Budget debates losing sight of bigger picture – President Jagdeo
Georgetown, GINA, January 26, 2011
Intensive debates on the 2011 National Budget with a size of $161.4B have been heating up since they kicked off on January 24 but President Bharrat Jagdeo is not too impressed in the way in which they have been conducted.
“Petty,” were the words the Head of State used to describe the proceedings as he delivered an address to senior officers at the Guyana Defence Force Annual Officers’ Conference on January 25.
The budget debates got off on an ugly start on the first day when the usual war of words between Government and the opposition led to the latter staging a walkout from the Chambers.
“The problem is that too often we become so petty in these debates that we lose sight of the vision where we want to take our country and how progressive we are taking it there. The budget every year takes us closer to that vision,” President Jagdeo said.
Among aspects of this vision are the provision of “world class” education to the youth of the country and opportunities for every Guyanese family to be versed in the use of a computer.
On the latter President Jagdeo expressed surprise that the main opposition spokesperson on economics, questioned the rationale behind the One Laptop Per Family Programme (OLPF) and the criteria to be used.
“The criteria was announced and the money is in the budget… but to even question something like that… means you are seriously out of touch with what it takes to build a modern country,” President Jagdeo said.
The programme was launched on January 21 at the Guyana International Conference Centre (GICC) and its pioneer President Jagdeo handed over laptops to youth from the Volunteer Youth Corps in Durban Backlands, St Francis Community Developers in Berbice, the Abrams Zuil Secondary School on the Essequibo coast and hinterland students of the Amerindian hostel.
The 2011 National Budget presented on January 17 allocated $1.8B for the OLPF which is spearheaded by Senior Project Manager Sesh Sukhdeo and includes a committee of stakeholders that is responsible for the roll out of the programme.
Within two years, 90,000 families, particularly poor families are expected to be owners of the Lenovo brand laptops and with the assistance of professional trainers all are expected to be versed in the use of a computer.
If implemented successfully, President Jagdeo expressed the belief that the programme will lead to a major transformation in the lives of many Guyanese as the world of opportunities will be open to them.
Speaking at the Officers’ Conference President Jagdeo said a modern country has to be built on modern infrastructure foremost among which are quality education, connectivity and renewables.
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MOU signed to ensure secure environment for visitors
Georgetown, GINA, January 26, 2011
Developing a vibrant tourism sector has become a major effort of the Administration’s drive in attracting more visitors to Guyana, and since it is necessary to accommodate them in a safe and secure environment measures are being implemented.
Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee and President of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG), Paul Stephenson today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), underlining this requirement.
Minister Rohee in delivering remarks said that the MOU is significant not only for Guyana but the private and security sectors as well.
“The Ministry of Home Affairs, conscious of the need for better collaboration with the Tourism Sector initiated action in 2009 to develop meaningful cooperation between the organisation representing the tourism sector, and the Ministry of Home Affairs,” he said.
He stated that to further develop the tourism sector there must be adequate security arrangements in place to protect tourist on Guyana’s shores, and as such, would require law enforcement officials to be more trained to address issues that affect the wellbeing of visitors.
This would see members of the security sector sensitized of customs of tourism so as to further serve visitors in a more enhanced way.
“Concomitantly, we have to ensure that our Tourism Sector is not exploited by unsavory elements. This would require the establishment of systems and procedures by the tourism sector and the security sector of the country to protect the tourism products,” Minister Rohee added.
According to Minister Rohee, the presence of THAG demonstrates the commitment of the organisation to further develop a more secure tourism sector.
Meanwhile, the collaborative effort between the Government and the Private Sector was highly lauded by the President of THAG, who noted that such collaboration was timely and much needed.
The MOU, which also has the full support of the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce and the Guyana Police Force, will set the pace for an increased level of cooperation which will benefit all stakeholders.
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Whittaker clarifies concerns of inadequacies in 2011 budget
- During 2011 budget debate
Georgetown, GINA, January 26, 2011
The economy continues to grow, allowing Government this year to increase the tax threshold, reduce commercial and non-commerce taxes for companies, while inflation rate was kept at a low rate.
This is the premise on which People’s Progressive Party/Civic MP Norman Whittaker based his arguments during the 2011 National Budget debate on Tuesday evening.
He added that the 2011 National Budget is not an elections budget, but one which presents vision for a better Guyana.
“The 2011 budget evidences that the PPP/C Government and the management of the economy of Guyana have been no less then par-excellence. Every year Mr. Speaker we hear the same tune from the other side (the budget lacks so many things), but this is what happens when you roll out and in of communities and don’t take time to see the real development,” he said.
