With promises of an end to the executive presidency, lower VAT, the confronting of organised crime and a sugar industry that focuses on ethanol fuel, the AFC last night released its Action Plan for Guyana, which sets out its blueprint for national development should it win the upcoming general elections.
Described as the party’s vision for the future, the plan was released on the party’s website, ahead of the official launch of its 2011 election campaign, scheduled for this afternoon at the Ocean View Convention Centre. The Action Plan is based on what the party dubs “Foundations for Development,” such as a private-sector driven economy, security, equal opportunities, education, politics and public service reform, Diaspora integration, youth as the future and the hinterland as ‘the new frontier.’ According to the party, these foundations are all equally important and must be acted on simultaneously.
In a foreword to the plan, AFC leader Raphael Trotman says that the party’s government will set the stage for “an alternative development vision,” compared to the failed policies of the past. “We intend to make sure that the rising tide lifts all boats and not just those who receive favoured government treatment,” he adds, while noting that it is the party’s vision to see the economy and society transform itself within one generation. “This means in the immediate future that Guyana will become less dependent on remittances-financed household consumptions and the underground economy. Instead, the AFC intends to focus its policy on private wealth and job creation.” Trotman notes that the Action Plan is based on careful examination of Guyana’s politics, economy and society. He adds that there are areas that will require improvement and urges that the party’s ideas be examined with a critical and patriotic mind and he also invited feedback.
Governance
The party proposes the creation of a liberal democratic culture for Guyana, as opposed to one that is either Marxist/Leninist or Communist or one driven by party paramountcy. It has also created a “Good Governance Action Plan,” where it emphasises that its government would be transparent and accountable and will ensure that citizens can access all aspects of the government’s transactions and activities. It adds that the AFC government will encourage equity by allowing for individual initiative regardless of race or religion or class. “No person will be discriminated against,” it says, adding that it will also adhere to the rule of law and ensure that Guyanese live and prosper without the threat of executive lawlessness and state sponsored violence.
It says it would adhere to the doctrine of separation of powers under the constitution and conduct a public education programme to raise the level of awareness Guyanese have of their democratic rights, roles, duties and obligations in advancing democratic principles in the country. The party says too it will dismantle government control of media and the regulation by implementing broadcasting legislation and encourage the accessibility of information to members of the public through the enactment of the Freedom of Information Law.
Further, the party envisages the establishment of a Bipartisan Committee of the Future to advise and guide the policies and programmes of Parliament. It also says it will pursue formulation of new campaign financing regulations and devise a legal framework for registration of political parties.
Addressing governance reforms, it says it would rationalise the current number of ministries to more effectively serve the needs of the population, while making each ministry—and by extension each minister—more accountable to the people. It further notes that ministers will submit quarterly reports to the Head of Government while the Cabinet must assume collective responsibility for the success of the programmes.
The party says it would begin a national discussion for constitutional reform and propose amendments for the removal of the Executive Presidency. At the same time, it would also pursue parliamentary reforms, based on recommendations provided in recent needs assessments. Among the reforms would be the repeal of the recall legislation to enshrine the independence of the parliamentarian.
The Judicial System, the party says, would be targeted to ensure that it continues the process started to deal with the backlog of cases, the timely delivery of rulings and adoption of accountability measures. It also proposes addressing the delays in confirming appointments of members of the judiciary, instituting financial independence, rationalising the positions of the Chief Justice and the Chancellor, reforming and modernising the Deeds Registry, and reviewing the system of penalties and fines currently on the Statute Books.
Additionally, the party promises to encourage the involvement of Guyanese to restore their neighbourhood and village government to the sequential levels of the decision making process. It notes that it will ensure this process by the mandatory holding of local and municipal elections under the agreed Local Government Reform.
It also sets out reforms for public management—including public service reforms—and procurement—through full implementation of the public procurement laws, including establishment of the Public Procurement Commission
Taxation, Agriculture and Development
The party says it believes that there must be a comprehensive reform of the tax system. In this vein, it intends to pursue the immediate reduction of the VAT from 16% to 12%, the reduction of non-commercial (manufacturing) corporate tax from 30% to 25% in the first year and to 20% at the end of the first term, and reduction of the commercial corporate tax from 40% to 35% at the end of the first term. It proposes tax cuts for new fixed asset investments for existing manufacturing, agro-processing and eco-tourism entities as well as tax holidays for new and pioneering manufacturing, agro-processing and eco-tourism entities. “This tax break is subject to the condition that such new businesses penetrate foreign markets,” it explains.
