Henry come in. 

Yes, I do. It is premised on the notion of real national sovereignty and national economic self-sufficiency. From what I have seen, the AFC is too eager to submit to neo-colonial demands from external institutions.

You are digging up old ideas and regurgitating them here. You cannot have self-sufficiency in an economy that is constrained on foreign exchange. Self-sufficiency means banishing the masses to subsistence living. Only the anointed oligarchs will have the high life. With a population of 750K you've got to trade but you've got to learn how to protect your industries at the same time. And therein lies your misinterpretation of Hamilton, who BTW is one of my intellectual heroes. Hamilton did not call for self-sufficiency. He called for protecting nascent American manufacturing so that they can compete with Britain.

 

All the stuff you guys are reading in Western universities have to be adapted to the realities of small foreign currency constrained economies. The AFC's Action Plan is rooted in over 200 years of knowledge. But we have a superior interpretation of Hamilton.  

Editor’s note: As part of the newspaper’s contribution to the contending of ideas in the run-up to the November 28 general elections, the presidential candidates of political groupings represented in Parliament have been invited by Guyana Publications Inc to submit weekly columns which will be carried in the Sunday Stabroek beginning today and ending on November 27th. The column below was received from the Alliance For Change.

AFC Action Plan is rooted in 200 years of Knowledge – Part 1

Posted By TarronKhemraj On October 23, 2011 @ 5:02 am In Party Blogs |

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Article printed from Stabroek News: http://www.stabroeknews.com

AFC’s Action Plan is rooted in 200 Years of Knowledge – Part 2

 

 

By Dr. Tarron Khemraj

INTRODUCTION

It was noted in the first column that there are several conventional wisdoms that have been ventilated over the decades by practice and debates among scholars and policy makers. The AFC is aware of these best practices that have been successfully employed in Barbados, Mauritius, Taiwan, Singapore, South Korea and other economies.

These countries have all applied some form of industrial policy – a set of consistent policies that were first written down in a coherent document, the Report on Manufacturers (1791), by Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary to the Treasury (Minister of Finance) of the United States. Of course, it is important that we apply in the Guyana context universal principles with suitable modifications.
Before I outline these Guyana-specific principles, I would like to state that the Action Plan (Manifesto) of the AFC is a significantly more detailed document and gets into policy specifics at a deeper level compared with the newly unveiled PPP Manifesto. Below I present some of the unwritten principles underpinning the Action Plan. There are others, but these are some important and obvious ones.

 

UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES

 

Principle 1: The idea here is to upgrade or transform Guyana’s production structure. For the AFC this means changing the economy in such a manner that we produce products and services at the high end of the hierarchy of global products. It is well known that a lawyer will enjoy a richer lifestyle relative to an accounts clerk. This is because the lawyer produces a service more valuable. It is no different for a country. This is why the AFC is adamant on renewable energy, culture and art industries, training and education, information technology, aesthetic housing, eco-tourism, agro-processing and manufacturing. They all have one thing in common – as people get richer they want these types of goods and services. We do not necessarily consume more sugar or rice paddy as we get wealthier. When we make this transformation not only do we transform what we produce but how our people get employed. Therefore, the masses are as rich as what the country produces.

 

Principle 2: The next principle has to do with demand spillovers. The demand of one sector of the economy is the income of another sector. The demand of one religious group is the income of another. The demand of one ethnic group is the income of another. This is the classic coordination problem that Guyana has to overcome if it is to develop.

 

The Action Plan (AP) therefore proposes interlocking industries that will lead to such spillovers. The success of one geographic location depends on the success of another – either we sink or swim together. Equality therefore is not just one of moral necessity, but also economic reality. There is no zero-sum approach in the AP. Therefore, the AFC crafted a series of political, constitutional, public service, public procurement, judicial and police reforms all focusing on creating equal opportunities for everyone, so we can make demand spillovers a reality. These invisible institutional reforms are concomitant with production supply reforms, according to the AP.

 

Principle 3: Nurturing human capabilities. Our people are our most important asset and not the trees as is noted by the PPP’s Low Carbon Development Strategy. This is why the AP has policies specific to youth development, education reform, scientific and engineering investments, vocational training and finance for small business start-ups.

 

We are the only party with Diaspora policy to bring Guyanese back home so they can employ their skills and invest. There is no way the AFC will allow any section of the University of Guyana to be closed as is being sold in the letter columns. A research-teaching university is crucial for moulding human capabilities.

 

It is a necessity and not a luxury as the PPP seems to believe. Therefore, the AFC has a comprehensive resuscitation plan for UG. The AFC also does not see sports as handing out sporting gears for political purposes. Instead, we view sports as something that shapes human character and capability and also brings in economic and social returns.

 

Principle 4: Sustainable environment. We do not need to receive payment in order to preserve our forests, lakes and rivers. This is natural, and as a matter of fact, the AFC has environmentally conscious folks long before the LCDS came into being. That is why we know we can industrialize and be good to the environment with our carbon neutral renewable energy framework.