“The budget is also focused on our 2006 manifesto which we presented to the Guyanese people. I wish to suggest because it seems to me Mr. Speaker that the opposition may require some budget literacy workshops for those who are still here at the end of 2011,” he added.
In defending statements made by Desmond Fernandes PNC/R MP which stated that Government has not been forthcoming on its promise to provide a new steamer to support residents of Kumaka, he noted that there is no record which states that a steamer will be provided but rather to re-implement the services.
Whittaker in putting to rest speculation by the Opposition that the Government has abandoned Morawhanna, said that this is indeed cheap politics to mis-lead the people.
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Guyana Livestock Development Authority to be formally launched
The Ministry of Agriculture as part of its efforts to modernize, transform and make the livestock sector more competitive will officially launch the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA).
The GLDA is a semi-autonomous agency with a mandate of promoting greater efficiency in the livestock product industry and to provide enhanced service in livestock husbandry, livestock health and research and to establish regulations of trade, commerce and export of livestock or livestock products.
The need for the GLDA arose when the Government of Guyana through the
Ministry of Agriculture acquired a loan from the Inter-American Development Bank - Agricultural Export and Diversification Programme - for the purposes of increasing Guyana's export and reducing its volatility.
The launching ceremony will be attended by farmers and other stakeholders
which and will be held on Friday, January 28, 2011 commencing at 10:00 hrs
at the GLDA Head Office, Mon Repos, ECD..
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Apologise or resign-Minister Manickchand urges Holder
-for misleading National Assembly, Guyanese
Georgetown, GINA, January 26, 2011
In the continuing 2011 budget debate in the National Assembly, Minister of Human Services and Social Security Priya Manickchand, responded comprehensively to Alliance For Change (AFC), Member of Parliament Shiela Holder’s charge that there are thousands of phantom pensioners in the database.
Minister Manickchand while debunking the allegation said that it disparages the Ministry’s staff and pensions as a whole, adding that the Prime Ministerial hopeful spent her entire speech on misrepresenting old age pension.
“If these things were true I would admit that this was a serious issue that should engage the attention of someone running to be the prime minister of this country... It may indicate to us as a country what her representation of us would be were she ever to assume that office,” she said.
Holder during her presentation last evening stated that 17,640 persons on the 2010 old age pensioners’ register are ‘phantoms’ and that they really do not exist. She further added that a study conducted by her points to the highest level of corruption by the Government.
Minister Manickchand pointed out that the accusation while it has no substance is highly ‘disgusting’ and ‘disrespectful’ to the National Assembly, Government, pensioners and the country as a whole.
She added that while the outburst by the Opposition MP was the usual ‘rhetoric’ when pressed for information, admitted that the study was compiled by Holder and has no merit.
“When Ms. Teixeira said what study are you speaking about, the Hon. Member confessed that it was she herself that did this study and she never told us that there is no where on the record that gives Holder the credentials to do any study like this,” she said.
“Nothing that she said could authenticate this piece of paper (Holder’s report). Having submitted this study she said that they will bore holes in it because she knows that there is nothing in here that can hold water,” she added.
While expressing her appreciation for the discrepancies found in the report by the auditor general, she pointed out that it is not believed that the report is based on reality since, its representations if implemented would cause much hardship for Guyanese, with regards to the limited resources the country possesses.
One of the recommendations by the Auditor General states that pensioners who reside in hinterland communities must uplift their own pension. Minister Manickchand said the Government refuses to apply any measure that would cause hardship to the vulnerable section in society.
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Emphasis placed on sustaining legality of forestry activities
Georgetown, GINA, January 26, 2011
Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud today disclosed that there has been a decrease in infractions and illegalities in the forestry sector indicating a positive trend of compliance. The sector is at a 99 percent level of legality however, 100 percent needs to be achieved.
He was at the time speaking at the Forest Producers Association of Guyana (FPA) awareness workshop, at the Grand Coastal Inn, for stakeholders in the forestry sector in an effort to build capacity. Today’s session is the first of two workshops and is in keeping with one of the FPA’s main objectives which is to promote and develop the common interest of the forest sector in Guyana.
Minister Persaud expressed his satisfaction that forestry stakeholders can get involved in discussions to ensure they are fully aware of the European Union’s Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) arrangement.
He emphasised that if there are no adequate forest management practices persons will not want to purchase Guyana’s products, it is therefore critical that international partners are assured that the country’s forests are ample.
Today’s event was as a result of a voluntary partnership stakeholder arrangement due to their collective desires to ensure the forestry sector continues to have a high and distinguished level of legality of its operations. Minister Persaud said attention needs to be placed on identifying other arrangements and mechanisms whereby improvements can be made to the legal system, defining forestry management and utilisation activities in Guyana.
