Unfinished Business

As a matter of convenience this section highlights unresolved issues from pronouncements of earlier years and is presented in three parts – National issues, Campaign promises, and Pronouncements by the Minister of Finance in the 2015 Budget. Those issues which straddle the three parts are duly noted.

National Issues:

1. Electoral Reform including reform of the model of the Guyana Elections Commission and Campaign Financing. The Carter Model for the 1992 Elections of a political party dominated GECOM remains in place. No party it seems is willing to engage the issue of campaign financing. GECOM as the elections manager has failed to take any initiative.

2. Judicial review; including establishment of a Constitutional Court, implementing the ‘new rules’ and dealing with the backlog of cases: The push for a Constitutional Court of more than a single judge appears to have lost its appeal and urgency. New Rules of Court are being pursued and have been promised by end of March 2016. Status of backlog cases remains elusive despite efforts by Bar Association.

3. Law Reform: Law Reform Commission Act passed and assented to but concerns about independence and appointments of Law Reform Committee expressed.

4. Revision of the 2010 edition of the Laws of Guyana to correct the errors, omissions and other deficiencies: It is now clear that the problems are unfixable and work ought to commence on a new edition effective 2017.

5. Census 2012 Report: Guyana must be one of the few countries that have not completed their report on the last census, three years after the census and a year and a half since the preliminary report.

Campaign Promises:

6. Manifesto Action Programme not actioned:

• Significant salary increases for all categories of government workers: The Minister has now responded to concerns about ignoring the principle of free collective bargaining. The relevant Unions will now engage in negotiations.

• Implementation of a phased reduction of VAT and the removal from VAT from food and other essential items: Increase in the number of        zero-rated items but no reduction in rates.

• Significant increase in Old Age Pension: Moderate increases granted.

• Establishment of: passport and birth certificate licensing offices in Berbice, Essequibo and Linden; a Public Procurement Commission; a National Cane Workers and Cane Farmers Conference; an Investigative Commission on Corruption; and the Liberalisation of the Telecommunications and ICT sectors: None of these have been done but there are indications that the Government is determined to carry these out. Draft legislation for liberalisation has been completed and the Minister notes that Government is committed to having these  ‘tabled and passed this year’.

7. Waiving of duties on fuel, tools and small scale mining equipment bought by identifiable holders of small concessions: Agreement was signed with miners but not executed as many miners are non-compliant with their tax obligations.

Pronouncements by the Minister of Finance:

8. Constitutional Reform: The APNU+AFC Coalition Manifesto promised the appointment of a Constitutional Reform Commission within three months of taking office. Committee established to advise on procedures. Draft report presented December 31, 2015 but no pronouncements by the Government on when the Commission will be appointed or what its Terms of Reference will be. Experience is that the longer it takes for the process to begin, the less likely there will be meaningful reforms, particularly if the constituent members of the Coalition have different goals. .The 2011 Elections Manifesto of key Coalition member AFC had promised to deliver proposals for the removal of the Executive Presidency.

9. Building of a Green Economy: The government saw as a point of reference for building a Green Economy Article 36 of the Constitution which mandates sustainable extraction of country’s natural wealth. Steps taken in several areas including hydro and wind power, Styrofoam ban, vehicle and tyre restrictions.

10. Establishment of a Sovereign Wealth Fund: In progress.

11. Crime: Public Security Plan, implementation of the Disciplined Services recommendations and the establishment of a command centre and resuscitating of CCTV feeds were among the measures identified to fight crime. Earlier this month the Government launched a US$15 million Citizen Security Strengthening Programme, which they believe will contribute nationally to reducing crime and violence.

12. Policy to be developed to address: licensing and contracting, fiscal framework, capacity building, transparency and accountability, environmental management and measurement indicators.

• Mining: Small and medium scale miners to benefit from the waiver of custom duties to create a more level playing field when compared to

large scale miners.

• Forestry: The conclusion of the 5-year forest agreement with Norway provides the impetus to open discussions on a successor agreement,

and this was to be pursued when a team from the Kingdom of Norway  visits our country.

These have to be considered as work in progress but success will depend on the establishment of clear goals and targets for the successor to the Climate Change Unit.

13. Agriculture: Modernisation and diversification to expand the sector. On Sugar, the word was awaiting the report of the Commission of the Inquiry before deciding on the next steps with regard to the sugar industry. Report submitted in October 2015. A sum of $9 billion was allocated to be injected into the sugar industry. The decision to close one of the Estates outside of the Commission’s recommendations suggests that the Government has not decided on how it will treat with the Report, adding further uncertainty to the process.

14. Tourism: Creating a must see Tourist Destination and delinking tourism as a sector in its own right. After seven months the new Tourism Ministry subsumed in Ministry of Public Telecommunication and Tourism, raising concerns about the Government’s commitment to the sector. There is clearly a need for a sector strategy and policy. .

15. Energy: The government planned to consider alternatives such as wind, solar and bagasse as well as the possibility a large joint hydropower project with Brazil in the Mazaruni area. Adoption of a more integrated approach to providing for our energy needs over a 5 years period. All sources of energy – fossil fuels, wind, solar, bagasse and hydropower will be explored.

16. Doing Business in Guyana: Commitment to smash the suffocating red tape that stifles businesses and stunts growth in the country. Establishment of a Small Business Development Centre to facilitate the need of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). Initiatives planned to make Go-Invest the single stop when registering a new business.

17. Water: Re-establishment of the National Water Council. Overhaul of the Shelter Belt facility and building new treatment plants.

18. Financial Sector Reform: The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to carry out a Financial Sector Assessment Program after a request by the Government. No announcements.

19. Public Administration Reform: Strategic planning should have been implemented along with enhanced evaluation and monitoring capability so that regions can be assessed using key performance indicators. Commission set up. Report expected shortly.

20. Tax Reform: The government planned to appoint a committee to pursue tax reform with a mandate to provide a comprehensive plan that will result in transparency, predictability, promotion of investment, national competitiveness and removal of distortion across sectors. Report submitted on January 18, 2015.

21. Tender Board Reform: Financial support has been received from the IDB to implement a project to strengthen and overhaul public procurement, an area of significant corruption and leakage of public funds.

22. Matters not yet implemented also include the establishment of a Parliamentary Budget Office and strong internal audit units in every ministry and department.

23. All tax measures announced in 2015 Budget have been implemented.