 

Energy production also makes tremendous economic sense, because of the fact we consume more of it as our income rises. Even if oil should be found we will still implement our renewable energy strategy, because we are aware of the resource curse and the problems that come from a pump-and-sell crude oil model which the PPP seems keen to implement.

 

Principle 5: Efficiency. The AFC proposes realistic sequencing of projects and investments so as to maximize efficiency, which results in higher wages and lower taxes for the people. For instance, there is no way the AFC would have placed a floating bridge at the mouth of the Berbice River. This is causing the slow death of New Amsterdam.

 

The AFC will never fork out US$15.4 million to build an access road to a hydroelectricity site when the feasibility of the hydro itself has not been concluded. The One Laptop Per Family would not have been created because it does not lead to immediate job creation. There is no way a Skeldon-like sugar factory will be built under an AFC government. The AFC intends to change up public procurement and outsourcing that are susceptible to overbilling and inefficiency.

 

Principle 6: Cohesiveness. The AP seeks to promote a caring relationship, shared responsibility, and joint social purpose among labour (and their unions), private investors, government and civil society. We strongly support the entry of foreign investors and Diaspora investments, which would form linkages with domestic small and medium sized businesses, transfer technology and information, and utilize domestic components and materials. We believe small businesses must be complemented by a core set of industrial clusters, without which mini enterprises will never grow up and compete in the global marketplace.

Principle 7: Linking infrastructure development with industrial development. The housing programme of the PPP was a wonderful opportunity to promote basic import substitution industries. Instead, most building materials, fittings and precision works are imported. Therefore, the AFC sees housing as an opportunity to nurture demand spillover and inter-industry linkages. Tiger Falls hydroelectric plant will be linked to alumina manufacture in Region 10 as one aspect of a more comprehensive industrial development plan for that region.

Principle 8: Our supply-side or production policies must be done within the context of a stable exchange rate and inflation environment. In this objective the AFC will promote sustainable domestic and foreign debt, maintain fiscal prudence and independence of the Bank of Guyana. For example, untrained politicians will never sit on the Bank of Guyana board.

Our proposal of a state development bank will mobilize remittances for lumpy investments at home. Remittances never have to be repaid and they are a stable and reliable inflow. The state development bank will also change up the maturity structure of domestic government debt so that excess liquidity in the commercial banking system can be employed productively in long-term investments to create jobs. This will both increase commercial bank profits and also stimulate investments in physical projects.

This is typical of what I object to: the AFC shares the North American fixation on a "consumer-driven" economy. "We must find out what the wealthy people want, and pander to them!" Hence, the AFC demands "renewal energy," which is fashionable but inefficient, overly expensive, and wholly inadequate for any sort of real development strategy. "Eco-tourism," also fashionable, reduces Guyanese to being porters and shoe-shine boys for the Great White Hunters. "Information Technology" translates in practice to entertainment and gambling. There is nothing wrong with computers, but when you base your economy on them, you get what you see increasingly in the US -- a giant Las Vegas, with digital showgirls and hookers mixed with financial gambling. I note that the AFC is also for manufacturing, agro-processing, and housing, but then again, so are the other parties.

 

The PPP is for manufacturing? Name me one manufacturing entity that was created since 1992? In particular one manufacturing business the size of Banks DIH or DDL? Name me the agro-processing businesses the PPP helped to create? Just one, please, I beg you. It is completely false the label you made vis-a-vis a consumption economy. Nowhere did the document say that. If anything the PPP can be accused as promoting a subsistence consumption economy financed by a large underground economy and remittances. It is virtually impossible to have a consumption-driven economy and evolve into a developed country when the nation is faced with FX constraints. You've got to do it boosting production capacity and structure; and of course export. Your label is a false label that is more pertinent to Jagdeo's strategy. It is the Jagdeo strategy to push casinos, brothels, hookers and gambling. How come you missed that? Henry, you disappoint me here. You don't seem to have the difference between mangoes and genips worked out. 

The diaspora is waiting to invest, how does the combined government plan to protect their property rights? Henry what is the government's crime strategy?

I don't know whether you have noticed, but I don't spend a lot of time at GNI praising Jagdeo. He is involved way too much in the "green" ideological organizations for my liking. As for the PPP generally, I respect the party as the party which fought for Guyanese independence, and I respect a number of PPP leaders with whom I have had some acquaintance. There are other PPPites on whom I could not comment. The fact that I criticize the AFC does not mean I give a blanket endorsement to the PPP. But from what I have seen of the AFC, it is the party of fashionable buzzwords and gossip-peddling, plus the association with Dick Morris, which is what originally caused alarm bells to go off for me. And the fact that the AFC has not taken pains to dissociate itself from the loathsome Freddy Kissoon.

