— in first 100 days, groundwork laid to reboot economy, build inclusive society, transform lives, put Guyana on path to rapid development

By Navendra Seoraj
RESTORING balance to an economy ‘rattled’ by a five-month elections impasse and the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, while protecting people, has been the foremost aim of the new People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government over the past 100 days in the office, said President, Dr. Irfaan Ali.

Guyana’s economy, according to President Ali, was in a state of “neglectful distress”, especially during the five-month impasse after polling day on March 2, 2020, when people not only patiently awaited the election results, but were ‘forced’ to confront the effects of the pandemic, alone.

The perilous conditions persisted, while the former A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) engaged in corruption, squander-mania, unauthorised forays in the public purse and the unlawful disposal of public resources, the President lamented.

“These and other iniquities occurred whilst our people were being subjected to extreme hardships. The coronavirus pandemic triggered a downturn in production, a slowdown of business and the loss of jobs and income.

“Many families struggled to put food on their tables; many small businesses found themselves in a financially perilous state. Schools had to be closed; examinations adjusted and our health care system was left to rot with no basic medical supplies procured in the last two years,” said President Ali in his address to the nation on the Government’s 100 days in office.

He contended that instead of a comprehensive, coherent and coordinated response to address the pandemic, the former Government’s reaction was illusory, incoherent and inept.

Testing was ‘abysmally’ low, while many regional hospitals were ill-equipped to treat severe cases of COVID-19, President Ali lamented, adding: “When we assumed office, we found insufficient quantities of testing kits, testing equipment, protective gear for frontline workers, ventilators and oxygen concentrators. The much-vaunted Infectious Diseases Hospital turned out to be an inoperable, bare-boned facility.”
On a macro level, public administration was anemic, said President Ali, noting that assessments, which the new Government conducted in ministries, Government agencies and departments, and in public corporations, found appalling levels of incompetence, maladministration, gaps in the delivery of public services and poor or absent policy directives.

NEVER BEEN DAUNTED
“The PPP/C administrations, however, have never been daunted by challenges. When the nation’s interest so demands, the PPP/C has always risen to the occasion. And, true to form, we have commenced the task of remedying the lamentable state of affairs which we inherited. We have over the past 100 days delivered,” said the Head of State.

The Government, he said, did not need to formulate a 100-day plan because development, for his administration, is not a sideshow but a sustainable process. Instead, the PPP/C’s constituted the government’s pact with the people.
“The tasks, which we have set after widespread consultations, commit us to work day-in, day-out to ensure opportunities, engineer equality and entrench national unity,” said President Ali.

Delivering betterment was, however, not done in isolation, so the President extended gratitude to frontline health workers, teachers and members of the Joint Services who were equally involved in safeguarding the citizens of Guyana.

Over the past 100 days, the Government and other stakeholders have responded responsibly to the health crisis; they are rebooting the economy, relieving citizens’ burdens, restoring hope, rebuilding confidence and re-engineering development.

Among the measures employed to “relieve the burdens” were the $25,000 COVID-19 cash grant; the $150 million for risk allowances for frontline health workers; the two-week tax-free payout to the Joint Services; the removal of Value-Added Tax (VAT) on water and electricity; and free water and increased pensions for the elderly.

Housing is a basic need which the Government also intends to satisfy, and it has already started to prepare the groundwork to deliver on the promise of 50,000 house lots over the next five years.

REBOOTING THE ECONOMY
“Another of our immediate priorities was the rebooting of our economy while ensuring that our people and society were protected. We came into Government without a budget. In record time, we crafted an emergency budget which included measures aimed at nursing our economy to good health, stimulating our economic sectors, attracting new investments, creating employment and improving the economy’s competitiveness,” said President Ali.
In this year’s emergency budget, the Government has instituted measures to improve competitiveness including providing tax concessions on mining, agro-processing, cold storage and packaging; the removal of VAT on exports and allowing exporters, including those in the fishing, rice and timber industries, to reclaim input VAT.

The Government has also removed the VAT on fertilisers, agro-chemicals, pesticides, and key inputs into the poultry sector.
“We are reigniting the engines of commerce and industry. Our people are being put back to work. Small businesses are regaining ground with the co-operation of financial institutions and financial initiatives of my Government. Investment interest is high. Our economy will be made robust again in a positive development trajectory,” said President Ali.

Although new investments are important, there continues to be focus on the development of traditional sectors, which are integral to aligning Guyana along a positive development trajectory.

The sugar industry is already being resuscitated with the reopening of three estates; RUSAL has expressed interest in restarting operations here, while other investors have an interest in mining bauxite as well; and efforts are being made to revitalise the forestry sector, among other things.
On the other hand, as part of ensuring there is a diversified economy, the Government has liberalised the telecommunication sector, releasing a 30-year monopoly on the sector held by the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT).

“We are also eager to ensure that tourism emerges as a major growth pole in the future. In our first 100 days, we launched an Expression of Interest for the development of new hotels which has proven that there are tremendous interest in this sector.

In addition, we have engaged in discussions with a number of airlines, including Virgin Atlantic, West Jet and Inter-Caribbean Airways with a view to having them service the Guyana route,” said President Ali.

An attractive sight will be below those flying over Guyana, as the Government has started the groundwork for transformational infrastructural change.
Among some of the impending projects are the new Demerara Harbour Bridge; a bridge connecting Guyana and Suriname; the four-lane East Coast Demerara-East Bank Demerara bypass road; a new four-lane road from the site of the new Demerara Harbour Bridge to Parika; and the 250-megawatt gas-to-energy project.

“Guyana’s prospects have never been more promising. We will translate that promise into prosperity. Guyanese can look forward to a better life under the PPP/C administration. Despite the monumental challenges which we faced, we have defied expectations and delivered progress,” President Ali assured.