He made reference to an assessment executed by the Rainforest Alliance, a non-governmental organisation working to conserve biodiversity, which indicated the achievement of progress. Several areas also need to be addressed.
Minister Persaud emphasised that this fits into the wider objective of ensuring, increasing and maintaining the levels of legality but more particularly a fulfillment of the agreement between the Governments of Guyana and Norway.
He then urged the members of the FPA to ensure they comply with the national guidelines and that the Forestry Commission must not be looked at as a hindrance since they are tasked with the role of ensuring the regulations are followed as agreed upon by stakeholders.
Minister Persaud made reference to the European Market where in 2009 the total value of export was in the vicinity of US$4.5M, however within a year it increased by as much as 90 percent; while in 2010 it was further increased to US$8.1M.
This achievement indicates that focus must be placed on markets because they can be lost if there are violations of the regulations.
Minister Persaud disclosed that in 2009/2010 there was a five percent growth in the forestry sector which is expected to continue into 2011. This is based on a number of components including opening of market opportunities, emphasis on value added and meeting the demand of the construction boom in the housing sector.
He pointed out that establishing and maintaining the legal system is one of the commitments made in the joint concept note between Norway and Guyana. He added that thus far Guyana has been living up to that commitment of ensuring compliance.
Minister Persaud indicated that Government has stated clearly that it will not stray away from instituting policies and interventions to preserve an abundant and sustainable forest management framework. Government is also looking at new opportunities of enhancing the stewardship of the forest.
He stated that in terms of the set arrangements the role of the GFC in collaboration with the Office of the President and the Office of Climate Change, the forest in the national and international context, is not just about timber and wood products, but it is important in mitigating climate change.
Additionally, it has been recognised that the number of initiatives undertaken and collaborated at the bilateral and multilateral levels have seen GFC’s role expanding. Minister Persaud emphasised that this also ensures there is compliance with Guyana’s markets such as the United States of America and Europe where there are regulations and requirements to be followed.
He noted that in terms of local capacity, the emphasis in 2010 was to improve monitoring and this resulted in Guyana being the first country to develop a monitoring, reporting and verification system that has international recognition and backing.
Head of Politics, Trade, Press and Information, European Union, Norbert Probst stated that meeting the necessary requirements can make Guyana more attractive and competitive in the market.
He commended the FPA for displaying foresight in seeking to secure support from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and European Union (EU) in ensuring legality in the sector.
Probst noted that the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) action plan covers a range of matters including support to timber producing countries to the negotiations of bilateral monetary partnering agreements.
He emphasised from 2013 the sale of illegally harvested timber in the EU will be prohibited and operators are obliged to exercise due diligence to minimise the risk of illegal timber in their supply chain.
The FAO’s Forestry Officer for the Caribbean, Claus-Martin Eckelmann stated that while the organisation has been busy advising countries in the Caribbean on forest policies and legislation it was realised that legislation and forest polices is a challenge.
He indicated that in reviewing the legislation of several countries it has often been revealed that there is a lack of enforcement while there is existing legislation.
Eckelmann emphasised the need for information to be spread among all stakeholders concerning the regulations in the forestry sector.
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Minister Manickchand lashes out at Opposition’s Budget rhetoric
Georgetown, GINA, January 26, 2011
Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Priya Manickchand lashed out at the opposition today during the third day of the 2011 Budget Debate in the National Assembly, as she highlighted Government’s commitment to better the lives of its citizens through the various programmes and policies it has implemented.
She stated that the Budget has been “peppered” with the usual rhetoric, referring to repeated comments by members of the opposition benches who stated that the budget consists of nothing for the people, that it’s an elections budget, and it is unreal and does not cater for job creation.
As she alluded to previous years’ Budget presentations, which show a constant increase in allocations, Minister Manickchand noted that this year, as the country goes to national election, the budget is referred to as an election budget and they question the increase in the Budget which provides for the people of the country
The 2011 Budget is no different, as it shows a 13% increase from the 2010 Budget, which provides to better livelihood for citizens, she emphasised.
The Minister highlighted that the PPP/Civic government form 2007 to present repeatedly brought to the people of the country good things each year and from they have been benefiting.
The 2007 Budget was valued $100B; the 2009 Budget valued $119.3B which was a 19.3% increase from 2008 and continuing her argument, she said that this means every year since 2007 the figures show that repeatedly government brought to the people of the country benefits so that their lives could be bettered.
“We have been elected to serve the people of the country and serve we shall,” she asserted.
