Private businesses critical of PPP/C Govt. were victimized

Private businesses critical of PPP/C Govt. were victimized – USAID

Aug 21, 2016 News

…Party members, supporters received contracts, radio licences, undervalued lands

Under the former People’s Progressive Party Civic government some private entities were marginalized and victimized, including the private media, for criticizing government policies or its ministers. This is according to a recent report published by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The international body noted that the private sector, like others in the society, is dependent on government favours and patronage. As a result of this prevailing culture, the organisation found that businesses and private citizens were regularly intimidated and directly punished when criticizing previous governments.
According to the document, those businesses which supported the PPP/C regime were recognized to have benefited tremendously from government contracts. However according to the report, the party’s favours did not stop there, as preferential treatment was also given in the areas of placement of government advertisements, awarding of radio and television broadcast licences and waving of taxes and access to lands at costs below market value.
These issues did raise eyebrows under the PPP/C government whereby in September 2011, former President Bharrat Jagdeo had brought the Broadcasting Bill into law, setting up the National Broadcasting Authority, which proceeded to distribute about 22 radio and television licences, two months before general and regional elections that year.
Suspicions of favouritism were raised when it was unearthed that some of the licences were given to friends and supporters of the party.
On the issue of deferential land distribution, last October the State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU) had completed a report which revealed that in 2010 President Bharrat Jagdeo and his Cabinet authorized the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) to privatize state lands.
Investigations revealed that members of the PPP/C and prominent citizens acquired prime real estate at considerable low prices. It was reported that $200M was spent to prepare the Sparendaam East Coast Demerara seafront estate. Certain recipients reportedly paid a meagre $1.5M for one lot or $114 per square foot at the time.
These are two issues which are still to be addressed by the current APNU-AFC coalition government. In August 2015 Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo had promised to revise and reclaim radio and television licences that were distributed under the former PPP/C administration. And SARU is keeping a close eye on the “Pradoville Two” matter and it is expected that charges, whether criminal or civil, will eventually be levelled.

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Private businesses critical of PPP/C Govt. were victimized – USAID

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