GOVERNMENT TO BE JUDGED ON ITS ACCOMPLISHMENTS
By Prem Misir, Ph.D.
On Bridges, Roads, &
Sea Defense
On the Youth Choice Initiative
On the Urban Development
Program
On Amerindians
On
the Interim-Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper.
On the Army
On Education
On Electricity
On Water
On Agriculture
Political pundits are now desperately attempting
to find flaws against the PPP/C Administration. The question
of promises not being honored by the Government does not
hold. Numerous accomplishments for the people since 1992,
indeed, have superseded the ‘promises’ argument,
to advancing the discussion of meeting people’s needs
to a higher level. The ‘promises’ argument holds
when little or nothing is done for the people. Let us immerse
ourselves in some statistics, contrasting 1991 and 1999.
This contrast is significant because in order to know how
well any government has performed, we need to know the baseline
data. The baseline data is 1999. Here goes.
|
1991 |
1999 |
Revenue
produced |
$11.8B |
$36.5B |
Sugar
- export revenue |
$8.6B |
$16.1B |
Rice
– export revenue |
$2.1B |
$9.9B |
Mining
& quarrying – export revenue |
$5.2B |
$13.9B
|
Timber
– export revenue |
$327M |
$2.8B |
Public
sector deficit |
25% of GDP |
1 % of GDP |
Education
expenditure |
Less than $1B |
Greater than $9.3B |
Health
expenditure |
Less than $1B |
Greater than $5B |
Poverty
|
Greater than 86%
|
Less than 35% |
Per
capita income |
US$231 |
US$833 |
Post-elections violence closely partnered
the last elections over a six-week period. The political
violence, a familiar but unacceptable phenomenon at election
times, negatively impacted the attraction of investments,
economic growth, and, of course, the budget. Notwithstanding
these customary setbacks, the Government did execute a considerable
number of developmental programs and projects in the last
few months amid the senseless political violence.
Some of these are as follows:
On
Bridges, Roads, & Sea Defense
During the political unrest, many bridges were destroyed
on the railway embankment on the East Coast of Demerara,
and on the West Coast of Berbice. The Administration hastened
to repair these damaged bridges at a cost of $4.5 million.
* Windsor Forest received $12.5 million for the construction
of new bridges and roads. Government spent $100 million
on the new road for Parika Backdam.
*A contract of $935 million was signed to construct sea
defenses for West Coast Berbice.
On
the Youth Choice Initiative
Amid the political upheaval, Government allocated a total
of $418 million to the President’s Youth Choice Initiative
for most of the Regions. This funding is being used for
projects determined and designed by the youngsters themselves.
On
the Urban Development Program
Rehabilitation work on Stabroek Market has commenced. As
part of the Urban Development Program, the IDB has funded
this project to the tune of $150 million. Rehabilitation
works include replacing the entire roof, construction of
a sanitary area, and complete electrical rewiring.
On
Amerindians
The Amazon Program Areas have produced enormous benefits
to Amerindians in Regions 1, 7, 8, and 9. The areas receiving
benefits are: Aishalton, Moruca, Santa Rosa, Surama, Kumaka,
Waramuri, Karaburi, Kamwatta, Quebana, Maruranawa, Karaudamau,
Arawanawan, and Shea.
* Region 9 (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) now has its first
automatic weather station which will provide reliable weather
forecast for the Hydro Meteorological Service.
On
the Interim-Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper.
Public Consultations aimed at reducing poverty have been
launched. The public consultations guarantee that the poor
will be involved in inputting subsequent poverty reduction
policies, programs, and projects. The poverty paper reinforces
programmes in the National Development Strategy.
On
the Army
The Government has now taken measures to acquire a Chinese
Y-12 Aircraft as part of the process to recapitalize the
Guyana Defense Force (GDF). The GDF also received military
equipment from the French Navy.
On
Education
The 2001 Budget has earmarked 18.2 percent of its allocations
to education. Schools commissioned are Taynmouth Manor School
($38.7 million), and Manchester Secondary School ($69.98
million). Bush Lot Nursery School in Region 5 has been funded
at $11 million for rehabilitation purposes. A new Corriverton
Primary School will be completed by the end of 2001 at a
cost of $154 million. SIMAP awarded a contract of $13.1
million for the construction of Coomacka Nursery School
at Linden. About 100 teachers in Region 3 will be trained
through the GUIDE Program.
On
Electricity
Government, in this short period, already spent US$40 million
on electricity supply as a priority for housing settlements
throughout the country. About 55,000 Corentyne and Canje
residents will now receive electricity where the Government
made available $4 billion, GPL 1 billion, and is currently
negotiating with the IDB for US$25 million. The areas are
No. 36 Village; Bush Lot; Farm; Chesney; Kilkoy South; Fyrish;
No. 1; No. 35 Village; Whim Village; Topoo Belvedere Squatting
Area and Sandvoort; West Canje and parts of Canefield, East
Canje. St. Cuthbert’s Mission now receives solar electricity
at a cost of $5.2 million.
On
Water
The Jagdeo Administration agreed to make $41 million available
for a water distribution network at Caneville Squatter Settlement
on the East Bank of Demerara. Prime Minister Sam Hinds recently
commissioned water projects at Nos. 61 through 65 Villages
on the Corentyne at a cost of $ 22.2 million. Just a few
days ago, $40 million was expended on a water project for
Leguan. GUYWA on June 1, took over jurisdictional responsibility
of the water project in Linden.
On
Agriculture
Government has allocated $66 million for the agricultural
sector as part of its economic development program. An agricultural
farm, comprising 500 acres and costing US$1.2 million, will
be established at Hubu.
Despite this protracted post-elections
violence, producing its own unique but familiar brand of
political instability, the Jagdeo Administration in its
first 100 days in office, soared to new heights, even in
the face of stubborn political adversity. The Administration,
indeed, has achieved a take-off.
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