One year after the historic APNU+AFC coalition ended the 22-year PPP/C grip on the presidency, a rash of controversies has raised doubts about the David Granger’s administration stated commitment to good governance while there are also growing questions about its plans for the limp economy.
In its first year in office, the APNU+AFC coalition government has managed to achieve a number of its objectives but movement on larger issues has been slow. Granger was sworn in as the country’s eighth executive President on May 16 last year and had pledged to govern for all of the people while also touting a “government of national unity” and inclusionary democracy.
There were high expectations that having won the May 11, 2015 elections by the slimmest of margins, the coalition would immediately reach out the opposition PPP/C in the interest of national unity. However, there has been no progress here and the country remains arguably more polarised than ever. Critics say the government’s main focus has been on Guyana’s 50th independence anniversary celebrations while serious problems related to the economy like the sugar industry and job creation have taken a back seat.
The high point of the administration’s first year was the convening of local government elections on March 18 which brought about a change in town and neighbourhood councils for the first time in 21 years with three new towns: Lethem, Bartica and Mabaruma being created. The Granger administration has also won plaudits for an ongoing clean-up of the capital city and the rigorous clearing of drains and canals.
Arguably, one of the bigger minuses thus far is the failure to meaningfully strive for national unity by engage the opposition PPP/C which took 49% of the votes in the May 11, 2015 general elections. Granger had a number of times spoken of an “inclusionary government” and reaching out to the opposition. The administration even named Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo to lead a team for talks with the opposition PPP/C but this has gone nowhere. From the start, the PPP/C had objected to Nagamootoo, a former PPP executive, saying that his presence has poisoned the process. It had said that the government must know that the talks will go nowhere once Nagamootoo remains as head of the team. Nothing has since happened on this front though observers have said that the onus is on the government to move these talks along.
In his address to the National Assembly last Thursday, Granger mentioned the need for “wider political inclusiveness” but did not offer any solutions or say how he would go about doing this. He also spoke about historic ethnic divisions in the country but made no effort to reflect on the widely-held view that his own party, the PNCR is just as culpable.
Granger said: “Our nation’s future stability depends, also, on wider political inclusiveness. The ethnic arithmetic of the past can only mean that a minority could be excluded from a government by a majority, however slim. Confrontation characterised the ‘old politics.’ Calculations of ethnic support determined election tactics. The ‘winner-takes-all’ jackpot became the prize of every election. The political landscape became a battlefield, not always of ideas, but of racial rivalry. Communal conflict hampered human development. Mr. Speaker, that system belongs to the past. It is now dangerously dysfunctional.”
There has also been criticism of the management of the economy which slowed last year. While there has been a projection of increased economic growth this year, no figures are yet available and businesses continue to complain about a sluggish economy. On Labour Day, government was criticised for the absence of a coherent national development policy though there have been pronouncements on a green economy.
Further, initiatives for job creation have yet to materialise even as the government proceeds with the closure of two sugar estates with no clear, definitive plan for jobs for the displaced workers. On Labour Day, workers’ unions excoriated the government for proceeding with plans to close the Wales and LBI sugar estates saying that the challenges the industry faces are not insurmountable and sugar’s success will redound to the benefit of the economy and assure the employment of thousands of Guyanese.
Crime
Crime has been another pressing issue and although strategies have been articulated to deal with this scourge, Guyanese continue to express concern, particularly in light of several major robberies such as the raid on the Princess Ramada casino recently. The police have said that there was a 19% decrease in serious crimes for the first four months of the year as compared to the same period last year.
Despite this, in recent times, there have been regular reports of crime leading to concerns that there is a real increase. There have been several home invasions in Berbice and gun robberies in Georgetown on businesspersons. At the Labour Day rally, crime was highlighted as a matter of major concern by several speakers who said that that the country is experiencing yet another spike in criminal activities and the violent dimensions and frequency of occurrences have raised concerns and anger at every level of society. The police and government were called on to take action and deliver results. While in opposition, Granger had taken a hard line on the PPP/C performance in this sector and presented himself as far more able to tackle crime. With his experience on the Disciplined Forces Commission, much had been expected.
Apart from these issues, the government has been ensnared in a series of controversies which have raised doubts about its stated commitment to good governance.
The government provoked criticism in October after it substantially raised the salaries of ministers by as high as 50% for those in Cabinet while only giving a modest increase to public servants. The increase was quietly gazetted without a public announcement and was met with stiff opposition particularly since the coalition had promised “significant increases” for public servants during its election campaign, but only delivered a 5% increase in its first national budget.
Minister of State Joseph Harmon triggered a tidal wave of criticism when he said he would make no apologies for the 50% salary increases to Cabinet ministers, while arguing that it was well-deserved. He had also said it was necessary to avoid a situation that existed under the former administration, whose members he suggested were prepared to accept low salaries because of graft. After various reasons were trotted out by government spokespersons, Granger defended the increase saying it must be seen as an investment in good governance. He also argued that the ministers in question would have entered Cabinet from positions where they were earning similar amounts.
After protests, Harmon subsequently apologised for his “no apology” comment. The increases remained and labour unions have highlighted that the salary hike should be a yardstick for public sector salaries.
