Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

21-point promise…

…civil society cites “challenge”

Today marks 100 days since the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government was elected, and so it comes under scrutiny regarding the fulfilment of its 21-point promise, which was supposed to be delivered within its first 100 days in office.

With only approximately 15 of those promises partially accomplished, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon said the Administration would give itself an “A” grade for the success achieved so far. “We have considered it and based on our own checklist, we are extremely comfortable with the work we have done and the accomplishments we have made under that plan,” he told Journalists on Friday.

Several key promises such as an overall “phased” reduction of VAT, the Berbice Bridge tolls, and “significant” increases of the salaries of Public Servants, teachers, Police ranks and nurses, have had to be radically modified downwards. The liberalisation of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector was also not addressed. The inability of the Government to adopt “a long-term sustainable economic development plan to realise the vast potential of this country” was evident in the ad hoc budget just presented.

However, the coalition Government did come in for much commendation from various sections of Guyanese society on the efforts it has put into fulfilling the promises made on the elections campaign trail. These were the sentiments related to Guyana Times by civil society organisations and individuals when contacted. They also expressed the view that the Government was distracted by other pressing matters upon assumption to office; hence, it could not have focused entirely on the promises.

Professor Daizal Samad

Head of the Indian Action Committee (formerly Indian Arrival Committee – IAC), Neaz Suban, pointed out that the APNU/AFC Administration has achieved at least two-thirds of its promises, and this was commendable in light of the challenges it has encountered.

Suban stated that despite the expectations for the Administration to fulfil all of its promises, it was not a “bad achievement”. “People had expectations of a 100 per cent delivery, but obviously Government would have had challenges in delivering … [the citizenry] is still expecting that the rest of the promises to be delivered at the soonest,” he related.

   For his part, Head of the African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA), Dr Eric Phillips, said the APNU/AFC coalition inherited something entirely different than what it was expecting; hence, it was preoccupied dealing with those matters and had less time to focus on the 100-day plan promises.

   Nevertheless, he said, the Government did manage to implement some of the easier pledges as it worked on paving the path to complete the others. “They did not meet all the promises made and it’s understandable why they haven’t delivered, but they are doing things to make sure that they will be able to fulfil commitments without any hindrance,” he opined.

According to Phillips, one of the major hindrances in the Administration not being able to fulfil its promises was the uncertainty surrounding the election which went on for about a month after Poling Day on May 11.

ACDA Director Eric Phillips

Professor Daizal Samad, in assessing the Government’s performance, told this newspaper that the APNU/AFC coalition was “severely hamstrung” by financial issues; hence, it could not have adequately pursued its 100-day plan. He noted that one could not simply implement plans for the future unless one cleared the rubble in one’s path.

“They have financial constraints and had to clean up the mess that existed when they took office. Those are severe constraints,” he declared. However, Samad said Government was working assiduously to fulfil its other promises although it would take some time.

   On this note, he underscored that the coalition needed to put the “right people in the right places” and hold them accountable in order to achieve what it desired, noting that this mistake had cost the previous Administration.

   Among some of the promises fulfilled by the APNU/AFC Administration were:   The reduction of the Berbice River Bridge toll, which was slashed from $2200 to $1900 for minibuses and passenger cars, along with a 10 per cent reduction in the toll for all other types of vehicles. The revised tolls will take effect from September 1. Additionally, the Administration increased the Old Age Pension by some $4000; however the increase has taken the place of the $15,000 subsidy for electricity and water.

As promised, a task force on crime and security were established, while a Code of Conduct for all parliamentarians and officials holding public office was introduced.

The Government also sought to host the Indigenous People’s Rights and Resources Conference, the National Rice Farmers Conference and the Cane Farmers Conference. Government has also announced significant increases in salaries for public servants; the reduction of the presidential pension and other benefits; waiving of duties on equipment for small-scale miners; passing of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Act; the return of a television station licence to Linden and the establishment of investigative commissions on corruption among others.

However, fixing a date for the early holding of Local Government Elections (LGE) is among the other promises yet to be fulfilled.