream that workers can hold dear regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, creed, or religious beliefs. Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters Representing more than 5.000 construction workers in Oregon State. Do you want to know more about becoming a Union carpenter? Go to www.NWCarpenters.org PORTLAND OFFICE 1636 East Burnside, Portland, OR 97214 503.261.1862 | 800.974.9052 Get a quick update or enjoy an in-depth read on your desktop. Grab the headlines from your mobile device. Tap to view events and announcements. Don’t miss anything! Page through the latest print edition online. HEADQUARTERS 25120 Pacific Hwy S, Suite 200, Kent, WA 98032 253.954.8800 | 800.573.8333
