Local content raised as hundreds throng Berbice expo

Sep 29, 2019 News

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The 15th Annual Berbice Exposition and Trade Fair organised by the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce opened Friday night with hundreds in attendance.

With more than 100 booths occupied by businesses throughout Guyana, it was a spectacle for patrons streaming into the Albion Sports Complex Venue from as early as 16:00 hrs.
As is executed every expo, the opening ceremony is attended by Government officials, regional officials and a company rep, this year was no different.
Officially opening the expo was former Minister of Business and now Director of Manufacturing and Marketing, Dominic Gaskin; Regional Chairman David Armogan; General Manager for Sol Guyana Inc Liz Wyatt; and an unexpected visitor, PPP’s Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali who was invited on stage when he arrived.
President of the CCCC, Mohamed Rafeek, during his opening remarks asserted that for investments to take place in Guyana the investment climate must be conducive enough. He said that certain conditions need to be established for business to thrive, these include maintenance of Law and Order; ensuring that the prevailing political situation is not overwhelmed or overtaken by chaos, uncertainty and anarchy; an

efficient bureaucracy that is not hindered by sloth and red tape; a tax system that is fair and not burdensome or deterring and providing incentives such as tax holidays and concessions on energy and utility costs to offset draining the financial resources of willing investors.
Referring to the events that unfolded last year when the no-confidence motion was tabled and subsequently passed, Rafeek said that it is his hope that the parties contesting the upcoming elections “will come up with programmes that we the ordinary people and the business community will look at it and make our decision as to who we want in the next government”.
In that same breath, Rafeek stated that whoever will take up the mantle as the next government will “put together a good environment for our country so that things could move”
Turning his attention to the Oil and Gas Sector to expand his point, the Chamber President noted that Guyana has the potential of becoming the richest country in the world but can only live up to that prediction if whoever is in government manages the revenues garnered from oil production properly.

“We can only hope that whoever is the next government is going to be, they are going to be extremely cautious how they spend this money and they are going to be extremely scrupulous in ensuring that the oil companies do what they have to do and they do not in any way take advantage of us,” Rafeek said.
He added that with such in mind, the Chamber will be keeping a watchful eye on what will be taking place. This will be done in an effort to ensure that the monies coming in from the oil production will go to the “right places”.
Rafeek went on to say that the government should always be accountable to the people.
He called on whoever will serve as the next government to consider raising the tax threshold to $100,000 and to reducing tax on fuel.
He highlighted that it is important to have continued dialogue between the private sector and the government so that both parties are free to share their respective concerns and the constraints under which they operate.
Director of Manufacturing and Marketing Dominic Gaskin said that while all and sundry are looking forward to the production of oil, “We must not allow ourselves to lose sight of the future by focusing on our past and especially not focusing on a past that was never particularly bright”. He continued, “Looking back does very little to help our young people”.
Gaskin stressed that for young people to stay and develop the country, they need to see a bright future ahead.
In that light, he stated that when oil production commences it is their (Government’s) responsibility to ensure that it is utilised to secure the future of the country.
“We need to ensure that we use our oil wealth to strengthen our other sectors like agriculture, agro processing, tourism and other services which are sustainable well beyond the life of oil”, Gaskin posited.
Gaskin referenced Rafeek’s remarks on the management of oil revenues by the government. He stated that the government has set up a natural resources fund to manage Guyana’s oil revenues.
He disclosed that with the fund in place, the revenues can only be released with the approval of Parliament (Government representatives, the opposition, the private sector, the regions and the stakeholders).
He added that despite the criticisms about having the fund set up, he believes that it is the best way to manage the oil the revenues.
Local Content Policy
With many questions lingering in the minds of all Guyanese as how really will oil production benefit the people and the country, Gaskin said that people are asking many questions “Why can’t I get this job?” Why can’t I get this contract?”
This, he said, “is what local content is all about. It is about Guyanese benefitting from opportunities that are created through oil exploration and production”.
Gaskin said that while oil exploration is an expensive business, “it is our oil; and the expenses have to be paid from the sale of our oil so we must benefit from more than just the royalty and our share of the profits.
“We must benefit from the employment of Guyanese and use of Guyanese suppliers”. He however stressed that in order for the country to benefit, we need to provide the goods, services and labour which the industry needs.
“So local content policy is very important for this country and that local content policy has to ensure first of all that that information is readily available and that the people of this country are informed about those opportunities and how they can access those opportunities.
“The policy also has to ensure that where we don’t have the capacity locally to provide certain skills or goods or services to the industry that some action is taken to build that local capacity,” Gaskin said.
Also speaking briefly was the General Manager for Sol Guyana Inc, the Regional Chairman David Armogan and PPP Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali. There were also cultural performances to entertain the masses, which continue for the three remaining nights. Top students in the region were also awarded for their stellar performances for 2019.
The Expo will run until Monday 30th with hundreds of exhibitors displaying their goods and services. Major contributors of the Expo include Sueria Manufacturing Inc, Ministry of Business, Comfort Sleep, Digicel, commercial banks (Republic, GBTI and Demerara), GUYSUCO and Riaz Computer Center.
It is being held under the theme “Creating a favourable business and investment climate”.

 

 

 

 

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