Speeches

PSC . MinTIC

Mike Correia, Vice-Chairman, PSC. May 8th 2006

His Excellency, President Bharrat Jagdeo
Ministers of Government
Members of the Diplomatic Corp
Members of Parliament
Members of the Trade Unions Movement
Businessmen and Fellow Colleagues
Ladies & Gentlemen:

I would first like to congratulate the Government on behalf of the Private Sector Commission and if I might take, the liberty the entire Private Sector of Guyana on the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the PSC and the Government.

I would like to also congratulate the Government and all the Private Sector participants who were involved in the recent N.C.S Focus Group sessions earlier in the year and all Guyanese who were involved in the National Development Strategy and encourage them to keep the faith.

This MOU deals with the formation and operation of a National Competitiveness Council which will be established, after the General Elections are held.

We know that there are already in print the solutions towards making Guyana – a rich and prosperous nation in which we all can enjoy a good life.

The first draft of the National Competitiveness Strategy was an attempt by the Government to condense all the previous work on Economic Development into one concise document. The second draft of the National Competitiveness Strategy was produced in partnership with the P.S.C and involved more consultations with the wider Private Sector. This effort was supported by Consultants funded by the I.D.B.

This second draft we have been involved in is not a final draft and is intended to be used as a basis for national dialogue to be reviewed continuously.

The break out sessions with you afterwards will be just one of many consultations that will further the process of refining the National Competitiveness Strategy. Consultations are expected to be held with Trade Unions, Members of Parliament and other interested groups in the future. The intention of the Public/Private Partnership is that this will be an ongoing process.

The National Competitiveness Council will review the content of the Strategy that we have mutually agreed on and will be responsible for acquiring formal approval from Cabinet and the National Assembly as well as over-looking its implementation by the relevant Ministries and Go-Invest.

Another talk shop?. Political opportunism in an election year?. What will be different this time around?. In the PSC we asked ourselves those very same questions last year when we met in September 2005 and we gave the Government two options:

1. That of simple consultation

2. Meaningfully engaging us as partners, in recognition of our primary role, as drivers of economic growth.

We were pleasantly surprised when President Jagdeo, choose option 2, on condition that there was involvement of the wider Private Sector.

Now, even with the Agreement on how we would move forward, there was a lot of initial concern about the process of implementation, the question of good faith, the inclusion of labour, the role of the National Assembly, as well as, how to make this process sustainable.

It is precisely because of these factors, and in order to address them, that the PSC has concentrated on what they believe is a workable, institutional structure that facilitates, effective Public/Private Partnership.

The acceptance by the Executive of Government of the recommendations of the Competitiveness Partnership Steering Team without any significant change and the formalizing of this Agreement by the signing of the MOU on Thursday May 4th 2006 is, in our opinion, a major shift in Policy of the PPP Administration.

Further, the choice of our representatives on the NCC and other supporting Public/Private Institutions are not subject to Government approval which could have been, a major potential sticking point.

This MOU is also conditionality for the IDB support for the competitiveness program.

This shift in Government Policy is historic in our view and is a true recognition by the Administration, that for the Private Sector to do its job of wealth creation. It must take centre stage.

The question some of you may be asking, what is responsible for this shift? Many factors of course. However, the one that stands out for me is the fortunate selection of quality individuals representing the Administration to engage the Private Sector in this process.

Kevin Hogan, Nick Godfrey and the entire Competitiveness Team have been outstanding and I congratulate the President and Minister Nadir on their choice.

The good faith practiced, characterized by a willingness to understand, respect and represent varying points of view, overcame tight deadlines, suspicion, lethargy, and a depressing political environment to get us where we are today.

I personally worked with Minister Nadir and Geoff DaSilva during many of the Focus Group sessions and could sense the surprise, which turned into positive national excitement, as we got deeper into the dialogue.

I truly feel that this good faith grew on all of us, as we concentrated on doing what was best for the nation. From where we started, at a point of mutual distrust, to quote Geoff DaSilva who said “the Private Sector never has anything good to say about the Government and is only concerned about themselves”, to where we are today, pondering an Agreement, signed by Dr. Luncheon himself. I believe even the PPP would say that this is nothing short of remarkable.

The message here is that we must have hope, and we must not give up on Guyana. Over the last six (6) months, I personally have been involved in conversations with many of the major player in the country, political, public servants, private sector, trade unions, and, I tell you sincerely, that the positions they hold and the way they feel about issues, in my opinion, are not irreconcilable.

We must use people of good faith who can negotiate and respect the others’ point of view, but who are willing to defer to the greater national interest. This is a personal moral line I suggest we all must not cross.

The job of running this country is not only the responsibility of the elected Government, it is our collective responsibility and the country’s success or failure can either be our salvation or our destruction.

Taking this into context, while the National Competitiveness Strategy of course, is a good step in the right direction, the PSC must stress, that there can be, no National Development, without security, and without respect, for the Rule of Law.

We urge our President to make this his Government’s number one priority.

The PSC also calls on all political parties contesting the forthcoming General Elections, in the greater national interest, to observe a non-partisan political position on the question of crime and to avoid making any confrontational statements with regards the maintenance of law and order and the containment of the current crime wave.

We urge all CITIZENS to do the same. The country we love, must not be SACRIFICED on the altar of partisanship. Discussion, negotiations and reasonable compromises, must not be seen as weakness, but, rather, be seen as wisdom, strength and love of country.

Thank you.