AFC sees seething vexation on the ground by ordinary Guyanese, fomented by high cost of living    

The Alliance for Change (AFC) has reiterated its concerns “the foundations of Guyana’s democracy continue to crumble at the hands of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government.”

The party said the PPP’s governance leaves much to be desired, is tearing and twisting cutting and carving governing institutions into a Caesarism and despotism that will soon lead to a place none of us want to be in. “And this it does by a small group of corrupt and cunning ministers who prey on the privations of suffering Guyanese and manage to seemingly win their quiet resignation.”

The AFC said the present situation sees a seething vexation on the ground by ordinary Guyanese, fomented by the high cost of living. According to the party it is felt tenfold worse because it is happening in an oil and gas rich Guyana which the Coalition Government so substantially created and contributed to. The A Partnership of National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) coalition (May 2015 to August 2020) has put in place the infrastructure of the oil and gas sector.

The AFC, in a statement last December, stated “the issuing of a production license in July 2017, Guyana’s first, put us on a non- returnable path towards early production. With that licence in place, timelines became locked in and certain. In what was viewed as one of the fastest discovery-to-production projects in the global petroleum world, Guyana was to begin oil production in just about four years, defying the industry average of nine years.”

The party pointed out that under the government there has been the mismanagement of the oil monies flowing directly and indirectly from this new sector.

Recalling its presentation in the 2023 Budget Debate, the AFC said it made clear in these trying times, less monies should be spent on infrastructure and more on social welfare (increase in salaries, pensions) which will soften the impact for working people and poor.

Prior to the Budget the party proposed a people-centred focus because it was not only the largest ever (GY$781.89 billion) but resulted from increased earnings from the oil and gas sector.

Pointing out that already some $209 billion was deposited into the Natural Resource Fund during 2022 the party had proposed at the minimum the following:

• Free Education at the University of Guyana.
• Full subsidy for all types of vehicles on all bridge/pontoon crossings, including Berbice Bridge, Demerara Harbour Bridge, Wismar Bridge, Kurukupari, Madhia crossing, Bartica crossing and the introduction of free speedboat services to all school children and medical personnel from the Vreed-en-hoop to Georgetown, Grove, EBD to Georgetown and Rosignol – New Amsterdam. These subsidies will reduce consumer costs, resulting in more families’ disposable income. It will also reduce traffic build-up due to eliminating waiting time to pay tolls, particularly on the Demerara Harbour Bridge. It is anticipated that these proposed subsidies will cost 1.4% of the 2022 NRF funds but will benefit ordinary working-class citizens.
• An increase in the minimum wage to $150,000 with corresponding adjustments to personal income tax would see persons earning minimum wage not paying income tax and a staggered schedule that would reduce current income tax payable.
• An increase in Old Age Pension to $50,000
• An increase in Disability benefits to $40,000
• A monthly electricity subsidy for all categories of consumers; $5000 for domestic consumers, $10,000 for commercial and $15,000 for industrial.
• Reduce VAT to 12%.
• Provide duty-free concession and VAT exemption on equipment and machinery for all businesses involved in Agriculture. The private business sector proposed this.
• New shelters across all Administrative Regions for women seeking respite and to escape abusive relationships. These shelters would support the victims of domestic violence to restore their lives.

The party said their alternative was voted down with the PPP having its say and way in that Parliamentary vote.

“Today we see another example of bad governance when a Palmyra Cricket Stadium will be built priced at $3.4B out of $20B Exxon is giving the Government.” The project, the AFC said, ought to have been deliberated on in our National Assembly.

“It does appear that a clever bypass has mutually been agreed to by Exxon and the Government. Instead of pursuing a renegotiated deal which will see these sums in the Natural Resources Fund, and therefore subject to Parliamentary deliberation and scrutiny, this clever piece of scheming is allowing spendings at the behest of the PPP with no public deliberation and institutional scrutiny by the elected representatives of Guyana.”

The approach the party said seems to be an escape route from transparency and good governance and even the provisions of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act and the Procurement Act.

On the latter matter, the AFC said the party notes that the company to build the stadium is Caribbean Green Building Inc. It was granted such a contract without any procuring process whatsoever. “This is so shameless.”

As regards the spending of this sum of $3.4B the AFC said its alternative approach would have been to enhance with small spanking stadiums and all other facilities the community grounds at Skeldon, Whim, Port Morant, Albion, Canje/Rosehall and Edinburgh. “This approach would be far more beneficial and directly impactful for young people and the sporting community in Region 6.”

We all know how well the PPP kills mockingbirds, now it’s venturing forth to kill a democracy, said the AFC