
Paul Cheong was last week elected Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, when that business umbrella body held its Annual General Meeting.
Krishnand Jaichand was elected Vice-Chairman, Ramesh Dookhoo Secretary, Zulfikar Ally, Treasurer and Manniram Prashad, Corporate Coordinator.
The Private Sector Commission congratulates and wishes the newly elected executives a successful tenure of office as they assume this significant role within the business community and look forward to their continued dedication to the Private Sector of Guyana, the body said in a release.
Meanwhile, in his remarks at the AGM outgoing Chairman, Nicholas Deygoo highlighted that his main focus during his tenure surrounded restoring investors’ confidence in the economy through engagements with several stakeholders. These include a US Congressional delegation, the Jamaican Chamber of Commerce, the foreign missions in Guyana, and several government agencies as well as the new consignment of ministers.
He indicated that his time as Chairman comes to an end just as the new government has passed its first full-term budget that essentially kick-starts its developmental agenda for Guyana. He noted that Budget 2021, staying true to its theme, offers a range of measures to advance economic recovery and rebound critical sectors that took a severe beating from the political crisis that gripped the nation compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Further, according to the PSC release, Boyer highlighted that the Private Sector Commission is grateful that many of the recommendations submitted were considered and included in the budget. Among them is the removal or, in some cases, a reduction of a range of taxes.
Additionally, the outgoing Chairman noted that “My goal was to rebrand the organization into a business-centered unit, focused on the economic growth and transformation of the country, in light of its newfound oil wealth.” He emphasized that “…the private sector cannot move forward without a stable political climate and clear policy direction from the government. And it goes hand in hand; the country cannot develop without the support and investments from the private sector.”
Nicholas Deygoo thanked his colleagues in the private sector for their sterling dedication and hard work throughout the year and noted that he looks forward to working continuously with the Private Sector Commission in a different capacity, as we aim to build a brighter and prosperous Guyana.