APNU+AFC’s 100-day plan making “reasonable” progress – Former Auditor General

“… achievement of other goals will have to await the 2015 Budget”

By Kiana Wilburg, July 22, 2015 | By KNews | Filed Under News, Source

Even though the troubles of the rice and sugar industries currently stand as significant threats to the APNU+AFC’s action programme it plans to implement in the first 100 days of being in office, many are of the opinion that the APNU+AFC coalition government is making considerable progress.

One such person is former Auditor General, Anand Goolsarran who in his recent writings said, that from the outset, the government’s promises to the populace during the 2015 election campaign period were very ambitious.

Some of these promises include; the establishment of passport and birth certificate licensing offices in Berbice, Essequibo and Linden; the return of television station to Lindeners; the waiving of duties on fuel, tools and small scale mining equipment; setting a date for early holding of Local Government Elections; and the establishment of the Public Procurement Commission and an Investigative Commission on Corruption.

It is over 70 days since the new government is in office and less than half of its promises have been fulfilled.

Be that as it may, Goolsarran insists that, “reasonable progress has been made so far.” To support this, he pointed to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Act 2009 which has been amended to bring it in line with international standards. The Bill was first passed by the House and subsequently assented to by President David Granger.

The anti-money laundering legislation has been amended to insulate the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) from political influence by providing for, among others: the establishment of an Anti-Money Laundering Authority to provide oversight of the operations of the FIU; and the appointment of the head and deputy head of the FIU to be approved by the National Assembly by simple majority. Previously, the Minister of Finance carried out these two functions. Certain definitions were also expanded and tightened, and new definitions are included in the new Act.

Similarly, he reminded that a cap has been placed on former Presidents’ benefits, the amended Bill to which the President has also assented to. The now repealed Former Presidents (Benefits and Other Facilities) Act 2009 provided for unlimited benefits, such as local and overseas medical treatment; utility services; services of personal and household staff (inclusive of an attendant and gardener); services of clerical and technical staff; the provision of motor vehicles owned and maintained by the state; toll-free road and bridge transportation in Guyana; and an annual vacation allowance equivalent to the cost of two first-class return airfare tickets, provided on the same basis as that granted to members of the Judiciary.

The former Auditor General said, however, that several other items in the action plan will have to await the outcome of the 2015 budget, the draft of which is expected to be presented in a matter of days to the Cabinet for its consideration before being laid in the National Assembly.

These items include: the reduction in the Berbice Bridge Toll; salary increases for government employees; increases in Old Age Pensions; phased reduction of VAT and the removal of VAT from food and other essential items; and waiving of duties on fuel, tools and small scale mining equipment.

He noted that under Article 219 (3) of the Constitution, the Minister of Finance has up to three months from the date of the first sitting of the Eleventh Parliament to present the national budget for 2015. Since Parliament first met on 10 June last, Finance Minister, Winston Jordan has until September, 10, 2015 to present the budget, and Goolsarran says that from all indications the budget will be presented to the Assembly before that date.

He noted, however, that the 100 days for the new government being in office will be reached on August 19.

As regards the government’s promise of Local Government Elections, Goolsarran said that the Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan while not fixing a date for the elections, indicated that such elections will be held early next year, since the Elections Commission needs at least six months to prepare for such elections.

Goolsarran then turned his attention to the Code of Conduct for Parliamentarians and senior public servants. He stressed that while this may be highly desirable, it has to be supported by a fully functioning and effective Integrity Commission.

Surprisingly, the Former AG said that the 100-day action plan has not addressed the fact that since 2006 when Bishop George resigned as Chairman of the Commission, there has been no sitting of the body since then.

He said that compliance has also been uneven in terms of filing of annual returns of income as well as assets and liabilities.

Goolsarran said that both the Inter-American Convention against Corruption (IACAC) and United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) – to which Guyana is a signatory – emphasize the importance of having strong and effective mechanisms in place for not only such annual declarations and scrutiny thereof, but also in relation to public procurement.

On the brighter side, he reminded of the State Asset Recovery Unit which has been established under the leadership of Professor Clive Thomas, with a number forensic audits that are about to be finalized.

He said, too, that there is a need to have anti-corruption legislation in place, supported by Whistleblower Protection legislation. In this regard, he said that an Anti-Corruption Agency should be established, clothed with investigative and prosecuting powers, and an Anti-Corruption Court set up to deal expeditiously with cases brought before it.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo had signaled that government is already making moves to have this done.

Further, Goolsarran said that if these measures are put in place, they will demonstrate to all Guyana and the world at large how serious and committed the country is in the fight against corruption.

“There will also be a significant improvement in our standing on the Corruption Perceptions Index which, like several other indicators, has consistently placed Guyana second lowest in the Caribbean,” he said.