It also proposes reduction of the income tax from 33.3% to 25%, by the end of its first term and increasing the PAYE tax-free threshold from $40,000 to 50,000.
Added to that, the party says it would amend the Income Tax (in Aid of Industry) Act to provide a one-off Tax Holiday to all companies which are prepared to invest in fixed equipment up to $20 million; increase the efficiency of the authorities to collect rates and taxes; reintroduce allowances into the Income Tax system for dependents; and appoint a Presidential Commission to review and update the Dr. Asgar Ally State Paper on Policy for Tax Equality and Reform. The outcome of this Commission will guide our public tax policies, it adds.
The party outlines a proposal to build a sugar industry based on innovation and sustainability, “where the infrastructure and technology needs of the industry are in place to facilitate GuySuCo and the private sector to thrive.”
It notes that decades of PNC and PPP rule have failed to move the industry forward and in particular it noted that recently the PPP made a significant blunder in not implementing the Sugar Action Plan in full after the WTO ruling against the EU. “The AFC will right this wrong by revising and implementing the revised Sugar Action Plan with a primary focus on developing a sugar ethanol industry in Guyana,” it says.
The party adds that Guyana must use its land, its talent in the industry and its access to the US Ethanol market and the private sector partners to better position the nation to reap the benefits from its competitive advantage at producing ethanol cane.
The AFC’s “sugar action plan,” it says, will create many new jobs in the industry, by engaging investors (local and international) into developing the Canje Basin for ethanol cane with nearby distilleries for producing ethanol for the international market; using the abundant sugar/molasses to produce ethanol for local use; and incentivise GuyOil and other oil companies to invest in mixing-tanks for blending the E-10 (10% Ethanol gasoline).
Its other plans for the industry include de-politicising and professionalising the decision-making process at GuySuCo; establishing a sugar factories rehabilitation programme to make them efficient and cost effective; re-engaging local expertise to change the agronomical practices in the field to boost yield; mechanising the cane harvesting process which will complement workers as well as introduce many more skilled jobs; introducing a Cane-Quality Assurance System that incentivises cane farmers based on cane quality; involving the private sector in the financing and managing of the new cane lands in the Upper Corentyne area; accelerate the development of the Berbice Deepwater Harbour with a temporary sugar storage facility in Berbice to reduce the cost of transporting sugar and ethanol to the international market; accelerate the development of a sugar refinery; and enhance the quality of life of sugar workers within their communities through better facilities, sports and social amenities.
The party’s Plan also sets out initiatives for the rice and other crops sectors.
In the area of mining, the party says it recognises that the sector is a very valuable contributor to the economy and therefore must not only be sustained, but improved in every respect. Apart from providing jobs and opportunities for over 100,000, it notes that the spill-over effects of mining’s contribution to the development of roads, settlements, interior penetration, schools and health services, cannot be underestimated.
According to the AFC, it will review all legislation and regulations which negatively impact on the mining industry, and particularly in the gold and diamond producing sub-sectors. It says it will update and implement the recommendations of the National Development Strategy relative to mining while also providing Indigenous peoples and other stakeholders with added rights and management over their lands.
Further, it will pursue the revision of the national mineral map to ensure more targeted mining, pursue foreign direct investments for the extraction of Guyana’s mineral wealth, and particularly that of rare earths and metals, and provide a 5% exemption of all accumulative gold and diamond mining acreage from inclusion in the strictures of the present Low Carbon Development Strategy.
The party adds that it would encourage the establishment of a gold refinery, and reform the operation of the Gold Board and all matters relating to the purchase and sale of gold by the Government of Guyana, and the export of diamonds. It also proposes providing special training and financial windows for small miners to ensure sustainability and environmental best practices. It says that it would remove the six (6) month notice requirement to be given before alluvial mining is commenced and establish a special fund, to be managed by a newly-established Ministry of Energy, National Resources and Environment, equivalent to 25% of all revenues garnered from licensing, profits, royalties and fines collected, to be used to meet the costs of all environmental restoration, waste management, and environmental compliance regarding the remediation of the land transferred to mining activities, and for training and educating of specialists required to manage and regulate activities within this sector.
According to the party, its mining policies are in keeping with the principles of sustainable use, preservation of the environment with the minimum of disturbance and destruction, and recognition and protection of the Indigenous peoples while planning extraction of natural resources.
