Former Minister accuses Govt of having “misplaced priorities”

…says no Govt in a democracy can survive such track record of public neglect, unparalleled incompetence

By Samuel Sukhnandan

Since assuming office over two years ago, the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition Government still faces serious challenges on many fronts, including economic revitalisation, energy, reconciliation and socio-economic advancement.
Notwithstanding some of the achievements it has made, former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall says the failure of this Government to achieve most of its development goals is due to “misplaced priorities” and this could be seen in its everyday moves.
Nandlall has said that there was more than sufficient evidence and empirical data available for one to surmise that the desires of a Government were its priorities. He said it must also be noted that there was no desire by this Government to do that which was necessary to bring about economic progress.
He also accused the Government of doing very little, if anything at all, to forge ethnic and national unity, to promote democracy and constitutionality, or to improve the social and financial welfare of the people of this country – moreover, the poor and the powerless, from all regions of Guyana.
“Therefore, these are not matters that enjoy priority status on the agenda of this Government. Indeed, what we have witnessed from the inception is a desire reflective in a plethora of policies directed at witch-hunting and persecuting political opponents,” Nandlall opined.
The former Minister claimed that there has also been widespread discriminatory practices against those whom the Administration perceive as supporters of the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), and blatant violations of democratic norms and practices at every level.
Further, Nandlall alleged that there have been violations and manipulations of the Constitution and an array of tax measures and governmental policies that have brought the economy to its knees, coupled with reckless neglect of the productive sectors with the cumulative effect of devastating consequences on the disposable income and, indeed, the welfare of Guyanese of every class.
He said, “Inherent in these policies and practices, one can cull the priorities of this Government. Naturally, this approach has created a very poisoned political atmosphere, a depressing economic climate and a society where the population, including supporters of the Government, is quickly losing hope in the future of their country. A situation that is now historically synonymous with the PNC [People’s National Congress].”

Calls fallen on deaf ears
The Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) thinks that despite the dismal performance, Government is still proceeding along a self-destructive path and in so doing, it continues, at every turn, to ignore the calls of every major stakeholder organisation in the country.
These calls include advocacy for the reversal of more than 200 tax measures imposed; to reconsider the decision to close the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo); to withdraw the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) Bill; to stop the executive interference with independent constitutional bodies, including the Judiciary and the Service Commissions; to cease the widespread racial and political discrimination; to assist the rice farmers; and to reinstate the regime of incentives designed to attract foreign and local investments.
But the list does not stop there; Nandlall said too that the Government has not taken heed of the request to direct the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) to its mandate of investigating suspicious Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) transactions and to stop using it as a weapon against the political Opposition and businesses.
In addition to that, calls have been made to remove the burdensome impositions on small and medium-scale miners; to withdraw the Broadcasting (Amendment) Act; to stop the colossal wastage of taxpayers’ dollars on meaningless exercises like Commissions of inquiry (CoIs).
But more importantly the requests to launch stimuli packages to energise the slothful economy and to rescind the unilateral appointment of the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) have not engaged the attention of Government. “All these calls have fallen on deaf ears. No Government in a democracy can survive with such a track record of public neglect, unparalleled incompetence, and diabolical levels of corruption.”
He continued: “In fact, instead of heeding the calls emanating from every corner of civil society and across the political spectrum, the Government seems to get more obstinate in its ways with each passing day…At the same time, Government continues to accord priority to ceremonies, celebrations, and the hosting of local and international conferences…”