The repeated increases over the years have served the people, as more children have had access to better quality education,more health and social services were extended to the people, more persons enjoy living in their own homes, driving through smooth streets, lights and water in their homes and that is what an increase in the budgetary allocations mean for Guyanese.
In 2008, there was also a 63% increase in old age pension, and there was no election in 2008 and the opposition did not see it as an elections budget then.
“It is an election year and we have no apology for bringing service to our people in any year,” she asserted.
In reponse to Volda Lawrence’s statement that the budget does not address the needs of people, Minister Manickchand said that perhaps the MP did not understand the concept of the Budget.
She added that when Government gave a tax concession to businessmen of $1.7B, the funds cater for investments in job creation and persons will be able to benefit.
She urged opposition members to seek sensible advice from perhaps an economist when analyzing the Budget so that they can appear in the National Assembly to tell the truth.
She added that the $3.6B that will be spent on housing will provide allocations to house lots, $24.3B that is being spent in the education sector and the $3.7B on health will benefit all the people of the country.
Minister Manickchand highlighted that pensioners such as Collin Adams and Azeez Abdool from Plaisance are real people who receive real service from the Government, referring to Alliance For Change (AFC) MP Sheila Holder’s claim that there are thousands of ‘phantom’ names on the pensioners’ database.
She said that the AFC members attend Parliament, make their statements which are unsubstantiated, then scurry away without hearing a response and fail to represent the people who they would promise to represent.
Minister Manickchand noted that the three-page “study,” presented by Lawrence was riddled with grammatical errors and strange mathematics, and the 17000 “phantom pensioners” resembles an article named Peeping Tom in a national newspaper.
She urged media personnel to dig deeper and question from where persons are receiving the information they are giving out.
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China integrally involved as Guyana crafts prosperity strategy
- President said as China celebrates New Year
Georgetown, GINA, January 26, 2011
The Government is in the initiation phase of crafting a new strategy that will lead to the next wave of prosperity for the country and the support of China, one of its closest allies, will be integral.
President Bharrat Jagdeo gave this assurance as he joined Chinese Ambassador to Guyana Yu Wenzhe and a small delegation of Chinese nationals on the occasion of the Chinese New Year or Spring Festival.
President Bharrat Jagdeo speaking at a reception hosted by the Chinese Embassy in celebration of the Chinese New Year
This year is designated the year of Rabbit which according to the Chinese calendar is a symbol of good luck and happiness. Drawing attention to the movement of the rabbit, (agile), Ambassador Wenzhe hopes that the two countries’ relation would move at likewise pace.
President Bharrat Jagdeo joins Chinese Ambassador to Guyana Yu Wenzhe in the symbolic dotting of the Lion’s eye on the occasion of China’s New Year
Guyana is China’s first ally in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and President Jagdeo said Guyana has been a significant beneficiary of China’s development in every field of endeavour.
With its future development plans pointing in the direction of Information Communication Technology (ICT) China is already onboard, supporting Guyana to establish the infrastructure.
Hauwei Technologies, China’s largest networking and telecommunications equipment supplier, is partnering with the Guyana Government to string a fibre optic cable while upgrading the electricity transmission and distribution system with interconnections from Crabwood Creek in Region Six all the way to Leonora in Region Three.
Chinese Ambassador to Guyana Yu Wenzhe at a reception hosted by the Chinese Embassy in celebration of the Chinese New Year
The fibre optic cable which will be one of several in Guyana will be an investment by the Guyana Government to improve access to ICT services, with cheaper and more reliable bandwidth in the country.
President Jagdeo said China is also a key partner in Guyana’s plan to build a hydropower station to address the difficult issue of energy sustainable given its impact on future developments.
In July last year the Guyana Government and China Development Bank signed off on a loan deal that will pave the way to start the Amaila Falls Hydro-Electric Project (AFHEP).
President Bharrat Jagdeo, Chinese Ambassador to Guyana Yu Wenzhe and other Chinese nationals witnessing a cultural presentation during a reception at the Chinese Embassy in celebration of the Chinese New Year
The framework agreement was signed by parties to the project, the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Sithe Global Amaila Holdings, China Development Bank, and the China Railway First Group.
“I want to say how extremely grateful we are for this,” President Jagdeo said as he wished China, continued prosperity and express the hope that Chinese nationals in Guyana contribute to Guyana’s development with their energy and enthusiasm.
Ambassador Wenzhe described the Guyana/China relationship as strong and vigorous event though separated by oceans.
“Since the first Chinese came about 150 years ago, Chinese have become part of the history and culture of Guyana,” Ambassador Wenzhe said.
