Guyana in crisis… Finance Minister yet
to produce plan for solid economic
development –Financial Analysts
Financial Analyst, Ramon Gaskin
Former Auditor General, Anand Goolsarran
Guyana is noted for its many strategies which are supposedly geared towards boosting its economic development. However, two financial analysts are of the firm view that as it relates to the implementation of laws and the many policies crafted for this intention, Guyana remains in a serious crisis. Just last month, members of the government and the political opposition were a part of a most engaging discussion with foreign security expert, Professor, Dr. Ivelaw Griffith. Dr Griffith told the Members of Parliament, about the “Platitude Syndrome.” This is where the leaders of the country make grand declarations and sign policies but unfortunately pay little or no attention to ensuring that those very policies are implemented. He said, “If you took Guyana as a jurisdiction itself, you’ll see how many international treaties Guyana has signed that it hasn’t done anything to follow up on. “The people who are responsible for implementing them don’t even know the treaties exist, and it’s no consolation to Guyana to say that that happens elsewhere in the Caribbean.” Griffith stressed the importance of following up on treaties and signed policies. It is in this very breath that the former Auditor General, Mr. Anand Goolsarran, also lent much credence to the notion that in this regard Guyana has been doing a staggeringly poor job. The Financial Analyst and anti corruption advocate said, “It is true that there is a lot of legislation that represent good practices but they are not implemented. “It is not just passing amendments and signing on to policies but equally alarming is that we don’t implement them. I would even like to extend this issue not only to policies but also to laws. The law gives clear instructions that we have a Public Procurement Commission and an Integrity Commission but they are not in place. “Our Constitution also talks about the Public Service Appellate Tribunal and there has been none since 1995. Now we have an Ombudsman and we are yet to see if that will be operationalized. This simply goes to show that we have a serious crisis in terms of implementation.” Another Financial Analyst, Ramon Gaskin, highlighted that taking all things into consideration, “The Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, is yet to develop a programme which is geared towards the development of this country. He does not care for this country and that is evident.” Gaskin said that the Finance Minister’s inability to produce proper and strong polices for development says a lot about his intentions for the country. “The country has no proper economic strategy. All these strategies we talk about, like the National Competitiveness Strategy and the Low Carbon Development Strategy are all useless and full of plans that will only send this country into an economic depression. They are plans for underdevelopment.” The financial analyst said that the said strategies among other polices which are supposedly intended for the development of the country never included plans such as the construction of the Marriott Hotel, the Cheddi Jagan Airport Expansion Project and the Specialty Hospital. “Yet we have these things. There are a lot of plans which are supposed to be used as a guide but they aren’t used. Instead the government goes off and does what it feels to with taxpayers’ dollars and there is nothing to show that it was a part of something like a five-year development plan.” Gaskin maintained that the government, in particular Dr. Singh, only produces the budget and that it is only an indication of a one-year plan. He also contends that it is only logical that the average Finance Minister who professes his love for a country and intentions to see it grow, would obviously work towards producing a plan that reflects how the country will be able to clear debts, and how it will grow in terms of exports among other things. “He is unable to tell the nation what his plan is. It’s always a lot of talk, they do as they see fit while they try to camouflage some of their corrupt deals in the National Budget.” Gaskin reiterated the sentiments expressed by his colleague, that Guyana is in a serious crisis when it comes to implementing laws and signed policies. Guyana is moving forward without any clear plan for economic development. “The Members of the Opposition need to bring the pressure down on the members of the government for this laissez-faire attitude, “Gaskin said.
