Having promised 25,000 “high quality” jobs in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector in their 2011 Manifesto, the PPP/C is aiming lower and in its 2015 manifesto has promised 5,000 jobs from the construction of call centres even as other job promises made have failed to materialize.
“We will promote rapid growth in the information and communications technology sector which will see 25,000 high quality jobs created over the next five years,” the party said in its 2011 manifesto. However, no evidence has been put forward that this has happened.
“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,” President Donald Ramotar said to applause at the launch of their manifesto for this elections on Saturday.
In its 2011 manifesto, the PPP had also promised “thousands” of jobs in more sectors. “Our investments in hydropower and other alternative forms of energy will reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, insulate us from exogenous shocks in the energy markets, slash our fuel import bill, foster clean energy development and, more importantly, provide a cheap and assured source of energy to both households and manufacturers. This will catalyze the manufacturing sector and create thousands of jobs for our people,” it had said.
The PPP had also campaigned heavily in Linden in 2011 and promised Lindeners jobs. Ramotar at the time had said that Linden is pivotal in his plans for the development of the country. “Immediately on coming to government, we will negotiate, encourage and press the two bauxite companies that operate here to expand their production, to develop new products to have value added to our bauxite industry,” he said, while adding that this would lead to the creation of more than 1,000 jobs in the region.
“And you can expect almost immediately as we get them to agree that we would get them to create more than a thousand new jobs in a short space of time,” he explained. From all accounts, this has not materialized.
Ramotar had said that in addition to the imminent development of the bauxite industry, the region will be transformed as it becomes the main terminal for the trade relationship between Guyana and Brazil.
The PPP/C then Campaign Manager for Linden, Andrew Forsythe had said that logging company Baishanlin is working on putting up a modern factory in Linden which in the beginning would employ some 800 persons and in the long-term another 400 persons.
“We are making sure that we bring jobs physically here, we’re not pulling it from the sky, we have a plan that would bring jobs,” he had said.
However, the company which has come under the spotlight for various reasons including failing to live up to promises made, has not yet put up the factory and has shuttered another factory that it took control of and laid off workers.
The company employs a significant amount of Chinese labour and Guyanese have complained of poor working conditions at the company.
In its latest Manifesto, the PPP/C 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.
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.
