WITH elections political campaigning in full swing, members of the business community have reported that while there has been no decline in business, there has not been an increase in business activities.The mood now is more of one focused on seeing off the elections as the so-called ‘silly season’ is not conducive to business, since business tends to ‘slow down’ during this period.

Elections Day is less than a month away (on May 11), and leaders in the private sector are hoping that business continues as per normal, and politicians conduct themselves in a respectful manner.
They underscored the importance for broad acceptance of the results which will be declared by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), pointing out that it is necessary for a peaceful post-election, and for Guyana to move forward.
President of Berbice Chambers of Commerce, Mr Mark Roopnarine, said since the campaigns begun in full swing, business in the Ancient County has been at one level, even though it was expected to pick-up during the recent Easter Season.
Business generally in the first quarter of the year is slow, but begins to gain momentum in March or the last month of the first quarter, building thereon, and culminating with a hive of activities in December.
Roopnarine told the Chronicle that at the beginning of this month, business has not been bad, but is a bit ordinary, largely because industry players are in ‘wait and see’ mode, awaiting the end of the elections period.
But he said the atmosphere remains bright, although there has been a decline in activities in the construction and automobile business.
In the rice sector, harvesting has commenced, but late payment by some millers has put a damper on business. Some millers have extended their late payment to farmers by a further two weeks, and Roopnarine is hoping that there is no further extension.
The Berbice Chambers of Commerce President is expecting the tempo in business to increase after the elections, but is hoping that the leaders of all the political parties exercise a high level of maturity during their campaigning.
Roopnarine is calling on the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) and the small parties to focus on issues, and desist from engaging in personal attacks and character assassinations.
PROVIDE SOLUTIONS
He said, for Guyana to move forward, attention has to be placed on providing solutions to challenges affecting the country, and this is what the political leaders from the various parties should be articulating on their political platforms.

The businessman is making an early appeal for sanity to prevail and for the elections results to be respected and accepted by all the political parties, so as to ensure a smooth and peaceful post-election.
Whichever party emerges victorious, he said, should hit the ground running and focus on improving the investment climate, reducing unemployment, raising the standard of living of ordinary Guyanese, and adopt an inclusive approach to governance.
Roopnarine told this publication that the Berbice Chambers expects the new Government to pass the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill, bring the Guyana-Suriname Bridge on stream, look at the possibility of reducing the Value Added Tax (VAT), and offer concessions for the establishment of new businesses.
These, he said, will be a shot-in-the-arm for commerce in Berbice, and across the country.
Private Sector Commission Chairman, Mr Ramesh Persaud, in another section of the media, was quoted as saying that though the current business environment is not perfect, it is adequate to nurture further growth and development, and the next Administration should pay attention along these lines.
Georgetown Chambers of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) President, Mr Lance Hinds, had previously called on all political parties to conduct their campaigns in a mature manner to protect the local investment climate.
Hinds had said  investors’ confidence, along with the confidence of the local private sector and the general public, would only increase if all parties work to build a more mature and progressive political environment.
“Almost 50 years after Independence, we still have a highly combative, partisan political process, severely affected by race and class, seemingly unable to put the nation and its people first on a regular basis,” he said.

The Essequibo Chamber of Commerce has been defunct for some years now, but efforts are being made to resuscitate the entity.
A member of the resuscitation team told the Guyana Chronicle that though he does not have reliable data at hand, from what the team has seen, there has not been a decline in business in Essequibo. But at the same time, it does not appear that there has been an increase in business activities there.
Over at the mining town, Linden Chambers of Commerce President, Mr Kevin De Jonge, said while business there remains stable, he is hoping that the momentum picks up after the elections.
De Jongetold this publication that business in the first quarter of the year has not been bright, and understandably so, as the first quarter is not the best period of the business calendar.
SPEEDY FINISH
He too, is hoping for the elections period to be over quickly, so that life and business return to normalcy.
But this, he said, is dependent on how mature the politicians from the various political parties conduct themselves and control their supporters, especially the over-enthusiastic ones. He said, too, that though the supporters of the two major political forces have different, sometimes strong opposing views, they should not forget to love each other, as life goes on after the elections.
The Linden Chambers of Commerce President is also urging political leaders and activists to ensure that what they say on the campaign trail is not adverse to the business community and promote disunity and disquiet among the people.
De Jonge said the chambers want the political parties to focus less on rhetoric and more on real solutions to address unemployment and other challenges affecting Linden.
He said the business representative body is willing to work with whichever party wins the elections, to enhance business in the mining town and the well-being of residents there.
The businessman stressed that it is important that whichever party wins, they pay more attention to Linden, and work together with their political rivals to put Guyana and the people of Guyana first.

He said the new Government should focus more on the Linden Enterprise Network (LEN) Project which gives support to the development of small businesses.
On this note, the Linden Chamber of Commerce President said it would be useful if an investment office is establish in Linden to avoid businesspersons from the mining community travelling to Georgetown for information.
He said the business community and residents of Linden are also looking forward to the completion of the paved road from Linden to Lethem and the construction of a “small” deep water harbour in the town.
These developments, he said, will significantly open up commerce in the mining community and redound to the benefit of all Guyanese.
The businessman told this publication that the elections should not be seen as a contest of winners and losers, but as a match between patriots competing against each other to do the best for Guyana.
De Jonge is also calling on all the political parties to accept the results of the 2015 General and Regional Elections and move on, saying that Guyana has come a long way, and there should be no place for post-elections violence.

By Tajeram Mohabir