– PSC Chair

CHAIRMAN of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Ramesh Persaud, on Wednesday, decried the status quo as it relates to the political sphere in Guyana.
And he concluded that the political gridlock in which the Government and the Opposition have found themselves is poisonous to the local private sector.
Persaud said, “The current political dispensation has its advantages, but its disadvantages at present are more prevalent and this is poisonous to the growth of private businesses, job creation and the growth of the economy.”

‘The current political dispensation has its advantages, but its disadvantages at present are more prevalent and this is poisonous to growth of private businesses, job creation and the growth of the economy’ — PSC Chair, Ramesh Persaud

To this end, he made clear the Commission’s call on the leadership of the country to work towards reversing the situation.
“The private sector is truly concerned about the current political climate in the country,” the PSC Chair said.
He surmised that the political dispensation, where the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) received majority support to form the Government, but faces a combined Opposition with the majority representation in the National Assembly for the combined Opposition, has not worked in the interest of the private sector.
Persaud said, “The private sector has concluded that the current political dispensation, where there exists a minority Government and a majority Opposition in the Parliament, is the sole reason for the non-passage of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) (Amendment) Bill.

‘The PSC is of the view that under the current political dispensation, a spirit of political compromise is needed to achieve consensus on major national issues’ — PSC Chair, Ramesh Persaud

“It has also seen the rejection of the many other transformational projects that the private sector has supported and endorsed.”
Among the embattled transformational projects are the Amaila Falls Hydropower project, the Cheddi Jagan International Airport modernisation project, the Specialty Hospital and the Marriott Hotel.
“The PSC is of the view that under the current political dispensation, a spirit of political compromise is needed to achieve consensus on major national issues,” the PSC stressed.
He also registered the Commission’s disappointment that greater efforts were not made to reach mutually acceptable positions on matters that have an impact on the bottom line for average Guyanese people.
“We are disappointed that adequate progress has not been made in creating win-win situations on many of national issues, by both the Government and the Opposition,” Persaud said.
The PSC Chair made these remarks at the Commission’s 22nd Annual General Meeting, at the Pegasus Hotel, which saw the attendance of representatives of the diplomatic community, private sector stakeholders, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, and other Government officials.

(By Vanessa Narine)