… President and Ministers ‘singing from a different hymn book’ – PPP

The Berbice River Bridge

The A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration was lambasted on Monday for sending mixed signals to the public with respect to its position on Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs or P3).

People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) General Secretary Clement Rohee, on Monday at a press conference, stated that such signals emanating from the David Granger-led Administration were casting a negative impression on local and foreign investors, causing most to be reluctant towards investing in Guyana.

Rohee stated that for the sake of the development of the country, the PPP/C was asking that Government officials stop “singing from different hymn books” and declare the official posture towards PPPs.

The Opposition party noted that Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson publicly stated that the Public-Private Partnership model would not be used by the Government to construct the new Demerara River Bridge –- a proclamation that painted a negative image about the coalition’s position on such financial partnerships.

The General Secretary noted that on the contrary, President David Granger had earlier stated that the Government welcomes Public-Private Partnerships.

“The PPP believes this is another manifestation of the level of confusion in the APNU/AFC Government camp, where everyone seems to be singing from a different hymn book,’ Rohee added.

Further, he stated that it exposed the “trial and error” approach of the Granger Administration to the management of the affairs of the country.

In underscoring the importance of Government’s attitude towards investments of this nature, Rohee made reference to World Bank Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean, Jorge Familiar’s statement at the High Level Caribbean Forum 2014, where he stated, “The Private Sector can play an important role in financing infrastructure through Public-Private Partnership.”

He also referred to the Caribbean Development Bank, which declared that PPPs were an effective tool for national development. On that note, the Party posited that it agreed with these international financial institutions, calling on the coalition administration to realise the importance of such partnerships.

“Therefore, the Party calls on the Granger Administration to state clearly its position on Public-Private Partnerships and the reasons why it intends to abandon this extremely critical model of investment,” Rohee said.

One of Guyana’s major PPPs, the Berbice River Bridge is a typical example of the present Government’s negative outlook on investments of this nature, the PPP/C argued.

The PPP/C, in highlighting the benefits of such partnerships, said the construction of this bridge significantly reduced the time it takes to travel to and from east Berbice. The Party noted that it cost farmers less to move their perishables and other produce and commuters can move about freely at their convenience.

Since its accession to office, the APNU/AFC Government has been trying to reduce the Berbice River Bridge toll so as to fulfil the very first of 21 of its 100-day plan promises. The Government has offered to subsidise the proposed reduction of the fares to cross the bridge, without meaningful consultations that would have incorporated the rise in the tolls proposed since last year to make the Bridge financially viable.

In an attempt to put pressure on the Berbice Bridge Company Inc (BBCI), the Government has reintroduced water taxis across the Berbice River, after it was unsuccessful in getting the Company to reduce the toll by Gy$300 for cars.

President Granger had previously assured the nation during a televised interview that Government’s posture towards this particular investment should not be considered as a fixed attitude towards all such partnerships.

The Marriott Hotel is another prime example of PPPs in Guyana, creating hundreds of jobs for many young Guyanese as well as opportunities for taxi drivers, cash crop farmers and livestock farmers, among others. The Government is yet to determine the role it will play with respect to the hotel.