-PSC Chairman
THE PRIVATE sector has a stake in the educational advancements made and Thursday at the Private Sector Commission’s (PSC) 19th Annual General Meeting (AGM), its Chairman, Mr. Ramesh Dookhoo, called for the upgrade of the University of Guyana to be addressed with vigour and urgency.
“We need the upgrading and transformation of the University so that it can provide the skills needed for new industries,” he said.
Dookhoo, directing his statements to the stakeholders in the political arena, called for the University’s advancement to be non-political.
He said, “Let us take the politics out of UG, and my comments are not targeted to the PPP alone, and pursue a rational and responsible path to reform in a more rapid manner.”
The PSC Chairman made it clear that new industries require new skills in strategy, management, technical support; information technology, research and marketing, science and technology and most of all Human Resources development.
“We do not even have an accounting degree at the university,” he pointed out.
Dookhoo expressed the hope that the support of $10M from the World Bank will begin to contribute to the rehabilitation of the University this year.
“Hardened positions at the level of the University Council and those of management must be changed to reflect a new attitude of putting the University of Guyana first,” he posited.

Change we need

The PSC Chairman pointed out that the changes advocated by the private sector require hard work and improved political and institutional will than has been demonstrated in the past.
According to Dookhoo, the private sector is looking to have changes in several other areas, including in:
* The political culture of Guyana, one that supports higher investment in all sectors and more-so in these new sectors that require a changed and more beautiful political landscape;
* The crime situation, particularly since this fact influences investment in all sectors but moreover influences the growth potential of the tourism industry, which is an industry with very high growth –potential;
* The level of competitiveness, a process started through the work of the National Competitiveness Strategy (NSC);
* At the Deeds Registry, work involving reforms that will assist the starting and closing of business in Guyana, similar to the processes in developed countries;
* In trade, via enhanced trade facilitation, which will meet the demands of the growing private sector especially in the context of competitiveness that is derived out of globalization and international trade, and to maintain a proper supply chain management system;
* In Labour Relations, by transforming Industrial and Labour Relations from an Adversarial to a Consensus-based Model;
* Partnerships with the development community; and
* Linkages for business development, among others.
“The change we need require more deliberate action, more selflessness, and greater nationalism on the part of all stakeholders-, the private sector, the Government, political parties and civil society,” he said.
He stressed that before investment in new sectors occur and for those sectors to experience their potential and for that growth to feed into higher growth in the economy as a whole, there must be change.