–in saving Guyana from being blacklisted
PRESIDENT of the Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce (CAIC), Mr Ramesh Dookhoo said Sunday that thanks in no small measue to the efforts of the government and Attorney-General, Mr Anil Nandlall, the Private Sector can rest easy for the moment. “The Private Sector is not happy, but we are certainly no longer at the edge of our seats. I think Mr. (Anil) Nandlall and the Government of Guyana should be given some credit. I know the President has spent many hours
dealing with this situation,” Dookhoo said in obvious reference to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) giving Guyana a chance to get its house in order where passage of the contentious Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) (Amendment) Bill is concerned.
The occasion was the annual meeting of the National Association of Regional Chambers of Commerce (ARCC) to elect a new executive, and voice their concerns on issues affecting the business community here.
The meeting was held at the Guyana International Conference Centre, and saw participation from representatives of the Upper Corentyne, Rupununi, Linden and Georgetown Chambers of Commerce among other stakeholders. Participating in the meet also were representatives of the Guyana Horticultural Society and the Kanuku Mountain Community group. The meeting was held under the theme: ‘Promoting Enterprise throughout Guyana’. Minister of Tourism Industry and Commerce, Mr Irfaan Ali was scheduled to deliver the feature address, but was unable to attend.
Members of ARCC highlighted factors that are affecting business growth in Guyana, namely: The political situation; the non-passage of the ammended AML/CFT Bill; the inavailability of cheap energy; and the illegal importation of goods through the Suriname border.
One of the issues Dookhoo touched on specifically was that every Tom, Dick and Harry, amny of whom do not even own a business, feels he is an authority on the economy. “Too much guess work,” Dookhoo said, adding:
“In order for businesses to proceed; for the Government to set the correct infrastructure for businesses to flourish, we must have Private Sector unity. ARCC has huge potential to complete the missing gap Guyana has, in terms of regional businesses.”
He also felt that it was high time the business community expand into uncharted waters, such as potato farming in places like the Kanuku Mountains, or even wheat farming.
On the issue of back-trading between Guyana and Suriname, Dookhoo is hoping that the planned exposition in the border township of Corriverton come January 2015, which anticipates seeing participation from the Suriname Chamber of Commerce, will put paid to that particular exercise.
“If we are to make contact with manufacturers, suppliers etc in Suriname, I believe it will do a great lot in reducing smuggled items,” he said, adding:
“Cross-border trade is of huge importance to us, so I think a carefully designed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the CAIC and ARCC can work to the advantage of both of us as we move ahead into the future.”
Noting that development often comes at a price, Dookhoo said that big corporations and other entities have an obligation to ensure that the social impacts that come with the terrain are at a minimum.
He also touched on the high cost of electricity and how it’s affecting value-added production, saying that something needs to be done about it, and fast.
“The hydro-project is now history, having been destroyed by many deskbound economists and propaganda experts,” Dookhoo said.
(GINA)