Botched
The government also came under fire for a botched intelligence operation that saw the military being used for surveillance on civilians. During the operation, three persons died following a high-speed chase on Carifesta Avenue on December 30. Despite calls by organisations including the Guyana Bar Association and the Guyana Human Rights Association for an independent probe and for government to provide answers, Granger said that he saw no need for a full probe of the operation.
There was also the decision to handpick the Fedders Lloyd firm for the construction of the controversial Specialty Hospital. Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan had made representation on behalf of the firm prior to taking office last year and questions had been raised about why the project had not gone back to tender and whether any influence was exerted to award the contract to the firm.
The controversies did not end last year. Prior to local government elections in March, Minister of Social Protection Volda Lawrence had dismissed as a family matter, the child molestation allegations against APNU+AFC candidate for the city council, Winston Harding. He had been charged three times but not convicted. After the story was published in the Stabroek News, the coalition disavowed Harding but he won his seat and took up office as a Georgetown city councillor representing the coalition. He had said he would abide by any decision of the coalition. No further action was taken but child protection groups continue to campaign for Lawrence’s removal from her portfolio.
In April, government was embroiled in a major contretemps involving Harmon who is seen as a close confidante of the President and influential beyond his office.
Harmon was found to have appointed businessman Brian Tiwarie as an advisor, apparently unbeknownst to Granger. He also intervened with the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to delay seizure of luxury vehicles imported by controversial logging company Baishanlin and subsequently journeyed on a trip to China where he was pictured in the company of Tiwarie and Baishanlin officials.
While Harmon was in China, Granger rescinded Tiwarie’s appointment saying that it had not been necessary. Initially, Harmon had remained mum and The Transparency Institute of Guyana has gone as far as to label his actions as corrupt.
The Ministry of the Presidency had said that Harmon’s trip to China was for the purpose of engaging in discussions with regard to the payment of the US$5 million balance owed to the government for the purchase of 20% of phone company GT&T shares by Chinese company, Datang Telecom Technology and Industry Group from NICIL in 2012.
After initially remaining mum and with no abating of the clamour for answers, Harmon said his presence on the private jet was because of the distances he had to travel in China. He said the Chinese Ambassador to Guyana Zhang Limin arranged for four China-based companies, interested in investing in Guyana, to transport him to their respective offices located in different parts of the country during his visit in March.
In relation to his intervention at the GRA regarding the Baishanlin vehicles, Harmon said he contacted the GRA and requested a 14-day delay of its move to the vehicles based on a request made by an official of the Chinese Embassy. According to Harmon, considering the importance of Guyana/China relations and the urgency of the matter, he made contact with the GRA and requested the facility.
He did not explain why he interfaced directly with the GRA instead of its subject minister, Finance Minister Winston Jordan. Granger later said there should not in future be an issue of any minister other than Jordan dealing with the GRA, an apparent concession that there had been interference. The president also later said that he was satisfied that Harmon’s conduct was above board during the China trip.
Harmon’s conduct also generated friction for the main partners in the governing coalition. Following the debacle, APNU’s coalition partner, the AFC said the concentration of various powers in Harmon was the key reason for the difficulties that have flared up around the government. The party had called for his powers to be pared. Granger immediately defended his APNU colleague, saying his duties are not “burdensome.” Subsequently, Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman said Cabinet is not the forum for inter-party discussions and the AFC’s concerns regarding Harmon’s powers is likely to be discussed at a high-level inter-party summit.
Ogle renaming
Meantime, despite a torrent of objections over a decision to rename the Ogle International Airport to the Eugene F Correia International Airport, Granger went ahead and renamed the facility last week Monday. A majority of the operators were against the renaming as they said it would give an unfair advantage to the Correia Group, which is a major player in the company running the airport.
One operator, Gerry Gouveia, who also owns the Roraima Airways operations had said that the decision, initiated by President Granger, to rename the airport was a mockery of democracy and should have been taken to parliament.
Granger has said that those objecting were “small minded” and petty.
The government has also faced heat for being slow to act on a number of recommendations coming out of forensic audits of state bodies. Some of the reports such as that into controversial government holding company NICIL had recommended criminal and/or disciplinary action against all those responsible for a number of violations. It was not until two months after the submission of this report to government that police said they had received it and began investigations.
However, it was then forwarded to the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) but last month, officials said they have not been able to interview Winston Brassington in connection with the findings of the NICIL audit. Brassington, NICIL’s then Executive Director, left Guyana last December and later tendered a letter of resignation. Reports indicate that he has since taken up residence in the USA. Brassington is key to the investigation.
There has been no word on the status of any investigation into any of the other forensic audits but despite being completed for months, no one has been charged.
Further, there was controversy over the D’Urban Park project which is being developed for the jubilee celebrations. There were questions about the developers and the cost of the works. After the poor construction was highlighted, the government eventually stepped in and the Ministry of Public Infrastructure took over the project.
Government also had to deal with the aftermath of a fiery revolt at the Georgetown Prison which claimed 17 lives, the biggest loss of life in a penitentiary uprising. This was seen as another blow for the government whose constituents had long been aware of the problem of prison overcrowding and had presented themselves as better able to handle security issues. A commission of inquiry was set up and recently concluded hearings.
The government has also faced heat for continuing the practice and in some cases, increasing the number of contract workers on its payroll. When in opposition, the constituents of the present government had repeatedly condemned the heavy use of contracted workers and went so far as to vow to “strip and dismantle” the contract system for state employees.
