Georgetown: To support growth and new employment generating sectors, the following Infrastructural Developments will be pursued:
* Amaila Falls Hydro Project
* Deep Water Harbour
* New Demerara River Bridge
* Airport Modernization and Expansion
* Corentyne River Bridge to Suriname
* Lethem/Brazil Road Corridor
* East Bank Road Corridor
* East Coast Road Corridor
* Sustainable Urban Transport
* Simplifying the tax system and improve access to financing.
Expand Manufacturing, Rural Enterprise Development, Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises
* Incentivizing the establishment of Bank micro-credit facilities for small and medium size business and development projects.
* Creating a special development fund for Regions 2, 5, 6 and 10, patterned after the Amerindian Community Development Plan to encourage jobs and wealth creation activities.
* Constructing Call Centres in Enmore, East Coast Demerara, Tushen, West Coast Demerara, Corentyne, Linden and Essequibo Coast. These call centres will create more than 5000 direct jobs.
* Constructing Chip Factories – Chips factories will be constructed in Wakenaam and Leguan. These factories will create more than 40 direct jobs for women and youths.
* Constructing a Cereal Plant in Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast. This plant is expected to generate a high degree of economic activity in Essequibo and it will create 80 direct jobs.
* Establishing Business Development Centres within every Regional Democratic Council (RDCs), equipped with a Resource Library Centre and provide Business Advisory and Incubatory Service.
Food security and agribusiness
* Fully implementing the National Agriculture Strategy.
* Improving farm-to-market transportation, including boats to assist farmers to transport produce to markets.
* Establishing packaging/canning factories in various geographical locations to preserve and add value to agricultural produce.
* Transforming the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) to purchase produce from farmers and to re-sell to large users, like hospitals, manufacturers and for exports.
* Putting in place social safety nets to help farmers above 60 years, small and marginal farmers and farm labourers.
* Encouraging large scale soya and corn production and new crops such as quinoa, rubber and palm oil
* Promoting an agri-energy industry, producing bio-ethanol through sugar cane, palm oil, cassava and corn.
* Beginning the process of opening up at least 300,000 acres of new land, including establishment of the Mahaica
* Increasing drainage pumping capacity
* Increasing outfall de-silting pontoon excavator capacity and start the construction of groynes.
* Commissioning a State-of-the-Art National Soil Laboratory
* Transforming Ebini, Kairuni and Hosororo Nurseries to Centers of Excellence, with dormitory facilities for the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) students to complete attachments and for researchers from Guyana and abroad to conduct studies
* Expanding the GSA Agro-processing facility to produce more products for the international markets
* Completing soil mapping for at least six (6) regions by 2020.
Rice, sugar, livestock and fisheries
* Establishing a National Paddy Price Support System that would allow for the safeguarding of farmers from erratic market behaviour for rice. This new mechanism will assist the farmers to receive payments within the legally required time frame and assurance for the viability of the industry and wellbeing of our rice farmers.
* Maintaining production above 600,000 tonnes and export above 500,000 tonnesannually and increasing export destinations from 32 to at least 40 countries and diversify rice markets to non-traditional destinations in Central and South America and to Africa
* Continuing to improve paddy yields to an average above 40 bags per acre by 2020
* Promoting the use of precision farming methods, focusing on agronomic practices, including soil testing, balanced nutrition with mixed fertilizers and laser-leveling of fields
* Increasing packaged rice sales in the local and international markets for Guyana’s rice brands.
* Encouraging value-added rice products, including flour, cereal and rice snacks.
* Expanding drying and storage facilities in all regions.
* Promoting the use of agro-energy technology to produce power for the rice industry, reducing cost of production
* Upgrading the Research Center at Burma to facilitate research by local and international scientists and for farmers to be attached for improving their farming skills
* The PPP/C will continue to support the sugar sector with a minimum investmentof G$20 billion for the viability of the industry. This investment will be made for improving the productivity of the fields, modernization of all existing factories, accelerating the mechanisation of the industry, investing in refinery and distillery capacities, increasing production of packaging and specialty products, and retraining of workers.
* Increasing production to about 400,000 tonnes.
* Achieving at least 60% of mechanisation in harvesting and 85% in mechanised cane loading.
* Increasing production of packaged sugar to at least 50,000 tonnes.
* Expanding the production of bottled molasses as a commercial product for the local and international markets.
* Expanding Albion Ethanol Plant to produce more ethanol and to be able to use other substrates, including cassava.
* Improving the management of the sugar industry and providing better remuneration for the workers.
