GPL rated most ineffective Public Sector entity
GUYANA Power & Light Inc. (GPL) has been rated the most ineffective Public Sector entity, in the 2010 Guyana Business Outlook made public yesterday.

Chartered Accountants, Ram and McRae, who conducted the study, said a total of 59 entities in the business community, with operations in all 10 Administrative Regions of the country, did the rating when asked to assess public sector entities affecting them.

According to the report, the utility is rated ineffective by 83 per cent of those which responded to the questionnaire.

Following GPL are Guyana Police Force (GPF) rated ineffective by 68 per cent of the respondents and Ministry of Home Affairs, with the same percentage.

On a more positive note, the Ministry of Agriculture was assessed the most effective, securing 76 per cent support.

The Bank of Guyana (BOG) was second with 58 per cent backing followed by Ministry of Labour.

Partner in the surveying firm, Mr. Rakesh Latchana, who presented the findings at a media briefing, said a similar exercise was done with the Private Sector and non governmental organizations (NGOs).

“Of the 10 organisations we looked at, the two trade union umbrella bodies were rated the lowest in terms of effectiveness with the Trades Union Congress slightly ahead of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions,” he said.

Latchana added that neither entity received an excellent or very effective rating from any respondent.

HIGHEST
Additionally, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Guyana and the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association were rated highest with 33 and 22 per cent of the respondents rating them as effective, respectively.

The survey, began in 1995, was done electronically using specialised web-based survey software, which also facilitated the analysis of responses to a questionnaire with 36 questions, which required the respondents to give brief details on their businesses and highlights of their financial performances in 2009.

They were also asked to comment on their outlook on the economy as well as projections and strategies for 2010.

Latchana asserted that, in order to maintain the integrity of the survey, quality control measures were enforced.

For example, he said one entity’s responses were struck out of the survey when it was found to have been completed by an unauthorised individual.

Copies of report have been circulated to political leaders, Government officials, business leaders, investors and the international financial institutions.

A statement from the organisation authoring the report stated that, while the survey is not designed to produce statistically valid findings, it is believed to be a fair representation because of the range of businesses that participate.