Maurice Odle
 

Dr Maurice Odle’s professional life as an academic and senior national, regional and international civil servant intersected with the clash of two powerful economic forces, namely the economic nationalism of the underdeveloped world and the profit maximising operations of foreign transnational corporations.
While developing countries, in recent decades, have significantly increased their capacity for dealing with foreign investment issues and the nexus areas of international trade, finance and transfer of technology, the West has frustrated them in their efforts to bring about fundamental change in international economic relations and in the neo-liberal rules of the game.
For example, the United Nations initiative(s) of the developing countries with respect to a New International Economic Order (relating mainly to trade) fell apart by the end of the 1970s; intensive negotiations on a Code of Conduct on Transnational Corporations were abandoned in the early1990s; and negotiations with respect to ‘Financing for Development’ (that were supposed to usher in a new financial order) continue to be agonisingly slow; policy making remains essentially the preserve of the Washington-based Bretton Woods institutions, like the IMF and the World Bank.
Developing countries have been attempting to diversify their sources of foreign capital, but the USA is pressuring them to not accept investment from China which, paradoxically, is at the same time under a USA-led sanctions embargo designed to prevent that country from acquiring investment (or tradeable goods) with advanced semi-conductor technology. The struggle for a more equitable economic order continues.
In this candid autobiography, Maurice Odle charts his journey from humble beginnings in what was then British Guiana to London, New York, Geneva and back to the Caribbean, and the intractable challenges of operating on the world stage in the interests of the disadvantaged. He presents engaging insights into not only the workings of the global economic system, but also political and social life in general in this treasure trove of rich experiences.

“When [Forbes Burnham] emerged a few minutes later, his first words were: “Odle, when are you going to leave the PPP”? Very surprised, my emphatic response was: “I am not a member of the PPP. Burnham’s retort was: “Then you are a member of the PNC”. Further, nonplussed at the ‘grand charge’, my response was: “I am neither a member of the PNC”. For the next forty minutes or so, Burnham wanted to know why I was not a member of the PNC and what would I recommend other than what the PNC was currently doing in order to better serve Guyana as a whole.” CH.3

“The day after arrival in Johannesburg, we met in Mandela’s office and discussed the purpose and objectives in general terms, including certain political logistics. What struck me most is how charming a person Mandela was and how relaxed he seemed for someone who had spent twenty-seven and-a-half years in prison.” CH.4

• 228 x 152 mm
• 288 pages
• Hardback

Dr Maurice Odle is a BSc, MSc and PhD graduate of the London School of Economics, London University. In the early part of his professional career, he was a Lecturer in the United Kingdom and a Professor of Economics in the West Indies.A change of career came with his employment as one of the Directors in the United Nations system, during which time he led many advisory and other technical assistance missions to developing countries and emerging economies.He was the founder, in 1995, of the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA).Maurice Odle’s UN career was followed by an appointment as Special Economic Advisor to the integration-driven Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and, finally, recruitment to an important advisory role in the 2015-2020 Coalition Government in his native Guyana.Besides a life of public service, Dr Odle is the author of many books, academic articles and scholarly reports.