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“As a mere non-Trini journalist, I do not envy the PNM’s leader, Dr Keith Rowley, and fellow opposition colleagues in their expected efforts to decry what they may view as shortcomings, or worse, in the “Howai Budget” of 2014, amid some amusing talk of it being an “election” presentation.
“What could be a credible observation is that, with very few and not more than two exceptions within our Caribbean Community — Guyana being one — a whole lot of Finance Ministers in this region would be enviously viewing Mr Howai’s fortunate position in a robust, energy-based economy that facilitates his comparatively generous fiscal offerings and more.
“The dramatic political side-show of unseating of the usually flamboyant Parliamentarian Herbert Volney cannot seriously detract from Howai’s new initiatives to stimulate economic growth and boost job creation. After all, these are consistent with strategies being encouraged by the international financial institutions (IFIs) and major foreign donors.
“From a regional perspective, I think that the Finance Minister’s fiscal policies, as they relate to the termination of the TT$300M annual subsidy for state-owned Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL), and the reaffirmation to pursue a joint food production partnership with Guyana, starting with large-scale rice production, would both be welcome by regional partners as a whole.
“In terms of the latter, just think of the crippling estimated US$5 (five) Billion being spent annually in food imports
“First, the ending of CAL’s subsidy: The shareholders and management of regional airline LIAT would no longer be able to link some of the recurring frustrating complaints from travellers with their own operational problems, with talk about the economic advantage that CAL has long enjoyed with the US$50 million annual subsidy.
“Secondly, consistent with a visionary policy dating back to the late Prime Minister, Eric Williams for the creation of a Caribbean Food Corporation (CFC), and associated with ideas of that doyen among regional economists, the late William Demas, the “Howai Budget” reflects the commitment of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s administration to push ahead with food production plans with Guyana, long viewed — along with Belize — as the potential “food baskets of CARICOM.
“Now that suspension of the annual TT$300 million subsidy to CAL has been announced, it is reasonable to expect a response from the shareholder governments and Board of LIAT, since it would undoubtedly be a boost for the new “business plan” crafted for the island-hopping regional airline, as earlier reported in this column.
“LIAT and CAL could hardly be unaware of the new competition to be faced from Suriname in doing airline business with Guyana, one of the destinations from which have flowed recurring complaints against both regional airlines.
Just a week ago, news reported out of Georgetown pointed to the increased “attraction” for Guyana of “Dutch tourists” via Suriname.
Discrimination at Piarco
“In this context, perhaps CAL and the minister responsible for air transportation, if not also the Prime Minister herself, may wish to make a public statement why Guyanese passengers travelling from the USA or elsewhere via Piarco to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport have to be subjected to humiliating and discriminatory treatment at this country’s international airport.
“Neither the ministry directly responsible, nor that of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs can honestly claim “unawareness” of such unwarranted discrimination against Guyanese on their way back home.
“Ask Guyana’s Foreign Minister. Ask the Trinidad Express; the latter has both reported and editorialised on this sad situation that’s so contrary to the historical “good relations” between two neighbour states an hour’s CAL flying time (apart).
“Meanwhile, we in the Caribbean would undoubtedly be joining the rest of the world in watching and assessing how President Obama performs in relation to his threatened military strikes against Syria, in the face of uncertainties of positive endorsement from the US Congress.
“Additionally, there are the growing warnings against such a development coming from the UN Secretary General, the Pope, as well as UN veto-wielding powers like Russia and China.”
(This article appeared in yesterday’s midweek column by the author. It is reprinted, courtesy of the Trinidad Express)
