-disagrees with Economic Freedom Report
– rejects Private Group’s Findings
GUYANA’s largest umbrella organisation, the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) representing some 30,000 registered workers has come out in support of government’s investments in and expansion of its various people-oriented national development project. “FITUG is, at the same time, recording its strong disagreement with the findings, conclusions and ranking of Guyana at a most low level on its so-called index.”
“As the majority representative of Guyana’s workforce could not sit idly by when a private organisation issues an “international” 2010 Index of Economic Freedom Report which lambastes the Government of Guyana for expanding vital sectors of Guyana’s economy. It is the working-class which will be the main beneficiary of national investment in drainage and irrigation, in hydro-electricity, in health care, education, housing and the other various vital social services.”
“FITUG is heartened and still hopeful with respect to the 2010 National Budget allocations with G$13.4B being allocated to Health, Education, G$20.8B, Water and Housing, G$5.8B and Poverty Alleviation, G$14.2B all told consuming G$54.2 or 37.9% of this year’s G$142.8B budget. On top of that millions are to be expended on Vulnerable groups and other targeted interventions. To us this reflects people-friendly investments and worker-oriented planning to cater for a reasonably satisfied work-force with necessary social security and safety-nets.”
FITUG also said the private Foundation responsible for this latest “report” resides in a country which is grappling with unemployment, fiscal challenges and a general economic slump despite that country’s wealth. Who is this group to dare to assess and pass judgment on Guyana’s economic status, therefore? As has been pointed out by our Head of State, a prominent economist himself, the more reliable indicators of Guyana’s economic performance come from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, the US Millennium Challenge Corporation and other recognized International Development Banks.
“Reports or no reports, a government anywhere must respond to its nation’s urgent priority needs, unmindful of how harshly private, overseas, right wing groups with their own agendas may seek to assess and rank local economic performance.”
FITUG said, however, it recognises the dangerous mischief misleading criteria could cause to Guyana’s economic management and status especially when private foundations masquerade as credible international assessors. Guyana’s workers must be aware of those mischievous strategies from afar.