Dr Irfan Ali
Oil and gas will play an important role in the future of Guyana, however there cannot be an isolated focus on this sector in the approach to national development. This is according to People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) presidential candidate, Irfaan Ali, who said, “Oil and gas would be catalysts for the expansion of economic opportunities in many other sector. It gives us an opportunity to create an environment in which all Guyanese will benefit.
“…you can’t look at the oil and gas sector in isolation of national development, in isolation of what is required in transforming our country in creating new opportunities and also in developing a framework that would make us globally competitive in other areas of economic life, while at the same time building an enabling environment so that or a local private sector can benefit from the opportunity that would come…for the development of the country, oil and gas is major plank, but there must be advances in a framework to ensure that other sectors are not neglected.”
SOLID FOOTING
He explained that other productive sectors are already being neglected by the APNU+AFC Coalition, even as it fails to position the development of the oil and gas sector on the right footing. Ali said, “We have to have clarity in the vision. We have to have a clearly defined national pathway as to where our country is heading. We can’t flip-flop. This can’t be a partisan issue… regardless of which party is in government, there must be a set of projects initiatives and focus in terms of economic transformation that is all-embracing.”
On positioning the oil and gas sector on a solid footing, Ali said, “There has to be a proper management framework in place, proper legislation, the regulatory aspects must be looked at, transparency and accountability and securing the benefits of the oil and gas sector for now and the future.”
“…not only are we we’re behind where we should be in relation to first oil, but there is absolutely no clarity in a division. There is no legislative framework. There is no institutional mechanism. There is no structure in which we’ll manage this sector. There is confusion. We have changed the management of this of oil and gas from different ministries. It’s as if we’re playing hopscotch – we’re just hopping around all over the place and we are not deliberative and we’re not structural in the way we are approaching the management of the sector.” The PPP/C presidential candidate stressed that the Guyana’s other key productive sectors cannot be ignored.
He said, “According to the IDB 2017 report on our natural resources, we have: an estimated amount of 20 million ounces of gold that is undeveloped, which is a significant reserve; we have fresh water, to the extent that for us to become stressed water stressed, our population would have to increase significantly; we have we have one of the finest quality bauxite; we have rare earth minerals that are of the finest quality and much more. Ali stressed that while Guyana can take advantage of the oil and gas sector, as well as other productive sectors, there must also be a focus on sustainable development.
He said, “We can have sustainable economic growth and revenue streams to sustain national development and that is why if you look at the 2016 Low Carbon Development Strategy Report, which pointed to the fact that we had 88 per cent of our land mass in forest cover and the estimated annual value was about US$518 million…the Low Carbon Development Strategy was a development strategy that focused on wealth creation, on economic development, on social development and on enhanced livelihood for at-risk communities.” Ali made clear that a PPP/C government will address these issues when it takes office after the March 2020 General and Regional Elections.
“In our manifesto you will see a comprehensive set of measures in terms of the management of the oil and gas sector, ensuring transparency and accountability, as well as securing the benefits for present generations and generations to come….you will see our plans for transforming our country ensuring…you will see our plans to bring social justice and ensure that inequality is not expanded,” he assured.
. Better than dry coconut.