President Donald Ramotar in his New Year’s message to the nation last night called for citizens to work together in the interest of all the people since the politics of blackmail will undermine the country’s democracy, leading to further inequality.
“I wish to urge all let us work together in the interest of our people. Let us be aware that life is short,
let us not waste time on pettiness but focus our energy towards the betterment of our people,” the President said. He said that the bitter politics will not be a good example for the nation’s youths.
The President noted that over the past year, the dream of many of owning their own home has become a reality. “This year we expect to allocate another 6,600 house lots to our citizens, building on those we already distributed over the years,” Ramotar said.
“While we recognise the gains made in the last year were achieved in a very complex and often difficult local and international environment, it is also apposite to point out that we could have achieved much more. We had some serious domestic setbacks as well,” he said.
“I am referring to the fact that the Amaila Falls Hydropower [project] which was expected to have started at the beginning of this year was frustrated by the National Assembly, despite many consultations with the Opposition parties in the National Assembly by the Government and the investors,” the President said.
He said that the project would have added a significant investment to the country’s economy and would have created much needed jobs. “On completion it would have given us cheap, reliable energy and stimulate further growth in the economy,” he said.
The President called the project essential for a strong and vibrant manufacturing and agro-processing sector and that frustrating it was a serious setback.
He said that another blow to the country was the failure of the National Assembly to pass the amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act. He said that the impact of this is being felt in the financial sector and will spread to “every Guyanese.” He said that it will increase the cost of doing business internationally and lengthen the time that the transactions take”.
“All of these are projects that will have transformative impacts on our country. That is why we have to persevere and pursue them,” said President Ramotar.
“I am working on the assumption that all of us want to see our country move forward, all of us want to see poverty eradicated and Guyana can move quickly to achieving a more developed status in the world,” he said.
“I acknowledge that political obstacles stand in our way of our transformative agenda. I hope that in the New Year we can get some cooperation from our colleagues on the other side of the House to move our country forward,” he said.
He noted that if the Government is to be held accountable for the performance of the economy, “we reserve the right to be responsible for its developmental trajectory.” He said that this right of Government will not be pursued to the exclusion of other forces within the country.
“We will continue to encourage dialogue, debates and consultations with all stakeholders, including the people in the communities,” said President Ramotar.
He said that in 2014 he hopes to conscript social and religious organisations in the fight against domestic violence. “I believe that these organisations should play a lead role in addressing these concerns and I wish to incorporate them to reduce this terrible scourge,” he said.
He spoke of the emergence of new sectors in the economy and said these showed great promise for the future. He said that the tourism sector promises to be a major contributor to growth in the future given Guyana’s unique tourism product and given the significant investments being made in the sector. He said that the opening of the Marriott Hotel this year will dramatically increase capacity and raise standards in the sector.
Ramotar said that a number of mineral projects are expected to advance in 2014 to exploration activities and commence mine construction.
He said that during the course of mine construction, thousands of jobs are expected to be created and once ore extraction commences, production and exports would experience increased growth.
In recognition of the importance of the impacts of climate change, President Ramotar said that this year he will work with Caricom heads to ensure regional action on climate change is given top priority.
“Recognising our own vulnerabilities here in Guyana, efforts will intensify in 2014 to improve and expand infrastructure, in particular sea and river defence and drainage and irrigation systems, enhancing our forecasting capabilities and response mechanisms, and build climate resilience in the social and productive sectors of our economy,” he said.
He went on to wish Guyanese a peaceful, progressive and prosperous New Year.
