By Jomo Paul
[www.inewsguyana.com] – The Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) says there is need for reform in Guyana’s social and political cultures.
GMSA President Clinton Williams at a Luncheon with the A Partnership For National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition on Tuesday, March 17, outlined the reform measure as a way of propelling business in Guyana.
Williams said that the private sector would like to see immense growth in Guyana’s economy but this can only be achieved with political and social reform.
“Our political and social cultures must be completely revamped if we are to attract and sustain the type of investment whether local or foreign that would contribute to the nation’s national development priorities which would have been conceived by or have the buy in support of all the stakeholders,” Williams said during his opening address.
Williams pointed out that in Singapore, a country with which Guyana shares many similarities, the economy is much better.
He pointed to the governance style as a possible reason for that country’s success.
“We’d like to see Guyana’s GDP and per capita statistics skyrocket because we know they can. It would be an enormous achievement if Guyana can be listed in the top ten of the World Banks report on the ease of doing business in the not so dist and future,” Williams stated.
He noted that while these are the aspirations of the private sector, there are a few detractors which include high energy costs, unreliable electricity supply, transportation costs and taxes levied on import and export cargo.
