And the droning continues

Jan 28, 2011 Editorial

One of the debilitating features of our political system is the rancour that accompanies the budget debate. One would hope that a sense of decorum would be observed by our elected officials as they attempt to craft a governmental spending programme that is supposed to develop the country we all have to live in, when all is said and done. While one expects the opposition to poke holes in the government’s proposals, one would hope that the latter would at the same time suggest what they would have done differently – if they were in the driver’s seat.
While there were sporadic attempts at alternative formulations, the opposition as a whole does not appear to have a coherent plan to confront the manifest challenges that beset the nation. Take the bauxite industry, which is dominated by members of an ethnic group that the major opposition party asserts also dominates it. Exactly how would they go about settling the labour dispute in the Berbice operations that has dragged on for more than a year? What are the rules of engagement they would advise in an industry that needs to urgently raise its productivity since it still confronts a weak world market? Will they still advocate the posture of confrontation or are they willing to work towards a new spirit of cooperation that can place the Guyanese product once more on the metallurgical map?
And while they are at it, the problems of a restive workforce and their unions are not confined to the bauxite industry. Could they pronounce on possible new modes of labour-management relations needed at this juncture of our economic takeoff? For instance, should it become part of our institutional structure that labour ought to sit on the board of directors, as the Secretary to the Cabinet once floated in the sugar industry?
And what about sugar as a whole? It is not enough to crow about the travails that the government is confronted with in field and factory. What exactly would the opposition do about the Skeldon Factory? The Chinese builder is already being penalised by the government. We cannot go back into the past and keep on moaning about the merits or demerits of the expansion project. The populace, including those that will show up at the polls later this year, are already au fait with that debacle.
Guyana is faced with a fait accompli. The opposition must display some imagination and foresight to come up with some concrete plans to show that they are better qualified to lead the country. For instance, will increased mechanisation solve the now chronic labour shortage? Will the benefits of such mechanisation be wiped out by the increased compaction of the soils, destruction of the buds and the consequent drop in the number of ratoons? Quo vadis?
What about the protection of our infant industries? We have not heard the opposition highlighting the damage wrought on local manufacturers by the cheap imports flooding our markets – primarily, but not solely from China. Cheap wooden doors, windows, fibreglass products, mattresses etc, are being dumped here. And even if they are not, but actually second quality goods are being passed off as first, what about making squawks on the consumers’ behalf?
Should we begin to introduce legislation to protect our local manufacturers? Consider the benefits to our entire economy if we were able to nurture some world class manufacturing companies. Why can’t we? But we have to remember that there are hardly any such success stories without a helpful government.
Then finally, why can’t Jack ever be given his jacket. Surely there were a few instances in the $161 billion budget where the government got it right. Are there no bright spots in the government’s social agenda and spending? What about the thrust in nationwide internet connectivity? Surely the low inflation rate is a good thing. The opposition would be given more credit and credibility by the attentive electorate if they are more balanced in their critique. Critique does not have to be synonymous with criticism.

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