Sixty days into its tenure the new APNU+AFC administration is under pressure to ensure the fulfilment of 21 promises made in its 100-day plan which was enshrined in the Cummingsburg Accord that sealed a pre-election alliance between the two groups.
While there has been much discussion, none of the 21 listed promises has been fulfilled even though the administration has almost 40 more days to do this.
In their manifesto for the closely-fought May 11th campaign, the first promise made in the plan was the reduction of the Berbice River Bridge toll. Government workers were also promised salary increases while Guyanese have also been assured that the 16% Value Added Tax (VAT) would be reduced and the tax removed from food and other essential items.
When asked about the Berbice Bridge toll, Minister of State Joseph Harmon at his second post-cabinet weekly press conference had stated that the issue had already been reviewed but Cabinet had asked “another set of experts to look at the figure with a view of reducing the toll.”
“So, we have a commitment that this is one of the things we will do and we are working to get that done,” he had said at the time.
With regard to a reduction of VAT, Harmon had pointed out that President David Granger had addressed the issue during the opening of the 11th Parliament. “He has given the National Assembly an assignment to make sure that VAT is reduced and he is going to keep to it,” the minister had said.
In the 100 days, the coalition has also said that it would increase old age pensions. It would also recommend and refer to a special select committee of the National Assembly, a reduction of the presidential pension. Guyanese would be looking forward to the establishment of passport and birth certificate offices in Berbice, Essequibo and Linden and Lindeners expect the return of a television station to the town.
Last Thursday in the absence of the PPP/C members, the house passed the Former Presidents (Benefits and other Facilities) Bill 2015 after being told that it would cut waste and unnecessary expenditure. No announcement was made as it relates to a special committee addressing the issue.
Harmon last week had said that Minister of Citizenship Winston Felix had said steps are being taken to ensure that there is a certain level of decentralisation of passport applications and passport delivery. This would make it easier for citizens “in Berbice, Linden, Lethem, Bartica and in the hinterland locations,” to access these essential documents.
And on the issue of television for Linden, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo in his first address in the 11th Parliament told the House that the town would soon be having its own station, which Lindeners have been demanding for years but which the previous administration had not addressed.
He had said that the situation in Linden would be corrected expeditiously after the Broadcasting Authority is restructured – it is now headed by PPP/C member and former minister Bibi Shadick – and reviews the application for a television licence by the people of Linden.
Also on the agenda would be the waiving of duties on fuel, tools and small-scale mining equipment bought by identifiable holders of small concessions and the establishment of the long talked about Public Procurement Commission. This Commission requires two-thirds support in the National Assembly and this is unlikely to be obtained. In this period as well, a date would be set for the holding of Local Government Elections and the establishment of a National Rice Farmers and Rice Millers conference. A cane workers and cane farmers conference would also be held.
Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan has publicly said that the administration is aiming at holding the elections in November but a date has not yet been confirmed.
The new government during this period has also pledged to establish an investigative commission on corruption and task forces on crime and security and road safety. Several forensic audits are underway at various government agencies and a state asset recovery unit headed by Economist Dr Clive Thomas has been set up but there has been no word on a specific commission.
A conference of women will also be held and a bi-partisan women’s working group is expected to be established as part of healing the nation and the national unity thrust of the coalition. It is expected that the gender policy will be collectively drafted by women from across Guyana as an output from the conference.
Importantly, a Code of Con-duct will be established for parliamentarians, ministers and others holding high positions in public office to abide by and this would include mechanisms for demitting office if in violation of the code. No code has yet been publicised.
The National Youth Council is also expected to be convened and its mandate, terms of reference and programme of action produced for endorsement at a National Youth Conference. Also on the list is an Indigenous People’s Rights & Resources Conference to be held and the National Toshaos Council will be re-assessed and depoliticized.
Another important aspect of the 100 days programme is the liberalisation of the telecommunications and the Information and Communications Techno-logy sector. Also pledged was the adoption of a long-term sustainable economic development plan to realise the vast potential of the country and also the implementation of the amended Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act. That bill has since been passed in the National Assembly but has to be assented to by President Granger.