Meanwhile, in addressing forestry, the party notes that although the Forest Bill 2008 was touted by government as superior to the 2004 Draft, it has still not received Presidential Assent. It says it views the 2004 Draft Forest Bill as more acceptable and will revise it by including provisions to accommodate climate change and international carbon accounting.
It also proposes to revise and pass the associated and updated Forest Regulations, currently in 2004 draft, including a section to make the Code of Practice on Timber Harvesting obligatory for all long-term (TSA) concessions and to support and implement the current revision of the 1997 National Forest Policy; and implement the associated 2001 National Forest Plan. It adds that it would ensure that all members of the Board of Directors of the GFC fulfil the qualifications prescribed in the GFC Act (2007) and replace immediately those who are not qualified. The party also commits to subscribing to the international Extractive Industries Transparency
Initiative, so as to ensure that the forest sector conforms to international best practice. In this vein, it promises to publish in full, for transparency and accountability, all the current and all future Foreign Direct Investments and logging licenses; all production and export records in the format used at the time of the Timber Export Board, including the names of exporters, forest products and destination; and the strategic plan for allocation of State Forest resources.
In the area of hinterland development, the AFC says it will implement measures to address the social, economic, logistical and other challenges faced by these communities. To this end, it plans to review financial proceeds from the LCDS to Indigenous Communities and engage them in meaningful consultation with the view of initiating relevant economic and social projects of their choice. It also plans to expedite land demarcation, new land title applications and applications for extension of titled lands simultaneously after dialogue with the Indigenous communities and other stakeholders. It adds that it would ensure that the Indigenous communities benefit from mining, forestry and eco-tourism ventures in their lands and lands contiguous.
The party pledges to review the Amerindian Act of 2006, in partnership with Indigenous Communities to address contentious provisions; engage meaningfully the National Toshao Council (NTC) and the Indigenous Peoples Commission (IPC) on matters related to Indigenous Communities; and facilitate the preservation of the rich customs and traditions of the Indigenous Peoples of Guyana through the promotion of cultural groups in communities and cultural displays as far as possible, nationally and further afield.
The party’s plan sets out specific “Infrastructure Plans” for the hinterland as well as Lethem. With respect to infrastructural development, the party’s plans include the development of the Lethem airstrip into a fully operational international airport with flights to Georgetown, Brazil, Venezuela and the Caribbean, and construction of the 300-mile highway to Brazil. “This will create many jobs,” it says, while noting that increasing economic activities in Region 9 which will encourage migration from the coastland to Region 9. Therefore, the AFC proposes residential zones that must be tied in with the development of local manufacturing industries.
Noting the strategic geographic and other advantages of Region 9, and in particular Lethem, the party says it views the community as not merely a hinterland town but in the future as a vibrant border city serving as the transit point for South American investments in Guyana.
To this end, it says it has a vision for the complete modernisation of Region 9, which will be beneficial to its residents and to all Guyanese.
The party says it will make Lethem and surrounding areas a Free Enterprise Economic Zone. It explains that residents will enjoy duty free privileges on key items such as energy efficient vehicles as well as other key import/export items. It adds it would create jobs by revitalising the cashew and peanut industry. “The plan is for Region 9 to be the hub for cashew and peanut cultivation and value added production through modernised processing plants,” it says, adding that it will invest in Micro Loans for the development of the cashew and peanut industries.
The party promises to focus aggressively on agricultural development with special emphasis on the creation of an organic beef industry, and to construct a state-of-the-art meat processing plant and storage facility in the South Rupununi for export of beef to Brazil and coastland Guyana. It says too that it will establish a modern vocational training centre in Region 9 to give locals more options.
Meanwhile, the party also sets out a Region 10 Policy, saying that its vision is to diversify the industries that will be the source for alternative employment beyond bauxite.
At the same time, it adds that it is important that the bauxite industry is saved and modernised and says since Guyana does not have the kind of financial investments to produce aluminium, it would invite and support foreign investment from reputable and known multinationals to develop an alumina plant. This will create new jobs as we ensure workers’ rights and welfare.
Given the threat of global warming and its strategic importance as the gateway of the South, Linden must become the secondary administrative centre of Guyana, the party says. To this end, it proposes to develop 200,000 hectares of the intermediate savannahs for citrus, cattle, legumes, vegetables as the country’s second frontier for agricultural developments. It will also pursue development of the Tiger Fall hydro electric site over a longer term, while noting that electricity will be tied to industrial development and alumina production. It further notes that it will intensify the block-making capability using lateritic bauxite soil. “This will be supportive of AFC’s housing policy,” it points out, while adding that it will promote furniture manufacturing and value added wood products. The party also says it will re-engage the Government of Brazil and commence the construction of the Linden to Lethem road and transform Linden to become the main entry point for the eco-tourism expansion.
