Democratic norms entrenched
-- President in New Year’s address
Editorial
Guyana Chronicle
January 1, 2007
PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo has expressed optimism that this New Year will illuminate the beacons of faith and freedom that now reside in Guyana and one where each Guyanese becomes his brother’s and sister’s keeper.
In his New Year’s message to the nation, the President stressed the importance of Guyanese working together in unity to move this country forward and faster along the path of development and progress.
He also thanked Guyanese for their support, fortitude and hard work over the past year which helped to make 2006 a relatively good year and assisted in overcoming some of its most difficult moments.
The Guyanese Head of State also alluded to the significant growth and progress in the economy on the social, infrastructural and macro-economic fronts and pointed to some of the major international events to be hosted here this year, including Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007.
“Whatever we demand of ourselves and others this year, I urge that we recommit ourselves to this wonderful place that we call home (and) let us, as proud Guyanese, ensure that the best interests of Guyana are served especially in this year when the eyes of the world will be focused on our corner of the globe as the region and our country host World Cup Cricket,” Mr. Jagdeo stated.
Following is the text of the President’s address to the nation:
“My fellow Guyanese; Whether you are standing guard on our borders, attending to the sick and infirm, securing the peace in our villages and towns, at church, partying or at home with your family, I extend warmest greetings to you.
My wish is that this New Year will usher in a period of peace, personal progress and happiness in your lives.
I want to thank all of you for your support, fortitude and hard work over the past year. This has helped to make 2006, a relatively good year and has assisted in overcoming some of its most difficult moments.
The past year saw Guyana recover from the disastrous floods of 2005 and of January 2006. It also saw us demonstrate to the world our political maturity with the exemplary way in which Guyanese exercised their democratic franchise in free and fair elections and the peaceful and gracious manner in which the results were accepted.
The democratic norms by which free societies are judged are now even more securely entrenched, more so with the existence of a vibrant parliament that contributes to good governance through its oversight and legislative functions.
In 2006, the economy recorded a good performance. This was undoubtedly due to sound macroeconomic management, pro-growth policies and increased private investment.
It was also a vindication of our twin strategies of economic diversification and enhanced international competitiveness which are necessary responses to the challenges of an increasingly globalised trade and economic environment, and designed to ensure a sustainable growth path for our country.
We have also witnessed progress in the social sector. Over the past year, more of our people enjoyed greater access to potable water and electricity. Our public health facilities and services continue to improve through greater resource allocation, expansion of tertiary care and an increase in trained medical personnel. We have also embarked on a comprehensive programme aimed at improving the quality of educational services.
This programme includes among other things curricula reform, improved teaching methods, a greater focus on numeracy and literacy and greater use of information technology. In the housing sector, thousands of house lots were distributed.
Many of the beneficiaries have already built their homes and many others, because of favourable mortgage rates are preparing to do the same. The Housing Ministry has also been active in regularizing squatter settlements and upgrading the infrastructure within housing areas so as to improve the living conditions of homeowners.
GROWING INTERNATIONAL PROFILE
Guyana continues to enjoy a growing international profile within the multilateral financial institutions and within our region. Our vigorous representation for debt relief for Highly Indebted Poor Countries has won for us international recognition and at the same time brought significant benefits to our country.
The past year also saw Guyana advance its case within the Arbitral Tribunal established under the United Nations Law of the Sea Convention. We are confident that in the New Year, we will have a settlement of the maritime border dispute with Suriname which will not only lead to improved relations with that country but also facilitate the unencumbered harvesting of our offshore natural resources.
Fellow Guyanese, during my speech to the Ninth Parliament of Guyana, I outlined the key elements of our economic development plan for the next five years. Among these is sustaining the environment for economic growth by continuing prudent fiscal and monetary management of the economy.
Increased revenue for development will come from aggressive debt relief advocacy and from pro-growth policies such as those that assure the modernisation of traditional sectors, support for new and emerging sectors, enhancement of the legislative and incentive framework in which the private sector operates, and the development of infrastructure to support growth.
These will be firmly anchored within a National Competitiveness Strategy that would result in a more stable and expanded economy, which will in turn create more jobs and generate additional resources for national development.
We will ensure that our people have a primary claim on these resources through, among other things, better education; affordable and quality health care, including tertiary care not previously available in Guyana; greater access to electricity and potable water; and the upgrading and expansion of housing areas.
