The Guyana Government’s developmental agenda was detailed by President Donald Ramotar when he met members of the Guyanese diaspora in Los Angeles, California, USA over the weekend. Government, he explained has, over the last two decades, worked to rebuild or improve upon the nation’s infrastructure.
The fact that technology, travel and communication have improved, was noted by the president as he explained the government’s decision to undertake several projects to capitalise on this fact. Citing the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Expansion Project, he pointed out that several airlines such as “Jet Blue”, had already conducted feasibility studies which pointed out the benefits of operating from Guyana.
Business opportunities were being stymied however, due to the lack of adequate runway length and more modern facilities, at the CJIA, President Ramotar said, “That is one of the reasons why we are concentrating on a lot of our efforts on building the infrastructure of our country”. Guyana is geographically located ideally to be a hub for air travel in South and Latin America, he added, thus it is preparing to take advantage of this fact.
The economic growth over the last eight years, the president pointed out was due to government’s prudent investment in the country. “No mean achievement when you take into consideration that over those last eight years, it coincided with the period of time when we had a financial and economic crisis internationally”. The Caribbean was not spared from this, with many countries feeling the effects.
He explained that his speech to the United Nations General Assembly on September 26, called for a rethink of how small developing states are categorised as middle income countries, thus making them ineligible for concessionary financing and debt relief mechanisms which adversely impact on their continued development. And, this was not just for his country, but the entire region.
Notwithstanding the challenges, President Ramotar pointed out that Guyana has achieved the highest rate of nursery admissions in the Caribbean, universal primary education and is working towards the same at the secondary level.
The interventions in providing school uniforms, meals, textbooks, transportation and lodging where possible to encourage children to attend school were also mentioned by the president, and this was greeted with loud applause by the gathering.
He reiterated that there was a direct correlation between fighting poverty and education, and alluded to the fact that countries with the most educated persons are most developed, and not those with the most natural resources.
The push by government to realise cheap, reliable electricity via hydropower was another issue highlighted by President Ramotar. Despite the widespread consultations and meetings with the political opposition, he explained that the project failed to gain their support.
Some of the developmental projects that Guyana needs to continue its developmental path include the paved road link between Linden and Lethem and a deep water port. These infrastructural projects are needed to take advantage of the trade that Brazil, the 6th largest economy in the world, will have to offer as it expands.
The fact that the Panama Canal is being expanded and there are plans for another similar canal through Nicaragua, signal that others are preparing for the expansion of trade across the region, he added.
The political opposition’s stance against many developmental projects, the president explained, seemed designed to hamper the Guyanese economy. “I believe that they are operating on the principle that if they can make the economic situation bad and prevent government from delivering on social services, that it will make it better for them politically”.
Making reference to the internationally approved Anti-money Laundering Bill, the Head of State said that the bill which is ‘anti-money laundering, anti-criminal and anti-drug trafficking’ will have all of the administrative measures in place to send the signal to the international community that government is serious about its passage, but can only do so much since it does not control the parliament, and it should not be blacklisted. The status of Guyana with regards this legislation is up for review, in October.
The claims made by the political opposition that they have not been consulted on many of these transformational projects were rejected by President Ramotar, who highlighted several instances where government reached out to them. He recounted the efforts made to get the opposition on board with the Amalia Falls Hydro Project, such as the provision of sensitive information, trips to the site and the roadway. All of these were welcomed and highlighted via the press, yet he noted that when it was time to vote to support the project, they opposed it. Those gathered were very supportive of the president when he explained that despite the setback, government was still, along with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), seeking partners to pursue the venture.
Touching on the proposed no-confidence motion by the joint opposition, it was explained that government was under fire for restoring several key programmes such as the University of Guyana student loan scheme, hinterland airstrip maintenance, Amerindian Development Fund and even the Education Ministry’s $10,000 grant package to parents in need… “and when we restored those things, that is when they put a motion in the parliament for no-confidence in the government”. The president further explained that when the government moved to restore the money, as sanctioned by the court of law under the constitution, the opposition took umbrage. He also explained that similar action was taken by government over the last two years and the opposition supported this action.
The challenges of dealing with corruption, which President Ramotar acknowledged does exist was being dealt with through various mechanisms. He cited some of the poorly constructed roads by errant contractors. “Some of it, I believe, and this is my own inclination, is because of collaboration between contractors, engineers and consultants who are supposed to overlook our interests. I have asked the Attorney General to send a letter to all the ministries that have to do consulting, that we have to put firmer penalty clauses and implement them so that we can put pressure on those that are doing poor work in our society”.
The move to allow the media to report on the Public Accounts Committee, and others that allow for answers to be sought on issues within various sectors, were also mentioned by the president. The fact that government only maintains a “no-objection” right with regards to contracts to ensure accountability was also explained by him.
The Head of State led a high level delegation to the United States, where he addressed and held several key meetings at the United Nations General Assembly. The opportunity was also taken to meet with the Guyanese Diaspora.
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