Georgetown: Tuesday, May 10, was another historic day in the political life of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, when in keeping with the tradition of ceremony, the nation’s eleventh Parliament, was declared open by the recently elected eighth Executive President, retired Brigadier, David Arthur Granger.
This particular opening was historical for the sole fact, that for the first time, Parliament received a government, fashioned from a coalition that contested and won national and regional elections.
President Granger’s speech can be described as wide ranging, touching on virtually every facet of national politico-socio-economic life that has posed challenges for this country and people. Again, it was centred on the very important objective of unity that will go towards the creation of a ‘One Nation’ policy, which will undoubtedly bring enormous benefits to Guyana, while combining national efforts to defeat the “real enemies of the people”: crime, disease, ignorance and poverty.
One Nation approach
Poverty has always posed a severe challenge to human development where it exists, because of its often pervasive nature, and the gross inequalities that emanate from such an uneveness. This has been ever since recognised by the Granger administration, and duly emphasised in their many pronouncements on national issues. It is no surprise, therefore, that the President has stated the intention of a Poverty Reduction Plan, of a One Nation approach, which is geared towards the elimination of inequalities, offering opportunities to the disadvantaged.
Poverty and its erstwhile ally of inequality will never be defeated by the implementation of piecemeal measures and palliatives such as “charitable handouts” and “trickle down economics”, as the President said during his address. He alluded to the high number of young people being unemployed, inclusive of university graduates, hence his announcement of the introduction of measures to establish young people’s economic independence, and the promotion of micro-enterprise development.
Social compact to battle poverty
Of vital importance, too, according to the President, is that the battle against poverty will be fought by a “social compact” that reflects an “inclusionary process”, allowing for the involvement and participation of the private sector in a forum that will bring together the trade unions, political parties, and civil society. Out of this debate, a “social contract” is expected as a guide to the national economy until 2020.
Trade Union movement
Since a vibrant trade union movement is essential for social security, according to the President, the government will be revising labour legislation to allow for more effective representation of the workers. Added to this, effect will be given to a motion that had been passed in the Tenth Parliament to restore the removed annual subvention to Critchlow Labour College.
Working together with all stakeholders
Undoubtedly, the theme of unity has been the central feature of virtually all of the President’s speeches, since assuming office, and during his address on June 10, he again spoke of measures to promote social cohesion and protect the vulnerable. This will be done by establishing cordial relationships with civil society, religious organisations, and trade unions. He underlined that it is his government’s “responsibility to restore the viability of working people’s non-governmental organisations which have been gravely undermined”.
Tapping all resources
President Granger has continuously alluded to the good life for all Guyanese, and in his statement of his government’s intentions, he has repeated that the government “envisages a prosperous Guyana”. Among the initiatives to be taken, making this a reality are tax reform, inclusive of the value-added tax; tax concessions to wage earners; non-taxing of minimum wage earners; fiscal incentives on an equitable basis to all investors; a Sovereign Wealth Fund as a repository for revenues from our forests, mines, waters, lands and other natural resources; job creation mechanisms, promoting small and medium-sized enterprises, for full employment and job security; intensification of education in the sciences, technology, engineering, mining, agro-processing, the arts for employment expansion and economic growth; policies and opportunities for local entrepreneurs, investors, and the huge diaspora to develop “our abundant natural resources”.
Education Reform
In support of this goal of a prosperous Guyana, will be reforms to the national education system, as this will be the vehicle for producing quality citizens. Opportunities will be expanded for improving communication and human learning, in addition to bettering information, communication and education infrastructure in both the coastal and hinterland areas.
These reforms will also extend to arresting the problem of school drop-outs, ensuring that affected youths expend their time and talent in gainful employment, instead of prison.
Affordable and accessible housing
The needy will be able to access affordable housing in clean and safe communities that makes for wholesome living, and will be provided with basic infrastructure such as electricity, telephones, roads, solid waste disposal, and social support amenities such as potable water recreational, educational and sports facilities.
Strengthened governance
The very important aspect of governance will ensure the integrity and autonomy of the National Assembly, as it will be granted administrative autonomy, institutional autonomy, political autonomy, and financial autonomy, thus making it a “boon to democracy”. Accordingly, governance policy will be guided by the Commonwealth (Latimer House) Principles on the three Branches of Government that have been endorsed by Commonwealth Heads of Government. Some of the principles that will be implemented for the functioning of Parliament, will be the hiring of professional staff, independent of the public service; parliament having its own Budget Office and a Parliamentary Counsel.
Legislation will also be introduced to secure strong and lasting constitutional reforms, thereby guaranteeing good governance. The following legislative pieces will be introduced to give effect to the latter measures: A Constitution (Amendment) Bill that will give financial autonomy to certain entities, such as the Service Commissions and the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM); Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly Bill, for the creation of an independent Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly, thereby allowing for greater independence in staff appointments; A Fiscal Management and Accountability (Amendment) Bill that assures the financial independence of certain entities, and free them executive interference with their budgetary allocations;Former President’s (Benefits and Other Facilities) Bill that will cap benefits, inclusive of tax free concessions, while specifying conditions for benefits to be enjoyed; A constitutional Offices Commission Bill for the reviewing of salaries, pensions and other conditions for appointees to constitutional offices, inclusive of Members of the National Assembly; Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism(Amendment) Bill to curb money-laundering and contraband trade; A Telecommunications Bill, to provide a new regime for a liberalised and competitive telecommunications sector: A Public Utilities Commission (Amendment) Bill, for equal treatment to all investors and ensuring better service to consumers; A Broadcasting(Amendment) Bill that will give greater independence to the National Broadcasting Authority, ensuring standards of fairness, balance and accuracy on matters of public interest ; and a Local Government(Amendment) Bill that will allow for the date for local government elections.
There will also be legislation for upgrading Bartica, Mahdia, Mabaruma and Lethem to township status.
Green Guyana
Under the David Granger administration, Guyana will have a green economy that ensures human happiness that will be consistent with the exploitation of its natural resources. It will have the effect of allowing the current generation to have its needs “without jeopardising the opportunity of future generations to satisfy theirs”.
Coupled with ensuring a green economy, special attention will also be paid to the challenges of solid waste management, coastal zone conservation, flooding, public health and damage to rivers and forests, through the introduction of a strategy to protect the population from hazards, and the environment from degradation.
An energy policy that involves providing cheap energy will be introduced, so as to allow for renewable energy. There will also be a comprehensive plan in which investments will be made for improving the quality of public infrastructure, as this has been recognised as an “impediment” to Guyana being able to compete internationally. The introduction of a national infrastructure plan is planned for the maintenance and extension of aerodromes, highways, roadways, stellings and bridges, especially given the frequent fatal, riverain, aviation and road accidents.
Diplomatic Relations
It is only natural that the President Granger administration will seek to ensure the securing of Guyana’s border, while fostering closer collaborative efforts with CARICOM, the OAS, and UNASUR for resolving major regional and security challenges; as well as assuring the country’s adherence to agreements that respect Guyana’s territorial integrity.
At the same time, there will be deepening of Guyana’s economic relations with CARICOM.
Law enforcement
The important issue of law enforcement and defence, will attract reform measures for both the Armed Forces and Police Force for securing the nation’s borders, and protecting citizens, respectively. Higher salaries are on the cards for policemen/women, the President said, as well as plans for better equipping the GPF for a more professional body, suitable for suppressing serious crimes that have been scaring away foreign investors, stifling the manufacturing sector, strangling local enterprise, driving away the educated elite, and impeding social development, among other impediments.
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