Saying that this year’s budget gives an unprecedented stimulus for the growth of the country’s tourism sector, Tourism Minister Cathy Hughes yesterday emphasised that the sector has the potential for job-creation, the improvement of the country’s image and to contribute significantly to its gross domestic product.
In her presentation during the continuing parliamentary budget debate, Hughes noted that there is a 25% increase in the proposed allocation for the sector’s Tourism Authority budget and also a commitment to doubling the ministry’s marketing budget over the next five years, which she called a tremendous boost.
Finance Minister Winston Jordan on Monday last presented the proposed $221 billion budget, under the theme, “A Fresh Approach to the Good Life in a Green Economy.”
She noted that budget 2015 allocates $154.2 million for the ministry to do its work. According to Hughes, her government’s commitment to tourism would help to provide a good life for Guyanese that can be built on the foundation of a green economy, which supports conservation, sustainability, care and respect for the environment.
Regarding policies and initiatives, the minister said that given the importance of tourism to Guyana and its ability to attract foreign investment and to create jobs, especially in Indigenous communities, her ministry has embarked on the development of a national tourism strategy to guide tourism development, its operations and management.
She said that such a strategy will address tourism constraints and challenges and identify opportunities and benchmarks for future growth of the industry. She said that this will also address legislation and regulation for tourism investment, as well as incentives and concessions and ensure their equitable distribution.
Hughes added that particular attention will also be paid to developing specific niche markets, for which, according to research, Guyana has a competitive advantage. She identified bird-watching, eco-tourism and adventure tourism as being among those niche markets.
Ramjattan must go
Also contributing to the debate yesterday was opposition PPP/C backbencher Cornel Damon, who dubbed the budget “immature.” In Region Two, he said, projects have been cut by almost half and since the government took office through what he said were “rigged elections,” the people of the region have been shouting “foul.” He added that they will try to survive and that 80% of residents there continue to stand firm with the PPP/C until former president Bharrat Jagdeo, now opposition leader, returns as president.
Damon noted that rice is the main crop of regions Two, Three, Five and Six and the government would be held accountable if the industry fails. He argued that if rice is not addressed now by the government, it spells “doom” for every sector in regions Two and Three.
He also said Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan “must go,” since the crime rate under the last Parliament was 40% less and at that time there had been calls for then Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee to resign.
He noted Ramjattan has to address the crime situation “from left, right and centre” but added that “he has no plan to fight the surge of crime and the senseless killing of our businessmen and women.”
In a passionate presentation, Damon said crime is on the increase in every region and Ramjattan “must go before it is too late.”
Meanwhile, government MP and Region One representative Richard Allen said the budget caters for improvements in education. He noted that no longer will children in Region One have to go to school with buckets to catch rain water or look through the ceiling, viewing the sky.
He said that there will no longer be a shortage of teachers for Math and other core subjects.
Hecklers from the opposition side of the house urged Allen to name the school. This was not done.
Supporting the budget also was government MP and Region Two representative Bernard Rajkumar, who said it is one of the best budgets in many years and would create the path to economic recovery and prosperity to all citizens.
He said that small and medium scale miners can now benefit from tax reductions in a number of areas. He said that he was happy for the budgetary allocation of $500M to Region Two, which will aid in better health care facilities for the region.
Government MP John Adams termed the budget “a people’s budget” and he said that it caters for all citizens. He said that the removal of VAT from some 20 items will bring relief to many, while adding that increases in old age pensions, public assistance and raising of the public servants’ minimum wage are also greatly welcomed.
Sugar industry resilience
PPP/C MP Komal Chand, however, argued that the government will not live-up to and deliver on many of the promises that it has made to the electorate during its elections campaign and in the budget.
Focusing his attention on the sugar industry, Chand said the industry is deeply rooted in the country’s economy and continues to be a vital pillar therein. He advanced that if sugar is not safeguarded, it can result in hardships for many families.
He said that in the past the industry has shown resilience in the face of challenges.
Chand called for the $12 billion allocated to the industry in this year’s budget to be promptly released to the ailing corporation once approved by the National Assembly.
He said that he acknowledges that the industry is in need or resources to put it in a self-financing state and later to profitability. According to Chand, with that in mind, the call must be reiterated for the sum of $4.7 billion arising from the EU Sugar Sector Budget Support Programme to be transferred to the industry soon after it is received so that it can be used to improve its capacity.
Chand said that for those who think that the industry should be denationalised, it must be remembered that it provides employment for some 16,000 persons, representing the largest job-creation hub in the country. He argued too that sugar caters for a significant portion of the country’s annual foreign exchange earnings.
