Business Review

The revenue challenge

Not simple The revenue challenge facing the new administration is not a simple one.

Guyana in the international finance structure

Important structure One of the most important structures in international affairs is the finance structure.

LUCAS STOCK INDEXThe Lucas Stock Index (LSI) fell 0.16 per cent during the fourth trading period of November 2015. The stocks of five companies were traded with 331,618 shares changing hands. There were no Climbers but one Tumbler. The stocks of Demerara Tobacco Company (DTC) fell 0.10 per cent on the sale of 2,212 shares. In the meanwhile, the stocks of Banks DIH (DIH), Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (BTI) and Republic Bank Limited (RBL) remained unchanged on the sale of 231,246; 91,660; 1,000 and 5,500 shares respectively.

Using foreign trade to forge economic security Part 2

Reasons for trade deficit As was noted in the first part of this article, trade remains a very important element of the Guyana economy.

LUCAS STOCK INDEXThe Lucas Stock Index (LSI) fell 0.18 per cent during the third trading period of November 2015. The stocks of three companies were traded with 20,854 shares changing hands. There was one Climber and two Tumblers. The stocks of Banks DIH (DIH) rose 4.74 per cent on the sale of 10,375 shares. The stocks of Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (BTI) fell 1.96 percent on the sale of 54 shares and that of Demerara Distillers Limited fell 4.17 per cent on the sale of 10,425 shares.

Using foreign trade to forge economic security (Part 1)

On the 26th of May 2015, President David Granger said “Our diplomats must open more markets”.

A lousy job at cooperation

Resource gap The Bank of Guyana has been reporting for some time now on what it refers to as the resource gap.

LUCAS STOCK INDEX
The Lucas Stock Index (LSI) fell 0.16 percent during the first trading period of November 2015. The stocks of three companies were traded with 225,375 shares changing hands. There was one Climber and one Tumbler. The stocks of Banks DIH (DIH) rose 4.74 percent on the sale of 220,749 shares while the stocks of Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) fell 5.88 percent on the sale of 4,609 shares. In the meanwhile, the stocks of Demerara Tobacco Company (DTC) remained unchanged on the sale of 17 shares.

Public corporations: a look at their classification and finances

Public affairs The government is responsible for several enterprises that are classified in the public accounts as public corporations.

Some trends in Guyana’s capital flows

Constant trade deficit Guyana, like several other countries, runs a constant trade deficit.

LUCAS STOCK INDEXThe Lucas Stock Index (LSI) declined 1.16 percent during the third trading period of October 2015. The stocks of five companies were traded with 296,103 shares changing hands. There was one Climber and two Tumblers. The stocks of Demerara Tobacco Company (DTC) rose 0.49 percent on the sale of 1,103 shares. The stocks of Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) fell 7.69 percent on the sale of 20,250 shares while the stocks of Republic Bank Limited (RBL) fell 0.87 percent on the sale of 9,294 shares. In the meanwhile, the stocks of Banks DIH (DIH) and Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry remained unchanged on the sale of 265,296 and 160 shares respectively.

That ministerial salary increase

Public Outcry Ever since it was discovered that the new administration had increased the salaries of its ministers and parliamentarians, there has been a public outcry and groundswell of criticism for taking the action.

Stimulating the economy

Early concerns The early concerns that the Guyana economy has slowed down and that the growth for 2015 would at best be sluggish remain valid even after a round of salary increases.

LUCAS STOCK INDEXThe Lucas Stock Index (LSI) declined 0.84 percent during the first trading period of October 2015. The stocks of five companies were traded with 169,031 shares changing hands. There were two Climbers and one Tumbler. The stocks of Banks DIH (DIH) fell 9.52 percent on the sale of 15,548 shares. The stocks of Demerara Tobacco Company rose 0.05 percent on the sale of 100 shares while the stocks of Demerara Distillers Limited rose 4 percent on the sale of 126,512 shares. In the meanwhile, the stocks of Republic Bank Limited (RBL) and Demerara Bank Limited (DBL) remained unchanged on the sale of 25,870 and 1,000 shares respectively.

Will NICIL be different?

Wide-ranging powers The National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) was formed in July 1990.

The constant threat to Guyana’s economic development

Decree On May 26, 2015, the Government of Venezuela issued Decree 1787 which purported to annexe the territorial waters of Guyana off of Guyana’s Essequibo coast.

LUCAS STOCK INDEX
The Lucas Stock Index (LSI) remained unchanged during the third trading period of September 2015. The stocks of one company Banks DIH (DIH) were traded with 198,520 shares changing hands. There were no Climbers and no Tumblers.

Rethinking the public-private partnership model

Controversy The experience with the Berbice River Bridge and its relationship with the investment made by the government seem to make people leery about using the public-private partnership investment model in the construction of projects in the future.

The 2015 budget and the people of Guyana

Complicated In a process complicated by the prorogation of parliament and the holding of elections after the mandatory budget approval period had passed, the Granger administration had to put together a budget for 2015.

Re-assessment of the deal on the Berbice River Bridge needed

Concern The concern over the deal on the Berbice River Bridge is not only about the level of the investment made by the government vis-à-vis the private sector, but also about the mode of the investment.

Integrity of the revenue collection system called into question

Illicit activities The recent disclosure in local print and online media that gold was being smuggled out of Guyana in significant quantities is a blow to the integrity of Guyana’s revenue collection system and an apparent indictment of all aspects of port security ‒ land, sea and air.