– PSC tells AGM meeting
CHAIRMAN of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Ramesh Dookoo, delivered “a carefully designed message” to the audience at the 20th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the body held yesterday at the Pegasus hotel. Dookhoo looked back at the activities and achievements of the Commission and in measured tones set about presenting “his genuine thoughts at this time”.

Key among the PSC’s achievements are the five percent reduction in Corporate taxes, “unparalleled growth in the private sector”, and record levels in gold and rice production.
The Chairman was loud in praise for the banking sector; lauding its “unparalleled lendings and growth rates that exceeded those of 2011.” But was just as loud in his criticism saying, “there are far too many fees associated with the sector…some hidden…and some very confusing”, he then challenged the sector to publish its fee structures.
He was also forthcoming on the issue of local government elections. He said we need local government elections and we need to revamp and change the local government systems; then offered that “in the quest for the centralization of political power we destroyed all of these systems”, but “…efficient local government requires decentralization of power to the people…”
He noted the exciting times we live in, about the unprecedented generation of wealth, unrestricted press freedom, the marked presence of the diplomatic community, increased revenues to the government by way of PAYE and corporation taxes and VAT paid by the Private Sector.
In a telling comment about the political landscape said, “Politically we have the will of the people being expressed in the numbers in Parliament; we have a rich democracy and a richly deserved democracy after many years of experiments with ‘isms’”.
According to Dookhoo, the days of zero sum politics and maximum leadership are over, and Guyana’s problems should be solved with Guyanese solutions. He exhorted the politicians to revisit salaries, taxes, pension benefits for the public, GPL’s and GWI’s subsidies, social benefits and services; to put its broadcast legislation in place, create standards for journalism and engage parliamentarians.
The challenges faced by the sector were also raised – 20 lawsuits against regulatory bodies of all kinds, businesses abused by the press daily and targeted by unfriendly political parties, leaders of the sector vilified by businesses whose individual causes are not represented.
He called for introspection by the sector and highlighted, though not by name, one organization under its umbrella that has had the same President for 12 years.
The press seemed equally challenging too. Dookhoo said the “the 4th estate is not just a business, its health is important to our democracy. But when it vilifies targets, demonises and lies, there must be instruments in place to deal with this.”
He concluded his address with a rousing cry for us to stop posturing as a country, to stop one up – manship, to eradicate corruption in all sections of society, not interfere in the due process of justice and fair play and re – establish all Constitutional Commissions, namely the Office of the Ombudsman, the tax tribunals and the procurement commission.
Then in an almost cheeky gesture to President Donald Ramotar, he introduced what he called the concept of “tone at the top”.
In explaining the concept he said, “if the perception that the guys at the top of a company, a country or an institution are stealing and are corrupt, it empowers all and sundry to do the same.” He told the President that he has a golden opportunity to make right “the tone at the top” by sending a clear warning on the issue of corruption to all and sundry – the private sector, the public sector, the professions, everyone…”
The meeting was chaired by Andrew Astwood, Honorable Secretary of the PSC. President Donald Ramotar was the Guest Speaker. Also in attendance were Ministers Ashni Singh and Irfaan Ali, members of the Diplomatic Corp and representatives of the PSC.