Latest update January 7th, 2025 4:10 AM
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PSC mulls British – Like bribery legislation
The introduction in Guyana of corruption legislation similar to Britain may be on the horizon, local private sector officials say.
The issue of corruption was among several raised during a meeting Thursday between the Private Sector Commission (PSC) and Madeline Knox, Head of the Caribbean team for the Caribbean, Central America and Mexico Department of the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Also there was British High Commissioner, Andrew Ayre.
According to the PSC yesterday, the British officials during the meeting at the business organization’s boardroom “expressed concern about corruption in Guyana”.
PSC meeting with UK officials: From left is PSC’s Norman McLean; Madeline Knox, Head of the Caribbean team for the Caribbean, Central America and Mexico Department of the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office, British High Commissioner, Andrew Ayre, and PSC’s Chairman, Ramesh Dookhoo.
The PSC said it explained that Guyana has introduced procurement legislation to address the possibility of bid-rigging and other irregularities related to the tendering for contracts.
“The possibility of Guyana introducing legislation similar to the UK’s recent Bribery Act was also discussed.”
At the meeting also were PSC’s Chairman, Ramesh Dookhoo, and Major General (rtd) Norman McLean.
With respect to the country’s manufacturing sector, the private sector said that it has been lobbying for the establishment of a free zone.
“It was noted too that the issue of electricity is crucial to the manufacturing sector which needs cheaper energy to be able to compete.”
Knox and the High Commissioner were also given a brief history of the country’s political situation by the PSC’s Chairman who said that the current parliamentary disposition allows for greater cooperation between the political parties and that this bodes well for Guyana. “The Chairman also briefed the UK government representatives on the country’s economic prospects from a private sector perspective and assured them that the private sector sees great scope for investment and economic development.”
The expansion of mining and the opportunities being opened up for the country’s agricultural sector were also discussed and it was noted that the current trade agreements in force will allow for an expansion of exports.
“The non-reciprocal Partial Scope Agreement with Brazil and the current demand for Guyanese exports by Venezuela were particularly mentioned. The Economic Partnership Agreement was also discussed and the PSC said that Guyana has fulfilled its obligations under the Agreement but wants to see more grant funding flowing to Guyana’s private sector from Europe. The PSC felt that trade relations with CARICOM have been disappointing since a high degree of protectionism still exists in other Caribbean countries.”
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