Budget Debates 2022: Work to commence on 2 industrial estates this year – Min Walrond

– Labour Minister says 16% drop in fatal workplace accidents recorded
In keeping with the People’s Progressive Party/Civic’s (PPP/C) drive to create 50,000 jobs in its first term in office, it has facilitated a number of transformative projects – including the construction of industrial estates.

One of 14 Members of Parliament (MPs) to speak during Day One of the Budget Debates on Monday, was Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister, Oneidge Walrond.
“In my last budget presentation, one might recall I had stated our intention and commitment to developing two new industrial estates. One in Region Two and the other in Region 10. Specific lines have now been identified and this year, construction work will begin,” she said.
According to the Minister, whose Industries portfolio includes the commercial sector, the local business community stands ready to invest and “we are sure the communities will benefit from good-paying jobs as a result”.

She also spoke of the thousands of persons who will be trained for the hospitality sector under the auspices of her Ministry. This includes 6000 persons to be trained through the Guyana-Barbados initiative.
“With respect to tourism and hospitality, I’m pleased to report that four internationally branded hotels have already broken ground here in Guyana. The introduction of these hotels and others which will commence construction this year will undoubtedly improve the quantity and quality of our room stock.”
“We are investing in a world-class human resource facility. In the interim to satisfy the demand for workers, we are strategically implementing short term measures for training workers in the sector. Thousands of persons have been earmarked for training through various mechanisms,” she said.
The Ministry of Labour has meanwhile made progress when it comes to reducing accidental deaths in the workplace, with Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton informing the National Assembly that in their first year in office, fatal workplace accidents have decreased by 16 per cent.
Hamilton, the second speaker during the debate, spoke of some of his Ministry’s achievements. One such achievement was the reduction of fatal workplace accidents, which he said went down by 16 per cent.

“I can report to this nation that the first year under the PPP Government, accidental deaths in workplaces have decreased by 16 per cent in the first year of the PPP. That is the record,” Hamilton said.
According to Hamilton, the Ministry has over the past year expanded the network of Labour departments. The Minister further spoke of some 22 labour agreements he said were brokered under PPP in their first year in office.
“When we came to office, there were several collective labour agreements languishing out there to be concluded. Workers were suffering. What did they do? Nothing! The record is 22 collective labour agreements, we were able to broker and mediate in the first year of the PPP. Many of them languishing since 2015… 19 in one instance.”

APNU/AFC
A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Parliamentarian Ganesh Mahipaul in his presentation urged the Government to increase allocations from the oil funds to the people.
“We call on the (Government) to increase old-age pension to anywhere between $35,000 and $50,000 now. Increase the public assistance to the vulnerable to $40,000 now. We got oil money. Use it wisely.”
Opposition MP Amanza Walton-Desir, who shadows the Foreign Affairs Ministry, used her presentation to warn about the dangers of turning away from regional integration as Guyana’s economic clout grows with the oil and gas sector. She also used the occasion to affirm the APNU/AFC’s support for the Government as it continues its territorial border case.

“Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity remain sacrosanct. There is no distance between the Government and the political Opposition on this issue. It is the David Granger-led Government that initiated the judicial route to resolve this issue and the present Government has continued on this trajectory. We reaffirm that the border claim by Venezuela is mischievous, opportunistic and without merit and we are confident that Guyana will be vindicated,” she said.
Another issue raised by Walton-Desir was Guyana’s vulnerability to climate change and sea-level rises. She urged the Government to commence discussions with persons living on the coast, about the need to gravitate towards inland settlements and higher ground.
“The time has come for our leaders to engage the population on a conversation of moving to higher ground. We must engage our population. We must have a debate on the wisdom of continuing to restrict our development and major infrastructure to the coast. We must have a dialogue on housing and population planning. And we must prioritise hinterland development and building hinterland cities.”
The first day of the budget debates featured seven Government and seven Opposition speakers. It will conclude on Friday, February 4, after which the Committee of Supply will scrutinise the budget and the estimates will be approved.
Nevertheless, there is still no word on who will be the next Opposition Leader. In the meantime, Harmon remains an MP and has been allocated a one-hour time limit to speak on Friday, a provision usually extended to the Opposition Leader on the final day of the budget debates. As the debates continue, the Opposition MPs have been making presentations in their individual capacities.