In keeping with our concern for the vulnerable, my government will, in the coming year, embrace a preferential option for the poor, indigent, the sick and our children.
Among our plans is the creation of a powerful and well-resourced agency to address the welfare of our children. In constituting this agency, we intend to tap into the skills and experiences of as many Guyanese as possible.
We shall also this year begin construction of a large shelter for our homeless, and to pursue their reintegration into society in ways that respect their dignity and inherent self-worth.
Sports and Arts have a tremendous potential for improving the image of our country, fostering social cohesion and keeping our young people meaningfully occupied.
BOOST FOR SPORTS
In the 2007 Budget, we intend to unveil an annual G$100M Sports and Arts Development Fund, the largest sum ever committed in our country’s history to these areas.
This, I am sure, will be a major boost to the development of sports and will stimulate increased interest and standards in the Arts.
Integral to national development is the existence of an environment where all citizens can feel safe and secure, one that does not deter investments and one in which justice is dispensed fairly and efficiently.
We intend to aggressively pursue a comprehensive reform of the criminal justice system. Among the objectives of this reform will be to garner greater community support and involvement in crime fighting, better equipping the Guyana Police Force and improving the delivery of justice within our courts.
Fellow Guyanese, the New Year is a time of renewal, of establishing new goals and objectives and of setting our personal and organizational compass. It is a time to reaffirm our enduring values and recommit to those close and dear to us.
Whatever we demand of ourselves and others this year, I urge that we recommit ourselves to this wonderful place that we call home. Let us, as proud Guyanese, ensure that the best interests of Guyana are served especially in this year when the eyes of the world will be focused on our corner of the globe as the region and our country host World Cup Cricket.
This year we have two additional opportunities to showcase our country’s stupendous natural beauty, its unmatched hospitality and its rich mosaic of cultures. Guyana will host the Rio Summit as well as the Meeting of Commonwealth Ministers of Finance. I am sure that every citizen will cooperate in ensuring the success of these events.
Fellow Guyanese, from today, the system of Value-Added Taxation will take effect. This tax replaces six other taxes that were already included in the prices of goods and services you consume and pay for, but which were not visible.
The objective of the VAT is to achieve greater transparency and fairness in tax administration.
My government has carefully designed the VAT to ensure that it does not adversely impact on the cost of living. As such we have removed the VAT from all medical services, prescriptions and over the counter drugs, water and sewage services, educational materials and services, rent, local building materials, gasoline, dieseline, cooking gas, kerosene, electricity, and basic foodstuff among other items.
We have also retained incentives for business development. In addition, we have reduced from 30 to 16%, the price of almost all electronic and household items, as well as clothing. The price of these goods should fall in the market.
Some items will move up from lower rates to 16% and consumers may see some upward movement in the prices of these items. However, overall, these should balance off.
My big concern is that unscrupulous businesses may want to charge VAT on the old prices which would have already included the hidden taxes that you were paying.
We have to be vigilant against this taking place. We should expect teething problems over the next few months as people learn more about the VAT. However, prices should adjust to their real levels because of competition.
Fellow Guyanese, in the weeks and months ahead, you will be learning more of my Government's plans for the remainder of this year. We however intend to continue our practice of bringing the government closer to the people.
In order to be more responsive to your needs, my Government will continue to engage you, through community outreaches and other public interactions.
I believe that we can be more successful in achieving our goals and objectives if we all work together in moving our country forward. Let us therefore move ahead spiritedly in unity towards a Guyana where every citizen has the opportunity to succeed; where every Guyanese can live in a safe community; where families are strong; where schools are excellent; where the opportunities for education are entrenched; where the benefits of science and technology are within the reach of all; where people show compassion for the weak and vulnerable; and where each person is his brother’s and sister’s keeper.
Such a Guyana is possible if we all work together, focused on the goals, rather than being distracted by the agents of division, despair and mistrust.
May the glow of this dawning New Year illuminate the beacons of faith and freedom that now reside in our country. May these cherished values and all that is good and wholesome for our country, be with us throughout the year so that they become part of the permanent architecture of our nation.
May peace and happiness be with all of you throughout the year!
Happy New Year to all Guyanese at home and abroad!”
Happy Eid-ul-Adha to all Muslims