…to create 50,000 jobs, distribute 10,000 house lots annually; lower taxes, electricity and water rates
…to independently manage oil revenues to benefit all Guyanese

By Rupa Sewnaraine

The People’s Progress Party/Civic (PPP/C) on Friday unveiled its much-anticipated plans and policies targeting key sectors for the intended benefit of all Guyanese as it prepares for the March 2020 General and Regional Elections.
At Freedom House on Friday afternoon, executives of the Party along with a crowd of supporters converged for the release of excerpts of their manifesto outlining projects for the years 2020 to 2025.
According to PPP/C Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali, this is a holistic plan which involved the input of thousands of Guyanese in order to find a comprehensive strategy to tackle all sectors.
“This process was quite different than what we’re historically accustomed to. The process was inclusive. It had views from all cross-sections of society, various stakeholders, members of the Diaspora and leaders from all walks of life, farmers, fishermen, students and people in the academic arena. What we’re sharing with you is excerpts from this process, an outline of a strategy, a vision and plan that is holistic, systematic, targeted, result-oriented, people-centred and people-driven,” Ali directed.

According to the Party, its plan is to provide Guyanese with more jobs, particularly jobs for a new generation of Guyanese with higher education, vocational skills, and higher disposable incomes. While the public sector will continue to be a major employer, the private sector will be further incentivised to create more and better-paying jobs.
The PPP/C stated that it will provide the enabling environment and incentives for expansion of existing businesses and emergence of new businesses by removing obstacles to business growth, offering a fiscal regime that encourages investment, providing an empowering regulatory framework in which businesses can operate in a globally competitive manner and promoting skills-training to provide employers with a pool of highly-trained and skilled human resource.

In addition, as part of the Party’s fiscal and monetary policy, there will be a continuous review of taxation to support wealth creation and not serve as a disincentive to the expansion of business opportunities. In addition, the policy will be geared towards accelerating social spending and expanding infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo positioned that all aspects of the Party’s plans post-elections are implementable rather than mere promises.
“We had to avoid what parties do, that is, they make all sorts of promises and we, the People’s Progressive Party, decided against that when crafting this manifesto. That we’re not gonna make promises just to garner votes that we’d never be able to implement. You’ve seen the outcome of this with this Government. Every single idea that is in this plan here is implementable, has been costed and will be implemented,” he clarified.
Their plans cover improved healthcare, education, disposable income, utility services, infrastructure, jobs and all other sectors which are considered crucial for social and economic development. Adding to that, it points to smaller communities and sections of the population which are often overlooked.

Infrastructure

Part of the manifesto speaks to the improvement of key infrastructure and the creation of 10,000 house lots every year. The PPP is all set to remove the Value Added Tax (VAT) on building materials, facilitate affordable financing for homeownership and support new housing schemes.
There are plans to improve community and hinterland roads which have been neglected for an extended period of time. Along with that, improvements will be made to the drainage and irrigation system to prevent flooding in communities.
Support will be given from central government for the establishment of a bypass road with connections to Mocha, Eccles and the Demerara Harbour Bridge. For the hinterland thoroughfares, 2000 miles of roadway will be built and maintained.
Projects expected to roll out include a deep-water harbour at the Berbice estuary, the Linden-Lethem roadway, the four-lane highway from Georgetown to Timehri, a high-span bridge across the Demerara River and duty-free zones.

Slashed utility bills
As it relates to power and water woes coupled with higher fees, the Party has assured that cheaper and reliable services will be offered to the common man.
Reinstated water subsidies to pensioners, affordable water rates and widening the distribution of treated water are some of what can be expected.
Along with the resuscitation of the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project, investments will be made in solar and wind-generated power for remote areas. The Hinterland Electrification Programme will be expanded along with the development of microgrids for large areas.
The liberalisation of the telecommunications sector, which was promised but never executed under the coalition, will be completed. This will ensure cheaper access to data and bandwidth. A State-sponsored project will ensure subsidised access to poor households, while the reinstated One Laptop per Family programme will provide the tools for greater learning and connectivity.

Productive sectors
Within the PPP/C’s tenure in office, they have promised to restore the 30,000 jobs which have been lost in recent years, along with diversifying the economy to offer more employment with higher wages.
In the draft manifesto document, rescuing the productive sector is an important aspect on their agenda to benefit the agriculture, mining and other industries.
In agriculture, the sugar estates are to be reopened and re-energise the local economy in sugar communities by providing support and partnerships with the private sector. An expansion of the rice industry can be expected by securing new markets for the produce. Farmers will benefit from a reverse in the increase in land rents and drainage charges.
For mining, the VAT on machinery will be reversed with revert on the two per cent royalty rate. Roads leading to mining communities are to be upgraded and the working conditions of workers will be improved.
The Party has documented a reverse in VAT also for forestry equipment, re-tooling the industry and maintaining primary roads.
For cattle and livestock, grants and concessions for these farmers will be given. Those involved in fisheries will see a reverse in the increase of licensing fees and taxes on equipment. Anti-piracy efforts will be undertaken by utilising GPS systems and drone monitoring.

Managing oil revenues
The Presidential Candidate sought to vocalise that his Party will ensure that the oil revenues are managed independently without any political interference.
While Guyana has been blessed with the boom of oil, Ali asserted that all other sectors will be developed equally and the benefits will be tenfold for the Guyanese people.
“It is not the only saving grace. Oil and gas, yes, is a blessing. It will help us to get there faster but we must address three important issues – the issue of proper management, the issue of transparency and accountability and the issue of benefits for all Guyana. We have to free the oil and gas sector of political control. We have to make it independent, technically sound, locally driven in the sustainable pathway”.

Education
Free tertiary education can be expected under the leadership of the PPP/C within five years along with the provision of 20,000 online scholarships. Generous tax incentives will be offered for private institutions to create a ripple effect and pave the way for affordability.
The Opposition Leader detailed, “All private educational institutions, a corporate tax waiver on income arising from fees and any earnings in the sector, from nursery to university. So if you establish a nursery school or a university in Guyana, you don’t have to pay corporate tax on income arising from time”.
E-learning for hinterland students, expansion of Information Communication Technology (ICT), incentives for teachers, enhancement of services for children with special education needs and the reinstatement of the $10,000 cash grant is promised. This grant was piloted under the last PPP administration, cushioning the expenses for students in the public education system.
After graduating, stable employment will be easily achieved as jobs will be created in various new segments of the economy. The expansion of business opportunities and newer avenues will present thousands of openings for youths.

https://usf.news/the-americas/...ifesto-guyana-times/