By Kurt Campbell
[www.inewsguyana.com] – Former President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, though exercising restraint, has snubbed at the political opposition’s criticism of the incumbent People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) government and its obstruction to several transformational projects, particularly the stalled Amaila Falls Hydro Power Project.
Jagdeo, who exited office three years ago, said he has since sat and looked at the comments emanating from the political opposition; describing the administration as visionless in several respects.
“I stayed silent and it was hard to do so,” the Former President said as he proceeded to defend the administration’s plans for Guyana.
Jagdeo was at the time addressing the business community as the keynote speaker at a business dinner hosted by the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) on Friday (October 11) evening.
He explained that it was his intention to avoid speaking about the local economy and his impression of the political atmosphere and speak on climate related matter. And while the majority of his speech addressed such issues, the Opposition’s rejection of several projects that would have propelled a green growth model locally was examined by the Former Guyanese Head of State.
Amid his talk of climate related matter, Jagdeo pointed out that “the politics of our country will not allow us to move forward… you hear all sorts of things including corruption.”
While registering his dismay, Jagdeo defended the stalled Amaila Falls Hydro Power Project.
“I heard from some Opposition commentators that we would have incurred a debt from $700M to $2.1B… the debt is zero because the government is buying power,” he said; adding that “all we are doing is $700M of performance guarantee, that is what we are giving and it would not be added to the debt stock or debt servicing.”
He trashed suggestions that the plant could be built using local bonds.
“Just imagine if you had to issue local bonds worth US$850 million in this economy what it will do to the markets here… it will dry up liquidity, interest rates will go back to where it were when we assumed office at 35%.”
Jagdeo also pointed out that the road which had initially cost $15M and was done halfway, some $30M is needed to complete it.
“The same people who were critical then have all gone quiet… my argument is that great things don’t come easily… we have to seize opportunities when they come along.”
Meanwhile, he said he has also listened to commentators saying the PPP do not have clarity where it is taking the country; counter claiming that “we have a clear pathway to the future.”
He explained that the administration has been looking to define new growth poles which include hydro power and improving the information and communication technology sector.
Jagdeo spoke too of the Opposition’s objection to the airport expansion project saying that there is a need to understand that new wealth needs to be created for the next generation.
“We need to look to the future and ensure that the next generation lives better lives than this one.”
Gray.. I opine ,endeavoring to read your opinion piece, I suspect that U referring to ex President Burnham’s supposed Hoardings in a Bank in Switzerland. A sort of He Sey, Dem Sey. I do not believe this mythical story. However if U wish to to use this Bat to make a Political point, I am going to move this discussion forward, by comparing the achievements of Forbes, and the Shrimp picker. Tiefing Jagdeo.Forbes…’ Highways,Milk Plant,GNEC buidling Ferries, Harbour Bridge, which most of us can afford, Linden/Georgetown Highway. Free education cradle to grave. large Housing schemes for low wage earners.. MMA scheme..Ramotar,…National Corruption, Narco-Economy, everyone with guns, robberies/ murders.police who cannot solve most of the crimes committed,giving away our Patrimony to overseas, so-called investors, building a hotel, no local labour.employed. Shall I continue? We can continue this conversation if U wish. Just write plain English, so I do not have to employ a translator to read your views.Why not write in plain English. These papers are not only read by us Guyanese who speak Creolese,
Mahaica or Kitty makes no difference. Jagdeo studied trickonomics in the Soviet Union, but he studied Burnham to become a master politrickcian.
u are a true believer of the muchrack news paper kn..for u to talk about the likkle greedy bout that was written by dem boys seh..the only likkle greedy boi guyana ever know was not from mahaica…he was from kitty..all guyanese belonged to that likkle greedy boi..all monies that were left in treasury belinged to that likkle greedy boi..all monies that came to that likkle greedy boi illehgal government belonged to that likkle greedy boi from kitty…must explain what that likkle greedy boi from kitty did with all that money plus the 2.1 billion US he left so that that imaginary likkle greedy bout u read about in the muckrack kn paid off so that your family and friends can say they have something in guyana..why u nad your family had or owned when your real not imaginary likke greedy boi from kitty was towering over your family and you..what did they owned..they and u were owned by that very real likkle greedy boi from Kitty
new growth poles for a few Barerat. Look at who are benefiting from the not so transparent deals.
The likkle greedy boy ent seh nutten fuh three years and when he does open he mouth is sheer nansense bout de opposition and de money suckkin Amalia. He ent seh nutten bout de Indians who tun gainst de PPP in 2011 because of he corrupt guvament and give de opposition its one-seat majority. He ent seh nutten bout de dry up Amalia falls.
He ent seh nutten bout why de GPL still kyant wuk aftuh 22 years and billions of dollars fuh rehabilitate, regenerate, recreate, expectorate, regurgitate, defecate, urinate, contemplate, hate, confiscate…
Yet he gat taxpayers footing he free electricity bill to de tune of millions of dollars. De only green dis likkle boy know bout is de American greenback, suh leh he haul off wid he nonsense. He gon go and leff all wuh he tek and somebody else gon enjoy it. Mark meh word!
dont talk too fat yeah..dem re-migrant people who does drive fancy vehicles seh dem gat de good pon yuh and dem gon jail yuh..duh crooked eye bana and de old next to death ex ppp man wha join afc seh dem brigh and bad mo that you..an how dem gun teach yuh how fi run country wen dem teck power..duh old ex ppp man who looking like he ent gat long to live want to rule guyana suh bad..he hoping fuh geh ah crak at it b4 him dead..