Change Guyana Leader Robert Badal has flayed President David Granger over his New Year’s address containing plans for the coalition government if re-elected.
Badal in a statement noted that Granger said that his Coalition’s plan for the next decade is based on four pillars. The Green State, The Digital State, The Petroleum State and the Education Nation.
The President (has) shown us yet again his party’s lack of vision and the obvious contradiction between his plan and his performance over the past four and a half years.
“The Green Development strategy under his leadership has been little more than painting of Government buildings in green. We are still generating electricity from heavy fuel oil instead of LNG (liquid natural gas), while discouraging acquisition of new vehicles including electric vehicles by (extortionate), high taxes. His fiscal policy actually promotes used tyres and old used cars that pollutes the environment”, Badal lamented.
He said that Granger’s emphasis on a Digital State is at odds with his Government’s failure in liberalizing the Telecommunications Sector, his policy of import taxes and VAT on computers and cellphones.
“In fact there has been no investments under his tenure in getting us to 4G internet speeds, in some parts of Guyana we are still at 2G”, Badal declared.
As regards his Petroleum State, Badal said that the APNU+AFC administration’s failure to enact legislation or even a policy on local content despite continuous calls from the Private Sector would render “The Petroleum State” a mere slogan. In addition, he said that the lack of transparency surrounding oil contracts have ignited widespread speculation that “our people have been sold out to big oil companies”.
Badal added that no mention is made of a Green Revolution to diversify and expand agriculture, the main pillar of a sustainable development strategy. Neither is any mention made of a programme of Industrialization utilizing the country’s gas resources or value added initiatives from bauxite, forestry or agricultural resources that would create thousands of jobs.
“Slogan politics and contradictory policies would not create jobs nor give us a better life. This requires leadership we have never had since our independence.
“The offer of food and drinks and soca music to attract attendance at the Coalition’s campaign launch (today) tells the real story. Successive administrations have failed to elevate the standard of living of the masses and kept us in a survival mode. The same old promises and ethnically divisive politics would get us no where. It is time that we say No more! Not again!”, Badal declared.
During the 2015 election campaign, Badal had provided assistance to governing coalition member, the AFC.
