APNU-AFC’s economic plan…All agents of financial lawlessness in NICIL, GRA, GFC, GGMC etc will be dealt with – APNU-AFC

Mar 02, 2015 News

---

…so that the much needed transparency and accountability can be returned

By: Kiana Wilburg

While it gears to launch its election campaign on Wednesday in preparation for the May 11 polls, A Partnership for National Unity-Alliance For Change (APNU-AFC) disclosed that it is practically in the final stages of preparing its joint economic plan for the nation.
According to its crafters, the plan includes cleansing certain state agencies of certain impediments that lead to financial lawlessness and restructuring its management team as a means to improving transparency and financial probity. Some of these agencies are NICIL, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) and the Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest).

APNU’s Shadow Minister of Finance Carl Greenidge in a recent interview with this publication explained some of the details of the APNU-AFC programme for improved governance as it relates to economic development, financial legislation and taxation reform.
As for the workings of GO-Invest, NICIL, GRA and GFC, the opposition member said that an APNU-AFC government would ensure that its arrangements are determined by internationally acceptable criteria rather than on “nationality, ethnicity idiosyncrasies of Ministers, the President or, on under-the-counter arrangements that currently prevail.” He emphasized that it is important for certain agents of financial lawlessness to be removed so that the “much needed transparency and accountability can be returned.”
The same he said also applies to the regulative agencies such as the Bank of Guyana and the Financial Intelligence Unit, which are required to oversee areas where IT and technological changes are rapid and pose challenges as regards criminal intrusion into business activities.
Greenidge said that the programme of the coalition will be informed by a desire to see transparency and fairness in decision-making so that decisions are predictable and rational and implemented against a level playing field for all. He stressed that Guyanese will be given first priority where priority is warranted.
Its economic programme for the country he said, also takes note of Guyana’s regional integration priorities. Greenidge said that special treatment can be expected where firms bring special technologies; impart needed skills to Guyanese labour and where foreign enterprises are prepared to undertake investment in priority areas where technical and or financial risk is so high as to normally discourage major investment.
The Shadow Minister of Finance also stated that economic development initiatives have been agreed in broad terms, but the details submitted by the two Parties have to be hammered out into a timetable and priorities.
He said, too, that the framework within which economic development is to take place has to be improved and this means law and order will have to be restored in the economic arena. He said that this is imperative “so that sanctity of contracts can be restored, and ensure that the predatory behavior of individuals can be stopped.”
He asserted that the APNU-AFC partnership, once it assumes office, plans to establish and nurture a vibrant, flexible, modern economy which is based on high level of skills with matching incomes.
Greenidge said that the most urgent programmes will be aimed at the vulnerable members of the community, namely – the young unemployed and unskilled particularly young females, the old and the destitute.
The former Finance Minister said that to be meaningful, that programme will need to be closely tied to training and the development of marketable skills and important workplace behaviour. The other element of that programme, he said, will address the plight of pensioners of all types and see the design of a system which would bring pensions closer to the national minimum wage.
Greenidge expressed that urgent attention would be paid to the resuscitation of the sugar industry which will be based on the recommendations of a stakeholder and expert group. He mentioned too that the abuse of the rice industry and the misappropriation of the proceeds of the sales of rice to Venezuela for the benefit of a small group close to the PPP will also be terminated.
The financial point man said too that the APNU-AFC economic plan also notes the recommendations of a multi-disciplinary group which examines the path the country should pursue as regards renewable energy. This he said would of course include hydro power.
He expressed as well that other areas would include institutional arrangements to put on an acceptable basis, the remuneration of Public Servants and the reform of the Public Service so as to eliminate the scandalous situation generated by the current arrangements the PPP has put in place.
Greenidge emphasized that no one should be surprised to learn that the vexed issue of VAT and tax reform would be addressed urgently by a new Government.
Also of importance he added, is that no modern state can survive, let alone keep abreast with the demands of international trade or ensure the continual enhancement of its human resources without the provision of high quality and relevant educational facilities and curricula.
On this premise, the former Finance Minister said that the University of Guyana sits at the centre of such a state and it is the intention of the APNU-AFC coalition to provide state of the art university services on which knowledge based and creative economy would support the country’s industries, services and agricultural sectors in particular.
“Special attention would therefore be paid to re-establishing UG as credible university, embracing international standards of academic excellence,” Greenidge concluded.

---

---