* Enhancing support for the fisheries co-op societies
* Intensify anti-piracy efforts
* Continuing to engage Suriname on concerns of fisher folk
* Expanding sustainable inland fishing and promote fishing tourism
* Expanding sustainable aquaculture
* Developing and implementing Shark, Prawns and Red Snapper Management Plans
Tourism
* Promoting Destination Guyana as the number one Eco, Nature and Adventure Destination in the Caribbean.
* Developing tourist zones that are affordable and built around themes that are reflective of each administrative region, creating infrastructure and employment and helping to boost revenue generation for every Region.
* Improving the safety and security of tourists.
Oil and gas
* Implementing the National Upstream Oil and Gas Policy which is premised on the broad objective of attracting and securing investment in upstream exploration activities, and effectively regulating an upstream oil and gas sector that will contribute to the sustainable economic development of the country.
* Facilitating the exploration for and production of petroleum for associated industry development;
* Regulating and monitoring petroleum operations to ensure legislative compliance.
* Completing the construction of the Amaila Falls Hydroelectric Project.
* Building additional hydro-electric capacity and export of energy to neighbouring countries.
* Continuing the expansion of the HinterHinterland Electrification Progarm, including the installation of electricity systems in a number of Amerindian communities.
* The completion of the network expansion at Port Kaituma.
* The inspection of the solar system installations in all Regions.
* The continuation of on-the-job training for linemen employed by hinterland communities, and the commencement of similar training for diesel generator operators and mechanics.
* The installation of a PV-Diesel generation hybrid electricity system for the Kato Secondary School.
* The extension of Electricity Systems at Orealla, Siparuta, Moraikobai and St. Cuthbert’s Mission.
* The procurement and installation of additional generators for Matthews Ridge, Moraikobai and Siparuta to improve the reliability of their electricity supply.
* Aggressively pushing for value-added in the sector with a tariff system used progressively to reduce the exportation of logs.
* Aggressively promoting the production and utilization of Lesser Used Species.
* Promoting the Forest Products and Marketing and Development Council to offer support to producers.
* Expanding the Forestry Training Centre range of courses and services and to include on-site training.
* Review of the current Incentives Portfolio for the mining sector will be undertaken with emphasis on small and medium scale mining for gold and diamond mining.
Education
* Ensuring Universal Access across levels:
* Increasing the number of Trained teachers:
* Implementing an enhanced Early Childhood Education Program
* Providing more for our children with Special Education Needs(SEN)
* Enacting modern Education Legislation.
* Reorganising and re-tooling the National Accreditation Council.
* Incorporating and integrating ICT in the classroom
* Establishing world class standards at the University of Guyana.
* Providing more opportunities for Training and Scholarships.
* Enhance opportunities in Technical Vocational Education
* Establishing Centres of Excellence
* Continue to support families through facilities such as transportation grants, etc.
* Improve on the Language Programmes in schools, particularly for Portuguese and Spanish
* Expand the School Guidance and Counsellors Programme.
* Establish a National Advisory Council on Education. The new Council will have the purpose of advising on matters relating to education. This council will be broad-based in its representation.
Health sector
Completing the Specialty Hospital for advanced health care services for Guyanese and International patients.
* Expanding services such as Neurosurgery, Renal Health (including dialysis and kidney transplant), Electroconvulsive Therapy (ETC), and Diabetic Retinopathy Services.
* Constructing a new 100-bed ward at the East Bank Demerara Regional Hospital and a new Port Kaituma Hospital.
* Expanding doctor-provided home-based care across Guyana.
* Expanding the health fund to support persons who need to pay for health care.
* Introducing Patient and Family Counselling, particularly grief counselling, in all hospitals.
* Constructing new polyclinics with x-ray, laboratories, and dental and eye services in different regions.
* Establishing an Ambulance Authority, with trained Paramedics.
* Upgrading Bartica, Mabaruma, Mahdia and Lethem Hospitals into Regional Hospitals.
* Creating a special Women’s Health Programme and a Care of the Elderly Programme.
* Establishing Skeldon, Lethem and Mabaruma Hospitals as Border Hospitals with border countries.
* Providing support for pregnant women and their children.
* Expanding substance abuse rehabilitation programmes across Guyana.
* Completing the building of the new $250M Maternity Building at the GPHC by 2016
* Ensuring every hospital is equipped with x-rays, ECG and ultrasound machines.
* Maintaining 100% coverage for immunization, with HPV vaccine for all young girls and boys.
* Improving laboratories for all hospitals.
* Expanding physiotherapy and rehabilitation departments in all hospitals
* Building computerised health (patient) information throughout the hospital system
* Ensuring adequate provision of medicine and medical supplies
* Expanding and improving biomedical waste facilities in all hospitals.
