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Housing Minister’s talks on effects of budget cuts ironic – YCT

Apr 25, 2012 News

 

The Youth Coalition for Transformation (YCT) during a press briefing, yesterday, stated that the Tourism and Housing Minister Irfaan Ali’s statement that contractors employed by the various ministries to work on projects have invested millions in machinery and will be affected by the proposed budget cuts, is ironic.
“We in the Youth Coalition for Transformation have not heard any government official respond in defence to sawmill operators, loggers and furniture manufactures in Linden who have invested millions into their companies and have to either close them down or downscale business because they are not receiving concessions.”
According to Nia Phill of the YCT, what is observed is clearly a double standard and the PPP/C Government will only represent those who have supported them and those supporters are the contractors who Minister Ali mentioned in his interview with a local television newscast, Prime News, on April 18, 2012.
According to Phill, one sawmill operator from the mining town related to them during a recent visit that he has been in the lumber business for fifteen years, but because of his political choice, he was not granted concession by the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC).
“This sawmill operator invested in the purchase of a $4 million piece of equipment which he can’t use because he has not received concession and licence to operate it…he said a letter was penned to former President Bharrat Jagdeo last year for which he received a response redirecting him to the office of the GFC. Eleven months after, he is still without a concession.”
The YCT said it is in receipt of a copy of the letter in response to the sawmill operator which was signed by one Kheedmat L. Budhu, Special Assistant to former President Jagdeo.
Further it was stated that concessions are being granted to loggers from the Corentyne, East Coast Demerara, East Bank Demerara, West Bank Demerara and Essequibo.
Phill pointed out that the sawmill operator said that he is now dependent on illegal lumber for survival as he has no intention of closing his doors.
According to the YCT, loggers and furniture manufacturers in Linden have also invested in the purchase of equipment in the operation of their business and are unable to use them. Further, investors were forced to dismiss workers.
“No Government official seems to be concerned with the plight of these Linden business operators because it somewhat appear in their eyes that the people of Linden made a bad political choice and must pay for it.”
The YCT suggested that Minister Ali and other ministers in this regime should be cautious when making certain statements.
“The people of Linden and other areas around this country, not pro-PPP/C, deserve the same representation being given to contractors that Minister Ali spoke of.”

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