PNCR presidential candidate David Granger faced the business community yesterday promising to tackle crime, overhaul the education system and revive the economy if he wins the presidency later this year, but he was also forced to address yet again questions about his involvement in the 1973 elections.
Granger, confident but also reserved in his observations to the business sector in the country, stressed agro-processing as one of the cornerstones of development. The word appeared in his speech roughly about 20 times, since, according to him,
an integrated economy works. “We have abundant resources here which we need to convert to wealth,” he said.
Referring to what he called “The Murray Model,” he said the Topco investment came out of an agro-processing idea which obviously was successful. Similarly, he argued that many resources within Guyana, particularly the agricultural sector, ought to be converted and used for creating a more productive economy, and alternatively generating income and creating opportunities for the poorer citizens.
Granger emphasised that the business sector is where the focus should be if the country is going to develop and generate wealth for all. He noted that the potential for agro-processing is huge, but observed some amount of leadership must come from the business leaders in Guyana. He singled out Managing Director of DDL, Yesu Persaud, who was in the capacity crowd at the Pegasus Hotel for the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) luncheon.
As he outlined the type of administration he will lead and his plan for the business sector, Granger said there is no time for government to be “fooling around with police reform” and paying teachers a pittance because crime, drugs and gun-running are crippling the country while educators are leaving for greener pastures. He called the five percent increase for teachers “demoralising” and noted that the country’s problems are both economic and social.
Granger said he will create the conditions needed for businesses to grow, pledging to make the country safe and bring an end to the “crooked economy.” Security reform is “still-born” in the country, he said, asserting that he knows what to do. It is not only about accepting British help, he continued, but also about making certain changes, beginning now.
The police force urgently needs a dose of professionalism, he said, but also stressed that many other employees in various sectors across the country should also be executing their duties with integrity and as professionals.
‘Education nation’
Another focus in Granger’s speech was education and he promised to make Guyana an “education nation again,” while bemoaning conditions at schools across the country, and also at the University of Guyana (UG). He pointed to several school protests and the under-funding of UG, adding that many children are dropping out in urban areas. He contended that one child drops out of school every hour.
Granger said teachers need to be remunerated properly, while noting serious attention needs to be paid to the problems in the education system. He said that while there is a lack of science teachers in the country, importing teachers is not the solution. “We must design a system to keep teachers here… I’m not saying we would be able to give them everything but at least find out what they want,” he added.
He also said he would focus on making Guyana an intelligent nation, “not one with ignoramuses.” He declared that the country cannot run with volunteers and Peace Corps officers. He charged that the more teachers run, the more problems the nation will face.
Granger also said fixing the economy and addressing the issue of production are important to development. He decried the unemployment level in the country, saying jobs are not available in many communities across the country, but even more serious, he said, is the fact that many of the youths out of work are illiterate.
Youths would easily find jobs if they have more access to agricultural centres, Granger said, stressing that he would set up such centres to alleviate the unemployment problem. He said too that the country needs to generate more value-added products.
He also stressed the need for renewable energy, pointing to solar and wind power as better options to the “gasoline and diesel problem” in the country. He cited the community of Mabaruma, saying electricity is only supplied for six hours a day, adding that affordable, sustainable energy is what his government would focus on to power the entire country.
Neither Hoyte nor Burnham
Granger fielded a series of questions from the floor on issues ranging from his tax policies to his politics, and he was also asked to address President’s Bharrat Jagdeo’s “blood on his hands” accusation.
Businessman Howard Bulkan asked Granger to define whether his policies are different from former PNC Presidents Forbes Burnham and Desmond Hoyte, to which he responded, “I’m not Hoyte nor am I Burnham.” He added that policies are often guided by a certain era, noting that his policies would be for the new millennium. “I would like to create the conditions under which you feel safe,” he added.
Bulkan also remarked that Guyana and Singapore gained independence around the same time and the differences are stark between the two countries. “Look at Singapore today and look at Guyana today, look at the city of Georgetown,” he observed.
Komal Ramnauth, President of the GCCI, then called on Granger to share his views on the National Competitiveness Strategy Unit, which he said is the sole unit looking into concerns facing the private sector, but the PNCR nominee said he would welcome recommendations from the business community before deciding on the unit and its mandate.
Former GMSA President Doreen de Caires raised the issue of taxation and whether Granger intends to reduce the Value Added Tax (VAT). She pressed him to say by how much he is willing to reduce VAT, but Granger would only say he is keen on reducing it. de Caires also asked him how he is going to make the changes he mentioned in five years, but Granger did not directly address this.
Yesu Persaud questioned Granger on whether he would change the “Burnham Constitution” and he sought the candidate’s views on tax holidays being given to companies unfairly. Further, he asked Granger to say definitely whether he would accept the UK assistance to reform the security sector.
In response, Granger said the constitution can rightly be called, “the Burnham-Jagan-Jagdeo Constitution.” He said too that constitutional reform is critical because the powers of the President are excessive. In addition, he pointed to constitutions of Trinidad and Tobago and India, saying those models can also be adopted. On the British help, he said the assistance is needed but added “I know what to do when I get in there.”
Eddie Boyer, of National Hardware, questioned Granger on whether the legal system needs reforming and he answered in the affirmative. He said there is need for a full complement of judges and magistrates, and also more attention being paid to inquests being completed in a timely fashion.
Gerry Gouveia raised the President’s statement and Granger responded as he did on past occasions. “I don’t know what else to say. I was not there, I did not shoot anyone,” he said. Granger added that if Jagdeo wants to know who did the shooting he simply has to ring Commodore Gary Best and ask him for the information.
On the question of his meeting with army veterans, Granger said, “I’m a veteran too and they also have concerns.” He said that the meeting was simply to hear from the veterans, which is another group he has met with since being on the campaign trail. “I’m not mobilising vets against the state,” he added.
Previously, AFC presidential candidate, Khemraj Ramjattan addressed the GMSA luncheon and on May 25 the PPP/C presidential nominee Donald Ramotar will make his presentation.
