[www.inewsguyana.com] – The Private Sector Commission (PSC) has called for there to be a national economic forum during a meeting with President David Granger at the Ministry of the Presidency.
According to a statement from the PSC, during the meeting the Commission indicated that it would be willing to collaborate with government to organise an Economic Forum at which priorities for the economy could be distilled through dialogue.
“The President supported this suggestion and mandated the Commission to commence planning a Forum which would include the views of all stakeholders from civil society, Labour and religion,” the release stated.
The meeting was intended to raise concerns about the PSC’s areas of concern and priority for the new government and these were also discussed.
“The Commission emphasised the need for a reorganisation of the National Insurance Scheme and GoInvest as well as for telecoms liberalisation and tax reform. The urgent need for legislation to address money laundering, the financing of terrorism and the issue of bribery was underlined. The Commission reiterated its support for a Public Procurement Commission and an Integrity Commission.”
The infrastructural needs of the country were discussed with the President in particular the need to expand the main airport, achieve Category One status for Guyana and the requirement for capital dredging of the Demerara Channel were reviewed. The Commission endorsed their support for the Amaila Falls Hydroelectric Project and the completion of the Marriott Hotel.
It was also noted that the private sector, “consistent with its tradition of collaborating with government, and the role it played in supporting the Economic Recovery Programme, the National Development Strategy, the Poverty Reduction Strategy, National Competitiveness Strategy and the Low Carbon Development Strategy pledged its continuing support for the government’s development agenda.”
The commission also outlined that the Competitiveness Strategy and Public-Private Dialogue Bodies had been established to provide a useful mechanism for guiding government policy and decision making suggesting that these could be reconstituted.
The President was also presented by the Commission with a copy of the UK anti-bribery legislation for his consideration. “The business leaders also highlighted the issue of high crime rates in the country which President Granger has pledged to address. Solid waste management and the need for improvement of tertiary institutions were also on the agenda.”
