Govt working to ensure local & Chinese-owned businesses operate on level playing field – Jagdeo

Concerns have been raised about Chinese-owned businesses not adhering to regulations and that their ability to attract more customers is putting Guyanese-owned businesses at a disadvantage, thus Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has reiterated that Government is working towards stricter enforcement of regulations in order to create a level playing field for both types of business.
During his weekly press briefing on Thursday, Vice President Jagdeo had this to say: “Some of the Chinese entities, if you go in, they sell everything under the sun without the requisite permits; and [Guyanese are] held accountable for getting permits and (are) limited by the regulatory bodies in what they can sell; so, they claim a disadvantage. The people who protesting, they’re right about it. I would have done that myself.”
As such, Jagdeo related, regulatory bodies have been instructed to enforce the law “uniformly”, in order to ensure that foreign businesses pay their taxes and adhere to local laws.
Responding to calls for Government to stop the establishment of Chinese businesses within communities, Jagdeo noted that such an action would be against foreign policy.
“It would not only be against WTO (World Trade Organization), but it would run you into a very difficult foreign policy situation…if the idea is to stop people based on nationality, it will be impossible to do so. What if China says, ‘We’re not going to sell Guyana any of our goods and services anymore because you stopped our people from settling’? You cannot discriminate against people based on nationality, but you can ensure compliance with the country’s laws,” Jagdeo told news reporters.
Conversely, he pointed out that customers sometimes prefer the work ethic of Chinese businesses, whose opening hours are more convenient than those of local businesses.
“A man said to me, ‘If there wasn’t a Chinese store, my toilet wouldn’t function the whole weekend’,” Jagdeo disclosed, adding, “There are a lot of people who say they’re benefitting from better services (being delivered by the Chinese) in their communities.”
Moreover, he said people are benefitting from a business-to-business perspective. “They rent places to the Chinese businesses, and (suppliers) also say that they get paid immediately.”
In June 1972, Guyana became the first English-speaking Caribbean country to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China; and over the years, bilateral relations between the two countries have deepened.
In fact, President Dr Irfaan Ali recently expressed that China has contributed significantly to Guyana’s development.