Security and Crime
According to the party, crime solutions are vital to the revival of the nation. It says crime is stifling genuine investment opportunities, affecting the well-being of the working people and is one of the principal contributors to the skilled human capital migrating from Guyana. “The increase of deadly crimes under the current administration has seen very few criminals brought to justice,” it notes.
The party says it plans to “confront organised crime and redress the breakdown of law and order” and it promises to extradite drug kingpins and terrorists, remove corrupt officers from the Joint Services and mandate life sentences after three convictions for violent felonies. The party said it would give the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) permission to set up a local facility as well as re-engage the British, US and other friendly governments for technical and financial assistance to reform the Joint Services.
It also plans to increase salaries for law enforcement officers substantially as well as facilitate a system that would allow members of the Joint Services to work in the administrative region of their choice where practical. It adds that it would put more police officers on the street by hiring civilians for desk duties.
Further, it says it would boost the efficiency, operation and powers of the Police Complaints Authority to make it accessible to citizens and ensure that all complaints are brought to finality. The party proposes safeguarding public safety primarily by empowering institutions; strengthening the security services; and reviewing and implementing legal remedies.
In the first instance, it proposes establishing a Ministry of Justice and National Security to better coordinate all aspects of public safety, border security, and public order, as well as development of a National Security Strategy. It would also appoint a specialised Anti-Crime Unit, it says, comprising army and police personnel in all police divisions and to be headed by a GDF officer on secondment to confront violent and armed criminals. Further, it says that it would establish a unified Drug Enforcement and Control Agency to coordinate and execute drug enforcement policy between the Customs Anti- Narcotic Unit (CANU), the Police Anti-Narcotic Unit, the DEA, INTERPOL and other agencies.
The party adds that it would establish a specialised Law Enforcement Academy (LEA) to train officers in crime investigation, intelligence gathering and forensics. It also promises to start a Police/Schools partnership program by assigning a dedicated officer to each school with whom they can work on “Get to know the Police” workshops, etc.
In order to support police, it proposes the creation of a special office within the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions for the use of Special Prosecutors to prosecute persons accused of certain categories of offences. Also, it says it will construct a modern prison with new, appropriate and humane facilities for women, juveniles and remand prisoners outside of the city, while also allowing more prisoners to do community work for which they would receive a nominal stipend at the end of their term. In the area of prison reform, it adds that it would develop rehabilitation programmes in prisons and provide academic education, vocational and technical training for prisoners to better prepare them for reintegration into society.
On strengthening of the security services, the party says it would furnish police with the tools to fight crime, including advanced weapons, mobile communications, transportation, a forensic laboratory, a fingerprint/criminal behavioural database and other necessary material. It also proposes raising entry requirements and remuneration and developing innovative recruitment strategies, in order to attract a new generation of professional law enforcement officers. The proposals for strengthening include overhauling the 911 System to make it responsive to the needs of citizens as well as training police to respond more effectively to domestic violence.
Addressing legislative solutions, the party says it plans to introduce legislation to legitimise and regulate Community Policing and establish Citizens Protection Units (CPUs), in keeping with best practices globally. It will also review and consolidate all criminal law and criminal procedure related legislation, implement an amnesty programme for the surrender of illegal weapons, which will be backed by a “Voluntary Weapons Collection” programme and a special fund to provide alternative opportunities for training, development of income generating projects, credit etc. for youth at risk and sports, scouting, and other cadet-like schemes for youth in schools and religious organisations. It adds that it would pass legislation to establish neighbourhood justice panels of village elders to adjudicate on petty matters such as anti-social behaviour and family disputes.
Additionally, the party says it will also pursue “moral rebuilding,” while noting that over past decades of “poor governance, the moral fabric of our society has been tremendously weakened.”
It argues that without moral strength, the benefits flowing from political stability, economic strength and democracy will be hindered. As a result, it proposes working closely with faith-based and other organisations to promote effective parenting and stable family life and general respect; including moral education in the school curriculum; having Neighbourhood Democratic Councils and other local government organs work at the community level to raise moral awareness; and broadening the scope and empowering the Integrity Commission to deal with public officers who abuse their offices.
Other areas addressed in the Action Plan include education, housing, health care, culture and arts, public service, labour, foreign policy, trade, tourism and IT.
