4th largest oil producer in the world
Norway also has rich resources of hydropower
Other main industries include shipping, food processing, shipbuilding, aluminium production
Norway is ranked highest of all countries in human development
Norway was also rated the most peaceful country in the world in a 2007 survey by Global Peace Index.
A unitary state with administrative sub-divisions and a functional parliamentary system.
Norway also has a very low unemployment rate, currently 3% (June 2009). The hourly productivity levels, as well as average hourly wages in Norway are among the highest in the world. The egalitarian values of the Norwegian society ensure that the wage difference between the lowest paid worker and the CEO of most companies is much smaller than in comparable western economies.
Cost of living is about 30% higher in Norway than in the United States and 25% higher than the United Kingdom. The standard of living in Norway is among the highest in the world.
Guyana
Poorest in the Region – US$250M handout to keep our forest standing when none of this money is earmarked for new jobs for us the citizens is unacceptable.
We pay a very high price for fuel in the region – why didn’t the Norwegians offer us oil at a lower price?
Why did the PPP not ask the Norwegians to build a few hydropower plants instead of US$250M that will go to projects that are not measurable
The PPP government should have asked Norway to come build a deep water harbour, so we can attract large cargo and cruise ships and development of a large ship building area. Imagine, thousands of us would have had jobs had this been negotiated.
The President should have negotiated that in order to save our forest we want help in setting up food processing plants– another major industry of Norway, and we Guyana are in dire need of food processing plants that can see our raw materials being packaged right here instead of us buying “Achar” packaged in another country.
Imagine if the Norwegians were asked to come to Linden and discuss how we can revitalize our Bauxite industry and move to an aluminium facility in conjunction with a hydro plant in Region Ten in order to bring down the cost of production. How many Lindeners would have been able to gain employment?
This means Norway subsidises all levels of education – even university. Technical training is provided to all citizens and the benefit is everyone has jobs. Why did we not ask for help in ensuring we do the same here in Guyana?
They are peaceful because they all have jobs, they invest in their people, our President begs for money to put in contracts for drainage that after billions of dollars of our taxpayers’ money was already spent and nothing has been solved. You wonder why then we cannot be rated as a peaceful country.
We have a central government that controls all organs in our country. The LCDS money is not under the control of Parliament. In Norway the Parliament directs how government funds are spent.
Have you been able to find a decent job or move from a $30,000 salary to a $100,000 salary in the last five years? Are government officials not making significantly more than you the public servants?
How is your standard of living? What of blackouts and 16% VAT? When last have you been able to take a nice vacation in the Caribbean?
CONCLUSION
I would advise you read Chris Ram’s Business page published on Sunday November 15, 2009 in this newspaper. It describes the technical flaws of the LCDS agreement. Norway is enjoying this publicity so is President Jagdeo. We need to invest in key areas of Guyana that can bring about a change in our cost of living. The AFC has lobbied hard for a change of our energy policy and what are the key components necessary for those changes to bring about jobs for us the citizens.
We in the AFC are interested in Guyana’s development and the PPP is incapable of really pushing Guyana’s interests as highlighted in the points raised above. We need to now ensure that monies coming to Guyana under this MOU are spent in ways which at the end of the day lead to sustainable development of Guyana.
In other words we all have to push transparency, accountability, inclusiveness and sound decision-making on projects, and efficient implementation. Together we will and must have access to the data and information, especially on the monetary flows. This is our duty as citizens of this country. How would you have negotiated this deal? Until next time “Roop”
Please send comments to peter.ramsaroop@gmail.com
