Jagdeo raises sugar, other economy concerns with President

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo said that he raised issues he found critical, pertaining to the economy, with President David Granger at State House last evening when they met to consult on appointments to the judiciary.

In a statement last night, he said that these issues included the lack of investments, the heavy taxation burden placed upon the population and the business community, and the devastating consequences which will flow from the closure of the sugar industry.

“The Leader of the Opposition emphasized that the Government is sending a plethora of wrong signals, for example, wild and unsubstantiated allegations of corruption in the country, the reckless linkages alleged between reputable persons and commercial entities in the business community and criminal enterprises and irresponsible assertions of a dependency of the economy upon illicit activities. He pointed out that the cumulative effect of these signals will not attract much needed investments and will continue to put pressure on the exchange rate which will result in the loss of real income and welfare,” Jagdeo posited in the statement.

Further, he added, “The Leader of the Opposition reminded the delegation that sugar is not a corporation but an industry and closure of estates will have catastrophic repercussions, not only among sugar workers and a few communities but which will reverberate across the entire economy. He asserted that with the correct policies, fiscal space can be made for continued assistance to the sugar industry until it recovers from its current problems. The Leader of the Opposition cautions that unless these and other critical issues in relation to the economy, are prudently addressed, the economy will continue its downward slide.”

The needed swift appointment of a Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission was also pointed out with Jagdeo saying that he requested clarifications on how many persons ought to come from each of the categories contemplated by Article 161 (2) of the Constitution as interpreted by the Attorney General; and, what are some of the qualities/attributes which a ‘fit and proper’ person must possess so as to guide his next list of nominees.

The President also promised to address those issues next week, Jagdeo said.

There was no mention of these matters in the Ministry of the Presidency statement on the meeting.

foot paths and a city transport system particularly for children and senior citizens.

“The money is needed to enhance the council’s very narrow revenue base to provide a wide range of vital municipal services to local communities and the city as a whole. These include: Public and environmental health services, street lighting, maternal and child welfare services, maintain of cemeteries, enforcement of the city building codes and by-laws, and open spaces, parks and recreational facilities”, the city said.

The Council said it is “also happy to report that more motorists are using the Parking Meters, particularly, in very busy areas of the central business district of the city. The Council, through a special technology, can see, in real time, the performance of the parking meters, on a daily basis”.

The metered parking project has generated months of controversy which has intensified in recent weeks with boycotts of the meters, protests and legal action. It has forced a reduction in tariffs and other changes. The Movement Against Parking Meters had called for a rescinding of the deal.