A rapid increase in testing, social support and financial relief are among a menu of measures planned by the opposition PPP/C to tackle the spread of the novel coronavirus disease should it transition into government, Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali announced on Monday in an address to the nation.
In his address, which was livestreamed on his Facebook page, Ali said that he is cognisant of the fact that immediate attention must be given to the global pandemic. He noted that the PPP/C has already gotten recommendations for an immediate plan of action from a Multi-Stakeholders Forum.
Ali explained that the PPP/C would increase the testing capacity and invest in adequate measures to address hospitalisation. He said, too, that the health sector will be equipped to conduct the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing for arriving passengers (within 24 hours) along with offering additional treatment options. He did not expand on the options.
Ali also said that the PPP/C will engage in decentralising the response and building capacity in every region along with providing accommodation for health workers.
Workers on the frontline, he added, will be equipped with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and all frontline staff will be provided with transportation.
Turning his attention to relief measures, Ali said the PPP/C will offer subsidies for distressed businesses, reduce taxes on fuel, address loan overdrafts for businesses to address working capital and defer loans for six months.
In addition, he said it will work to defer the tax filing deadline along with income, corporate, property and VAT Tax obligations for 6 months. He also said the PPP/C will work to waive taxes on data plans with immediate effect, reduce taxes on fuel and speed up tax refunds by the Guyana Revenue Authority.
While he touted the plan to waive import duties on COVID-19 medical supplies, zero rate taxes on sanitation products, the Guyana Revenue Authority a few weeks ago announced this measure.
Meanwhile, Ali explained that the PPP/C would reexamine the tax threshold and increase it to prevent taxation of employees in vulnerable sectors. He stressed that work will be done to have interest rates for mortgages and property taxes removed for a period of 6 months. He said, too, there are plans to work with businesses to extend time to pay higher-purchase.
Further, he touted plans to offer emergency support for small businesses at the risk of closure and working with commercial banks to reduce spread (difference between lending and saving rates).
Ali also pledged to support low income housing, offer assistance to the vulnerable and pensioners and provide students with cash voucher to facilitate E-learning. He also said that they will reduce the cost of utilities services.
These measures, Ali disclosed, are integral in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and sustaining the local economy.
Ali asserted that his party is able to handle such a crisis based on its track record in response to the 2005 Great Flood, when the housing and productive sectors, and the sugar industry were all devastated. “We successfully rebooted and rebuilt the economy to one of the strongest and fastest growing in Latin American and the Carib-bean up to 2014,” he said.