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Little offered in way of serious, robust criticisms of Gov’t policy
-Finance Minister on opposition’s critique of 2011 budget
Georgetown, GINA, January 26, 2011
Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh has called the presentation in the National Assembly by the opposition Members of Parliament uninspiring and lacking in substance.
Speaking to the Government Information Agency (GINA), during a respite in the debate, Dr. Singh stated that it comes as no surprise that the opposition is encountering great difficulty in coming up with any serious arguments against the policies and programmes that the budget outlines.
“In fact what we are hearing is a rehash of arguments previously tendered, largely based on unsubstantiated rhetoric…issues like the budget has nothing for anybody, but nobody really listens to that or takes it seriously anymore because anybody who peruses the budget will see that the budget is all about the people of this country,” the Minister stated.
He advised that everything outlined in the budget is aimed towards generating benefit for the people of this country, adding that to come to the parliament and say that the budget has nothing for anybody is an argument even the opposition doesn’t believe any longer.
“But they have come here again, disappointingly, unsurprisingly, and repeat the same overworked, already rejected, sterile arguments that they have tendered year in, year out, year after year,” the Minister added.
He expressed that there is no credibility left to the argument that the budget has nothing for the people of Guyana because the people can judge for themselves. Pointing to the provisions made for the elderly, the thousands that have been exempted from paying income tax as a result of Government raising the threshold to $40,000, the indigent in society, the hundreds of companies that will be investing more due to the lowering of the corporate tax rate which will create more jobs and efficiency in business operations.
“All of these people know the emptiness, the ‘vacuousness’, the illogicality of the arguments…I don’t believe that there is much that can be found to fault the objectives that have been articulated by the Government and the efforts that are being made by Government to achieve the objectives that we have outlined,” the Finance Minister emphasized.
He noted that inspite of this; the debate serves many important purposes, the first among which is that it gives the Government an opportunity to reiterate and reaffirm what its vision is and the plans that are put in place to realize this, as well as putting on show the opposition’s view of the country.
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Main opposition not willing to collaborate to fight domestic violence
-Minister Rodrigues-Birkett tells National Assembly
Georgetown, GINA, January 26, 2011
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett has debunked statements made by Shadow Minister for the Home Affairs Ministry and PNC/R chief whip, Deborah Backer, on the effectiveness of Government’s domestic violence programme.
During her presentation in the National Assembly, Minister Rodrigues-Birkett pointed out that it is due to the efforts put into promoting Government’s policy in this area by Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Priya Manickchand that has brought the scourge of domestic violence to the floor where the national conversation on this issue is now more visible.
“When we see in the newspaper and on the television, people reporting on domestic violence, we feel that people are listening and I think, are more willing to speak about it and this is due in no small part to her work, Minister Manickchand,” Rodrigues-Birkett stated.
She pointed that it takes the entire society, inclusive of all Parliamentarians, to help fight domestic violence, stressing that the PNC/R is unwilling to engage government in showing a united front, pointing to efforts made to engage the opposition in public discourse on this issue.
Backer also found issue with the Minister’s view on the United States Department of State trafficking in persons report, where she scoffed at the description given by Minister Manickchand for the 2010 TIP report, which places Guyana on a Tier 2 watch list.
“If a country from some far place come and they write a report on your country and they say to you, you have 984 children working as child labourers and you ask them to provide evidence of where we can find them…and if that country refuses to provide you with that evidence or even some of it, tell me what description you would give to a report of that nature?” Minister Rodrigues-Birkett questioned.
She stated that what is needed is for the main opposition party to join with Government in denouncing reports of this nature or calling for the evidence to support such statements.
Addressing another area where Backer critiqued, Minister Rodrigues noted that on the issue of illegal drugs, Government recognizes that this is a major problem, not just for Guyana, but for the entire world, particularly in this hemisphere.
“Ms. Backer was questioning the resources we put into this area, and yes we would never have adequate resources to fight drugs…we have miles and miles of borders and if we take every single Guyanese and line them up along the borders we wont have enough people still to protect our borders.”
She stressed that it is for this reason that Government has sought to cooperate with like-minded countries and this is why Government has supported the establishment of the UNASUR Council on Drugs.
Minister Rodrigues stated that the United States, which has plugged a significant amount of money to fight drug trafficking, has still not been able to resolve this problem within its own country.
“We have limited resources and sometimes Governments have to make some decisions as to whether we are going to take those resources and build schools, increase pensions…as opposed to spending to fight drugs, so it is a competition of resources,” she said.
Meanwhile, Government will be furthering cooperation with neighbouring Venezuela, and Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee will be meeting soon with the Venezuela Government to further enhance cooperation in the area of intra-regional drug trafficking.
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