‘APNU+AFC is the most expensive Govt. of our time’ – Chris Ram

Oct 14, 2017 News, https://www.kaieteurnewsonline...ve-govt-of-our-time/

– serious issues of governance and transparency exist – Chris Ram

By Kiana Wilburg
When one takes into account, the configuration of the APNU+AFC Government, along with its lineup of non-statutory bodies, Commissions of Inquiry and the like, it becomes quite clear that it is the most expensive government of our time.

This assertion, among others, was expressed recently by Chartered Accountant and Attorney-at-Law, Christopher Ram, who was at the time delivering his remarks at the Business Summit hosted by the Private Sector Commission (PSC).

Ram did not mince words as he criticized the government for its poor public expenditure management skills as well as its questionable approach to governance mechanisms.

“Our current administration is the largest, single government in Guyana’s post-colonial history. It has the most ministers, least number of technocrats, and the highest costs. Add to that the non-statutory bodies and you have one of the highest levels of public administration you will find anywhere…”

He added, “Employment costs in the country are also rising at dangerously high levels. What we need in this country is good management of the economy and it is absent. You look at all your mechanisms needed for oversight and you realize that they do not exist, and when they exist, they are not being used.”

Ram also noted that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently presented a report to the Government based on its most recent mission to Guyana. He said that the IMF’s publication speaks to the national economy while being critical of the Government’s expenditure.

Ram was quite critical of the fact that the Government is yet to make such a crucial report public.

“Why is the government not telling us these things? Why is it that the report is not being made public so that the public can see what is happening? There are serious issues.”

Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman had told Kaieteur News that the IMF indeed submitted a report to him and the Finance Minister, Winston Jordan. He explained that the report looked at Guyana’s fiscal preparedness for the oil sector as well as the projected gains.

Trotman said, “Based on that report, the IMF predicts that Guyana will earn $380M a year, in the first couple years, before we get into the billions. So it is a lot of money that will be coming. They have already started advising us on how much money will come from taxation, from profits, from royalties…”

He also reminded that the International Monetary Fund in its 2017 review of Guyana’s economy was keen to focus its attention on the nation’s looming oil wealth.

IMF CAUTIONS
An overview of that report shows that the IMF is already issuing cautionary words when it comes to oil and its murky nature.

The International Monetary Fund was careful to stress on the importance of the Government putting in place, mechanisms to ensure the transparent spending of the oil revenue to come.

In this regard, Directors attached to the global organization emphasized that sound fiscal practices suggest saving a share of the oil revenue for future generations. They said, “Oil-financed spending should be transparent and channeled through the budget toward projects that enhance the economy’s physical and human capital.”

The IMF on a related note commended the local authorities for drafting a Natural Resource Fund legislation and requesting the Fund’s technical advice on this topic.

IMF Staff still stressed the importance of transparency and good governance in the management of the oil industry and even welcomed the authorities’ plans to join the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative and adhere to the Santiago Principles for Sovereign Wealth Funds.

Based on its projections, the IMF is of the view that oil will have a large impact on Guyana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). (GDP is the monetary value of all the finished goods and services produced within a country’s borders in a specific time period. (http://www.investopedia.com/terms/g/gdp.asp)

On the other hand, however, the IMF noted that the looming oil sector will have a much smaller impact on the Gross National Product (GDP). (GNP is an estimate of total value of all the final products and services produced in a given period by the means of production owned by a country’s residents. http://www.investopedia.com/terms/g/gnp.asp.)

The IMF’s estimates and projections are based on data as currently compiled, but with a conservative ad hoc inclusion of oil production from 2020 onwards.

The Fund believes that the main direct effect on the domestic economy will be through fiscal revenue.

The revenue-sharing agreement sets the government’s share at 50 percent of “profit oil.” With 75 percent of total oil revenues initially allocated for “cost recovery,” the government’s share is only 12.5 percent, but will increase significantly after Exxon Mobil and partners recover their initial upfront investment.

