Dear Editor,
Mr. Sean Ori, in his Stabroek News March 21 letter, 2022, asks “How goes the creation of 50,000 jobs?” He declares that “Politicians need to be held accountable for their promises. Promises like Irfaan Ali’s campaign promise of 50,000 jobs.” His take is that the commitment made is impossible, and that the government will not be able to deliver on this promise. He adds that the government will need some US$5 billion minimum, to create 50,000 jobs. Well, like he intimated, he could be wrong, so I will prove him so, as he has challenged. To battle the rising cost of living, by the creation of 1,000 part-time jobs for struggling families, word from VP Jagdeo is that some 200-250 small businesses will receive grants and the government will roll out several initiatives to assist those who are severely affected throughout the country. Further details say that some 800 temporary jobs will be made available to residents of Region Two to supplement the income of those “feeling the squeeze” of the increase in cost of living stimulated by external factors beyond Guyana’s control.
Targeting Region Two, the Vice-President stated that these jobs will be soon advertised and they will cater for not more than one person per family. He added that “In keeping with its vision to create more jobs in the region, the government is looking to co-invest with businesses and companies, particularly for the establishment of call centres in the region.” This will translate to the employment of another 1,000 Region Two residents, through the establishment of call centres there. Mr. Sean Ori probably does not recall that this year, some $1 billion in the National Budget was set aside for road projects in the Region, and this will also create hundreds of jobs for Region Two residents. Sean Ori firstly must understand that job-creation is not a fly-by-night happening. In the present scenario, one must take into account what happened during the 2015-2020 era. An October 17, 2019 letter by Roger Samuels is most noteworthy in this regard.
In responding to an October 11, 2019 article, “Little detail on how PPP’s Ali would create 50,000 jobs-presidential candidate silent on matter,” Samuels noted that “The prospect of creating 50,000 jobs within the next five years, starting from 2020, is justifiable on economic grounds.” He iterated that “… the estimated figure, to a certain degree is conservative.” His analysis is easily accessible (and so, I leave it up to the Sean Ori types to go and read). He proposes, that there will be the following: Construction- 23,000; Forestry-6,000; Mining-6,000; Sugar-11,000; Environment-1,000; and CSOs-2,000. Going along this line, I ask that Sean Ori be aware that some 5,500 persons across the country have already been employed by the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development to execute infrastructural projects.
The overall employment requirement stands at 1,844 people for the Rose Hall Estate, located in East Canje Berbice; this will see the estate in complete operation by 2022. Currently, 1,381 people need to be employed for the coming year. Just a few weeks ago, Guyana’s GuySons Engineering teamed up with US-based K&B Industries to construct a US$35 million manufacturing facility at Enmore, East Coast Demerara, paving the way for the creation of over 500 jobs. In this same vein, President Ali stated that “… the initiative is a result of the government’s holistic approach to developments within the oil and gas sector.” He gave insight on how things are done, noting that “For the benefits to come, we must do what we do at the high level, at the technical level… we have to meet the ambassadors, and we have to meet the international investors because that is where the hard work of negotiating the opportunities is at. Then ultimately who benefits? It is the people in these communities.” I fully endorse this mode of operation.
Sincerely,
H. Singh