* Establishing a mobile blood bank to make blood donation easier.
* Establishing a Burns Clinic at the Linden and New Amsterdam Hospitals
Replacing the West Demerara and the National Psychiatric Hospital with new hospitals.
Housing
* Implementing a National Housing Policy that promotes Sustainable Housing Development;
* Creating new settlement areas while accelerating the granting of Certificates of Title to Land to address excess demand for housing;
* Outfitting new and existing schemes outside of the urban centres with modern social infrastructure to hasten the achievement of the national priorities in keeping with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
* Implementing community development plans in existing communities that would contribute to environmental sustainability;
* Facilitating the construction of Turn Key (1000 homes) for persons of low affordability and persons with special needs to improve accessing housing;
* Expanding the Young Professional Schemes to encourage skilled Guyanese to remain and invest at home.
* Accelerating the development of the Re-migrant scheme to attract the ‘Brain Bank’ in the Diaspora.
* Upgrading roads, water distribution and drainage and electricity networks in all existing housing areas.
* Completing the regularisation of squatter settlements and the upgrade of infrastructure in those settlements.
* Expanding partnerships with the private, financial and commercial sub-sectors to stabilise the housing market.
* Improving the efficiency of the housing delivery process through institutional strengthening.
* Establishing a ‘revolving fund’ to allow low-income groups to access concessional funds more readily
* Expanding housing in the hinterland.
Sports
* Continuing to provide equitable sporting opportunities across Guyana.
* Ensuring quality physical education and sport experiences be available to every school child in Guyana.
* Improving on sports in schools through targeted programmes, infrastructure development and management of facilities.
* Guaranteeing Guyanese citizens have an enhanced quality of life through their life-long engagement in quality sport opportunities.
* Working with decision makers and community leaders to promote sports for the positive contribution it makes to the life and health in the community and country.
* Implementing over the next five years,a Long-term Athlete Development Principles by sport organisations, clubs and community groups, as part of their strategic sport development plans.
* Assuring that the economic benefits of sport to Guyana are optimised by promoting Sport Tourism through more International Tournaments.
* Maintaining and increasing the number of qualified and dedicated base of coaches, officials and sport volunteers that can nurture and grow the Guyana sport system by establishing inter alia a Coaches’ Accreditation Council.
* Increasing the number of professional coaches working in Guyana, by establishing the Guyana Sports Institute.
* Ensuring that all citizens have affordable access to well-maintained, equipped and resourced community and school facilities.
* Developing three (3) New Regional Multi-Purpose Facilities in Berbice, Essequibo and Linden.
Security
* Completing and implementing the Security Sector Strategic Plan of the Guyana Police Force.
* Improving partnerships in the security system to ensure the criminal justice system works effectively and efficiently through collaboration with the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Chambers and the Judiciary.
* Providing resources and support for a professional Army while expanding its Reserves.
* Adopting a more targeted approach to eliminate thetrafficking/sale/consumption of illegal drugs and to strengthen our security network to prevent trans-shipments.
* Recruiting and retaining competent personnel to address issues that relate to child/sexual abuse, domestic violence, rape and the use of illicit substances through the establishment of a Special Crimes Unit.
* Strengthening monitoring and legislative reforms to tackle robberies, burglaries, piracy, hijacking, trafficking of persons and abduction.
* Enhancing the monitoring of our roadways and ensuring more aggressive traffic education and road safetyawareness;
* Expanding the use of technology for intelligence gathering, investigations and data/case management.
* Maximising the use of the modern forensic laboratory to improve forensic and scientific approach to investigations and partnering with similar institutions in other countries in a common approach to reduce crime and protect the Caribbean region.
* Establishing a National Emergency Centre (911 System) that can be accessed 24-hours daily.
* Reducing the average police response times to 15-30 Minutes.
* Establishing a “neighbourhood watch” programme. The goal of this programme is to increase surveillance by residents and community members of their own neighbourhoods.
Ensuring accountability
* Continuing the fight against corruption at all levels of Government and society by instituting mechanisms for greater transparency and accountability.
* Publishing a Cabinet Code of Conduct
* Establishing a Special Investigation of Corruption body with powers to investigate corruption and prosecute crimes of corruption
* Appointing the Public Procurement Commission with the requisite Parliamentary support whilst retaining Cabinet’s “no objection”.
* Establishing confidential complaints mechanisms to encourage people to report incidences of corruption
Local Government
* Ensuring that Local Government Elections are held by June 2016, once the required conditions stipulated by GECOM are met and approved by the National Assembly.
* Finalising the Local Government Amendment Act (Chapter 28:02).
* Establishing the Local Government Commission
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