 You are inventing straw men so as to justify your support of the tiefing and corrupt PPP. What does that joker Dick Morris have to do with AFC? Why is Freddie loathsome? The man has done good deeds that none of his critics like Vassan Ramcharra, Bisram, Misir, Randy Persaud and others have done. Had it not been for Freddie would never have an analysis of the pre-Roger Khan killings. 

Tuesday, May 09, 2006

Stella Says…The Dick Morris factor could change Guyana politics forever

 

by Stella Ramsaroop

(Originally published in Guyana's Kaieteur News on 9 May 2006)

There is a definite renewed buzz in the Diaspora since the announcement of Dick Morris' appointment as campaign manager for the AFC. After months of a pessimistic outlook about the upcoming elections, it seems that at least the Guyanese in the States are becoming very optimistic that there could be a very real possibility of political change.

One thing is for sure; the introduction of a player like this into the game will change politics in Guyana. I am from the Midwest and we are known for being very resistant to any type of change, but even I can see that the inevitable change that could come by this new development is a good one.

 

You have got to be kidding. 2006? The AFC has evolved. There is no way he can have anything to do with AFC and I am there. 

You asked a question, I provided you with the answer.

 

As to why Freddie is loathsome, only God can answer that (and by that I mean the real one, not D2.)

What I find interesting is you guys don't have the same loath for the theft of the poor people's monies back in Guyana. I wonder why. 

TK, I am assuming that you are a relatively young fellow, since six years seems to you to be such an awfully long time in politics. Let me ask you, when you refer to "you guys," whom do you mean besides me? And since I apparently did not make myself clear, I am not here to defend everyone in the PPP and everything they do. Apparently it is easier for you to attack the PPP than to defend the AFC. It reminds me of some people here in the US; when I tell them that Obama is committing acts of state-sponsored terrorism with the drone attacks, or that he is violating the constitution by launching undeclared wars without consent of congress, or that he is imposing murderous austerity on low-income Americans, they sniff, "Oh, you support Romney." No, in fact, I do not.

Henry this thread is about AFC's action plan. You support PPP's cronyism and corruption. Don't try to create a diversion with the OBama crapola.

Mitwah, as usual, you are a little slower than average.

You are truly a knuckle head if after being advised by Sunni and despite having sufficient time to compare writing styles you still think I have another alias here. Don't need more. One is enough.

 

 

TK cornered you and now you are going off at a tangent. You made the statement about FK  and unable to support it. This thread is about the AFC's action plan. What you wrote about Obama is of no relevance.

Six years is a life time. TK will affirm and so can Stella, I was not a fan of the AFC or Morris and for different reasons.

 

The Drone Attacks are a continuation of the Afghan conflict. Further, it involves non state actors hiding in a geographical regions and the "host" state does not ostensibly support their action. Pakistan is technically in a quasi war with the taliban. I do not hear congress complaining about the war or demanding a pull out. To the contrary, the President set red lines for a pull out.

 

I thought Obama is supposedly the welfare president!!!!!

Here are some examples of "non state actors hiding in geographical regions":

 

 

Apparently, for some of these "non state actors," six years was indeed a lifetime.

 War is dirty, If their parents pretend at playing soldiers that is their burden. I am sure they do not concern themselves when the blow up a mosque or send a suicide bomber into market places or public squares. Why do you not go and find a few of those since they number into the thousands as these zealots do not discriminate against civilians ever.

Every time we blow up a bunch of kids, we help the zealots recruit. We also demonstrate that we are not morally superior to the zealots.

I guess we let the suckers gather in the market place and ply their wares then hold our heads when they target us or our allies! You may think we are not but then that is where we differ. Somethings are clearly black and white.  There is the WTC and there is a dead ben Laden.

OK. So what exactly is your point here? Bin Laden initially denied being involved in the WTC attacks, but gradually warmed up to the idea when he realized it could make him a celebrity. We evidently had him entirely within our power, lying helpless and unarmed on a floor. We could have put him on trial, at which point I think many somethings would have been clearly black and white. Instead, Obama had him whacked, gangland-style, and then disposed of the evidence.

Meanwhile, we know that the government of Saudi Arabia was involved in the WTC attacks. And what exactly has our government done about that?

 My point is there are moral lines where the sides are crystal clear ie one side is evil and the other is not. I doubt Obama order the sanctioning of saints. And who t he hell are "we". you and the larouche clan?

I get the impression from your posts that English is a second language for you, so I will try to simplify my use of the the language. By "we" I meant the collective citizenry of the US, which ultimately is responsible for the actions of its government. As a US citizen I include myself. At an earlier point in the history of the US, at the conclusion of WWII, our leaders, who were better people in those days, did not simply round up the leaders of defeated Germany and put bullets in their brains. Instead, they held the Nuremburg trials, demonstrating that they occupied a higher moral ground than did the defeated enemy.

 

By you guys I mean YOU and the PPP. The screwed up world view of your type is what breathes the dissonance in foreign policy and economic policy that continue to bring HARM to the poor. 

The synesthesia is amusing, but other than that, this is as incoherent as a D2 post.