The PPP/C says job creation will be its “highest priority” if it is re-elected at the May 11th general elections and President Donald Ramotar yesterday said a robust five-year plan has been structured to ensure improvements in every sector of the country so that all can be assured a better life under his government.
Ramotar, speaking at the launch of the PPP/C’s manifesto in the ballroom of the Marriott Hotel, said the party does not make promises that cannot be fulfilled.
Assuring that the manifesto, titled ‘Our Vision: Guyana Version 2.0,’ was not a “public relations gimmick” or a ploy to buy votes, he emphasised the party’s realistic goals.
“We have never promised what is beyond our capacity. We have never cultivated false expectations. We have never deceived the Guyanese people. We deliver on our promises,” he said to applause from most of the persons in the audience, while assuring that his government will deliver on what has been promised.
According to the manifesto, the PPP/C’s highest priority will be to create a Guyana where every person of working age “is able to obtain gainful and fulfilling employment and/or become self-employed.” It stated that in order for its vision to be realised, the government must first ensure that educational opportunities expand, while placing special emphasis on better alignment with the skill requirements of the new productive sectors.
It promises the creation of more than 5,000 jobs from the construction of call centres in Enmore, Tuschen, Corentyne, Linden and the Essequibo Coast. It also says that there will be job creation through the construction of chip factories in Wakenaam and Leguan and construction of a cereal plant in Anna Region. A special development fund for regions Two, Five, Six and Ten, patterned after the Amerindian Community Development Plan, will also be created to encourage jobs and wealth creation activities, it says.
It also says that it will craft a new industrial programme for coconut, cassava, pepper and bamboo. It proposed too the establishment of a manufacturing and processing plants to use cassava, rice and plantain for value-added commercial markets. Establishing more Guyana Shops within and outside Guyana to market locally-produced items and the encouragement of local supermarkets to promote locally-produced goods, are also being proposed.
According to the manifesto, one of the supporting mechanisms for ensuring its job creation agenda becomes a reality is empowering all levels of government, civil society, academic and financial institutions in its mission to end poverty. Also listed as supporting mechanisms are the identification of the most vulnerable villages of the country for special development programmes; gainfully employing rural poor in agriculture and allied industrial activities; simplifying the tax system and improving access to financing; promoting skills training for the urban poor to take advantage of the emerging opportunities; focusing on downstream, value-added industries in agriculture, forestry and the mining sectors; the establishment of business development services and setting up of job intermediation, counselling and mentoring
centres.
The PPP/C, while stressing the need for wealth creation, says that it will implement a National Upstream Oil and Gas policy which is premised on the broad objective of attracting and securing investment in upstream exploration activities and effectively regulating an upstream oil and gas sector that will contribute to the sustainable economic development of the country. It says that its vision for this area also includes facilitating the exploration for and the production of petroleum for associated industry development, regulating and monitoring petroleum operation to ensure legislative
compliance, managing the transfer of technology for the maximum benefit to the sector and the establishment of a world class system for the management of petroleum revenue through the passage of appropriate laws.
Sugar
Although the manifesto includes the PPP/C’s pledge to invest a minimum of $20B in the sugar industry, there is no mention of the plagued US$200M Skeldon sugar factory, which has been a huge embarrassment for successive PPP/C administrations. A year before demitting office, after two terms as president, Ramotar’s predecessor, Bharrat Jagdeo had promised personal intervention should the problem-plagued factory fail to meet production requirements. The Chinese-built factory has underperformed since its commissioning and has also required costly repairs.
And despite GuySuCo’s miserable performance, the PPP/C also makes a commitment to increasing production to about 400,000 tonnes annually. In recent years, the industry has struggled to produce half that amount.
Attention was also given to the rice sector in the manifesto. The PPP/C says that it plans to maintain production above 600,000 tonnes and export above 500,000 tonnes annually and increase exports destinations from 32 to at least 40 countries, while diversifying rice markets to non-traditional destinations in Central and South America to Africa.
In addition, it says a National Paddy Price Support System would be established to allow for the safeguarding of farmers from “erratic market behaviour for rice.” It explains that this new mechanism will assist the farmers to receive payments within the legally required timeframe and assurance for viability of the industry and well-being of farmers.
Other proposals for agriculture were made inclusive of the fisheries sector and non-traditional farming.
The PPP/C also says it plans to utilise Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to better distribute educational materials directly to students, communities and homes. Making technology enabled products affordable for students, establishing an IT Centre of Excellence in partnership with the Government of India and introducing telecom legislation to allow for e commerce, are also proposed.
Among the proposals for the health sector are expanding services, such as neurological surgery and renal health, upgrading hospitals at Bartica, Lethem, Mabaruma and Mahdia into regional hospitals, expanding the health fund to help persons who need urgent health care and expanding substance abuse and rehabilitation programs. Additionally, it also commits to the completion of the specialty hospital, the construction of a 100-bed ward at the East Bank Demerara Hospital and a new hospital at Port Kaituma as well as the completion of the new maternity wing at the Georgetown Hospital.
As it relates to Trafficking in Persons (TIP), the PPP/C says that it will make the work of the Ministerial Task Force on TIP more proactive and results oriented, effectively implement laws for TIP, strengthen enforcement activities against suspected TIP activities, expand education and awareness programmes on TIP that will improve on enforcement and strengthen the capabilities of the law enforcement agencies to deal with TIP cases. The government has been repeatedly criticised for its failing in the fight against human trafficking.
‘Serious business’
The manifesto also commits the party to fair governance and ensuring accountability, transparency and fairness in the public sector. Among some of the proposals in this regard is the publishing of a cabinet code of conduct, establishing codes of conduct for public officials at all levels and strengthening laws and regulations with regard to bribery of public officers and officials.
Ramotar, during his address to the large gathering at the launch, said the PPP/C has always taken the process of developing the country seriously. He said the manifesto is its “pact” with the Guyanese people and represents “what we stand for and what we commit to doing and achieving for you the Guyanese people.”
During his speech, he noted that the manifesto is based on moving Guyana towards a vision and among the things that he listed as being encapsulated in this are the provision of regional and hemispheric leadership on matters of concern to the global community as well as Guyana as a growing economy in which jobs are created and there is income and wealth for all, improved social services and improved health care. He stressed that his government had restored Guyana to financial viability and has restored hope in the people, particularly youths.
Meanwhile, Prime Ministerial candidate Elisabeth Harper said the PPP/C’s vision is providing a better life for the people so that Guyanese can enjoy a higher standard of living and she said it is committed to ensuring that this vision is achieved. She said the main focus will be on women, children, single parents and other vulnerable groups and the indigenous people.
According to Harper, when the government speaks of a better life, it means people having a greater access to improved social services and affordable housing, more jobs being created, living in a safer environment and in a society where their rights are fully respected.
She said the party has a genuine desire to ensure that the people of Guyana can enjoy their lives in comfort with dignity and decency. “They deserve no less and should expect no less from our party,” she said, while adding that it is prepared to deliver.
Noticeably absent from the launch, which lasted just under two hours, were Attorney General Anil Nandlall, Minister of Health Dr. Bheri Ramsaran and former president Bharrat Jagdeo. Former First Lady Varshnie Singh, who had accused Jagdeo of domestic violence, was also among those present.
