By Abena Rockcliffe-Campbell
Ten out of twenty one! That is the score secured by the APNU+AFC government for its first year in government. That score was calculated on what the government had promised to do in its first 100 days in office. And 365 days in, only 11 of the 21 measures have been achieved.
First on the list, APNU+AFC promised, a reduction in the Berbice Bridge toll. After months of deliberation, the government and the Berbice Bridge Company Incorporated (BBCI) were to strike a deal to reduce the toll for crossing the bridge.
The agreement, which covers the provision of a Government subsidy to BBCI, took effect from January 1, this year allowing for the bridge toll to be reduced from $2200 to $1900 for passenger cars and buses, along with a 10 per cent reduction for other classes of vehicles.
Next, the government promised “significant” increase in salaries. “Significant” increases were to be given to “government workers, including nurses; teachers from primary to tertiary levels education; security personnel and civil servants on the traditional payroll. In the 2015 Budget, the government offered a five percent increase and increase to all workers while it gave its Minister 50 percent increases. Also, the government increased the minimum wage to $50,000 from $39,540. No increase was offered in the 2016 Budget, since the government said that it was awaiting collective bargaining.
The promised phased reduction to the Value Added Tax (VAT) remains unfilled.
The 16 percent tariff has been seen by citizens as a stifling burden. But it has been raking in billions annually for consecutive Governments.
Last year alone, VAT collections brought home $35.4B, representing a 5.2 percent decline over that of 2014. Explaining the absence of the VAT reduction rate, Finance Minister Winston Jordan said that a government-appointed Tax Reform Committee only submitted its report on January 18, long after the Cabinet had studied a number of measures for the new budget. According to Jordan, reduction of VAT is not as easy as one may assume. According to the Minister, it is the view by some analysts that the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is leaking billions as it relates to zero-rated items.
“We have zero-rated so many items, that there are virtually no more items to be zero-rated when it comes to the consumer, poor person-type of items.”
To reduce VAT, Government will have to be careful how it treads, the Minister warned.
Government will have to study the country’s revenue potential and any reduction will have an impact. Already there is no VAT on water or electricity rates.
President Granger (far left) poses with other government officials
While there has been an increase in old age pension, was it “significant” as promised? Last year, the old age pensions got an increase from $13,125 per month to $17,000 per month then they got a further $1,200 increase come April 1.
The government had promised that a “reduction of the presidents’ pension and other benefits will be recommended and referred to a special select committee of the National Assembly for determination. While this has not been done, the government passed the Former Presidents (Benefits and other Facilities) Bill of 2015. This essentially put a cap on the benefits offered to former presidents.
The Bill to cap the benefits was unanimously passed in the National Assembly during the time when the People’s Progressive Party/Civic refused to take up its seats.
The explanatory memorandum of the Bill says that it will repeal the Former Presidents (Benefits and Other Facilities) Act of 2009, and replace it to provide greater specificity.
The burden that the lifestyle of former President Bharrat Jagdeo placed on the Treasury was the focal point of speeches presented by those who spoke to the Bill.
Because of this, former Presidents Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar moved to the courts to get what they view as their “fundamental rights.”
The former Presidents have caused the writs to be filed in the High Court since November 11.
Attorney General, Basil Williams announced that the former Presidents are seeking to “in effect receive the large sums of money” in benefits and other facilities that were capped on the coming into operation of the Former Presidents (Benefits and other Facilities) Act of 2015.
According to the Writ, Jagdeo and Ramotar are contending that the Act of 2015 should only affect the benefits of future Presidents. The other former President, Samuel Hinds has so far not complained about the capped benefits.
There was to be an establishment of passport and birth certificate licensing offices in Berbice Essequibo and Linden; this is still to happen. In the mean time, residents from outlying areas continue to clamor for such vital services to move closer to where they live as it is not only time-consuming, but also costly to travel to Georgetown where the only passport office is located.
Number seven on the list was the return of television station to Lindeners. This promised has been fulfilled. The government has also waived duties on fuel, tools and small scale mining equipment bought by identifiable holders of small concessions.
.Another achievement was the holding of Local Government Elections. However, the Public Procurement Commission is still to be established. Although, technically, one cannot blame the government for this since the establishment of the commission is in the hands of Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Irfaan Ali.
The government achieved the “Establishment of a National Cane Workers and Cane Farmers Conference” as well as the “establishment of a National Rice Farmers and Rice Millers Conference.”
APNU+AFC promised the “establishment of an Investigative Commission on Corruption. Kaieteur News understands that this came in the form of the State Assets Recovery Unity (SARU). SARU has indeed been investigation some levels of corruption. However, it is yet to look at a case of something that happened under the new government.
There was to be an establishment of Task Forces: on Crime & Security and on Road Safety, this is outstanding.
The APNU+AFC promised a National Conference of Women to be held and a bi-partisan Women’s Working Group established as part of the Healing the Nation & National Unity thrust of the APNU+AFC. It also promised to have the Gender Policy collectively drafted by women from across Guyana as an output from the conference. While the conference was held, nothing was heard about the Gender Policy.
Importantly, the coalition has promised that a Code of Conduct will be established for Parliamentarians, Ministers and others holding high positions in government. That remains, for the longest while, at a draft stage.
“The National Youth Council will be convened and its mandate, terms of reference and programme of action produced for endorsement at a National Youth Conference.” It is not clear what is meant by this promise since there was a National Youth Council. Nevertheless, the youth conference was held indeed but the National Youth Policy is still a draft.
Promise number 18 provided for the holding of an Indigenous Peoples Rights & Resources Conference and for the National Toshaos Council to be re-assessed and depoliticised. This was partially accomplished.
The Liberalization of the Telecommunications and ICT sectors remains outstanding. The Telecommunications Bill is still to be taken to Parliament. About two months ago, Minister Cathy Hughes told Kaieteur News that the Bill would have been taken to the National Assembly in about a month’s time.
APNU+AFC had also promised for there to be an “Adoption of a long-term sustainable economic development plan to realize the vast potential of this country.” The government is still working on this. Recently, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) asked that the government increase the pace at which it is going about policies to secure Guyana’s financial sustainability.
“Implementation of an amended Anti Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act,” was final on APNU+AFC’s list of measures to be attained in the first 100 days in office. Kaieteur News understands that his has been fulfilled.