According to the IMF, oil revenue is expected to amount to 2.6 percent of GDP in 2020 and will rise to about 4.6 percent in 2021, which is the first full year of oil production.

The Fund believes that the shares of fiscal revenue and expenditure in GDP will decline due to the larger increase in the latter with the start of oil production. It said that the oil is exported, with 50 percent of Exxon’s (and its partners) proceeds repatriated through the current account and the remainder through the financial account.

It said, “Several countries experienced competitiveness problems in other sectors after they became oil producers. These Dutch Disease considerations should be manageable given the magnitude of the windfall.”

With the aforementioned in mind, the IMF cautioned that as Guyana gets richer, there will be a loss of access to grants and concessional loans. These are assumed to taper off with the start of oil production.

Note that slop can boy will not post this type of article critical of govt, only DG does the honors. Sloppy will choose pro govt articles as it falls within his job description and there are punitive damages for posting otherwise.

Chris Ram is a professional, diligent and knowledgeable guy. If he says APNU+AFC is a high-cost regime, I won't doubt him.

Drugb posted:

Note that slop can boy will not post this type of article critical of govt, only DG does the honors. Sloppy will choose pro govt articles as it falls within his job description and there are punitive damages for posting otherwise.

Usual ramblings from the Wallah.

Gilbakka posted:

Chris Ram is a professional, diligent and knowledgeable guy. If he says APNU+AFC is a high-cost regime, I won't doubt him.

One doesn't have to pull out the magnifying glasses,look at the budget.

Chris Ram keeping the government in check.

Django posted:

Gilbakka posted:

Chris Ram is a professional, diligent and knowledgeable guy. If he says APNU+AFC is a high-cost regime, I won't doubt him.

One doesn't have to pull out the magnifying glasses,look at the budget.

Chris Ram keeping the government in check.

Yah think Granger hiring party members to occupy a chair? Can you say NEPOTISM? Look like alyu deh pon tap. Starvation is just around the corner.

Think of the wisdom in the following statements.

"the increases were necessary so that there is a distinction between their salaries and that of the newly created junior minster positions". Or something like that. So they created junior ministerial positions that they only needed to allow for jobs for their friends and had to increase the wages of the existing ministerial positions so those folks are happy that they are making more then the junior dudes.

On top of that you have Harmon's classic comment that if you give them plenty money in their pay, they wouldn't end up tiefing. 

Django posted:

Drugb posted:

Note that slop can boy will not post this type of article critical of govt, only DG does the honors. Sloppy will choose pro govt articles as it falls within his job description and there are punitive damages for posting otherwise.

Usual ramblings from the Wallah.

Slop boy, what a wonderful life you have, you get a workout fetching pnc slop can and you get paid on top, icing on the cake. 

ksazma posted:

Think of the wisdom in the following statements.

"the increases were necessary so that there is a distinction between their salaries and that of the newly created junior minster positions". Or something like that. So they created junior ministerial positions that they only needed to allow for jobs for their friends and had to increase the wages of the existing ministerial positions so those folks are happy that they are making more then the junior dudes.

On top of that you have Harmon's classic comment that if you give them plenty money in their pay, they wouldn't end up tiefing. 

More money will only wet their appetite for further bribery.  These jackasses don't get that the richer a man get, the more he wants. 

Take djangy for example, he own 3 houses and a small business but he still tek part time job to fetch pnc slop can. 

skeldon_man posted:

Django posted:

Gilbakka posted:

Chris Ram is a professional, diligent and knowledgeable guy. If he says APNU+AFC is a high-cost regime, I won't doubt him.

One doesn't have to pull out the magnifying glasses,look at the budget.

Chris Ram keeping the government in check.

Yah think Granger hiring party members to occupy a chair? Can you say NEPOTISM? Look like alyu deh pon tap. Starvation is just around the corner.

It has already started. There has been a massive increase in the number of barrels being sent to Guyana from USA and Canada.