Granger admits to lack of foreign investment in Guyana

President David Granger has admitted that his government has not done well as it relates to
attracting foreign investments. Speaking to reporters at the Ministry of Presidency on Friday, the Head of State admitted that much more needs to be done in this regard.
“We have re-engaged the Chinese and the Canadians in the extractive industry, along with the Russians and the Brazilians.”
Granger said that a resolution in the territorial issue with Venezuela will help in augmenting this process. The President opined that once this issue is dealt with, the populace will see an upsurge in the number of persons and companies that will be at the ready to tap into this field.
Additionally, he said that the recent financial strife that has beset many countries across the world is not helping as well. He noted that China and a number of European countries, who have interest in investing in Guyana, have gone through perilous financial times and this has compounded the issue.
Granger asserted that because of this, there has been a low demand for a number of local commodities and the traditional areas of exports such as sugar, bauxite, timber and rice are becoming less appealing to foreign investors.
Granger noted also that sugar and rice are high priced and it is doubtful that new investors will be clamouring at the government’s door to invest in these fields. Further, the Head of State pointed to the fact that bauxite and timber are in low demand since the current crops of potential investors are looking for new, non-traditional fields.
Towards this end, he said that the country has to look at different areas to attract direct foreign investments. He believes that Guyana as a whole needs to recognize that we can no longer depend on the traditional sectors which are becoming less viable. He said that the sugar industry is in dire straits at the moment, and this will not be an attraction to persons who may have an interest in that sector. He stated that if resources continue to be ploughed into these areas this will not be investing wisely.
It is against this backdrop that he suggests that eco tourism is the new frontier that the country should be looking at to attract foreign investors. Granger believes that there is enormous potential in this area that can be tapped into.
The Head of State is also of the view that once investors are made aware of the potential financial benefits that can be gleaned, they will find it as an attractive option.
For this reason, the President believes that aggressive marketing of this sector will bring about a change and Guyana will start to see an upsurge in foreign investors that may want to invest here. That aside, the Head of State said that the administration is currently looking at engaging a number of potential investors to invest in various fields in Guyana.
kaiteurnews.com

uSA claims that they would defend guyana

Dear Editor,
I WAS a very vocal supporter for “change” in Guyana, which I saw was needed upon my return to my beloved land in 2010.I believed then that the PPP/C government was the worst example and leadership and competence ever displayed in the Region and as an admirer of the late Dr Cheddi Jagan, I saw the new party’s leadership as a betrayal of his legacy. For many of us it was a dream to see change in leadership. I have always viewed extremely long periods of power by one political party as never a good thing for a country and Guyana saw numerous examples of this from the PNC and PPP.
While I was optimistic for change and willing to give a coalition Gov’t a chance, despite my concerns of the same players reincarnated, I thought it was the best opportunity my country had. Fast forward 18 months, and I am convinced that this coalition is determined to be a one-term government and are practically laying out the red carpet for return to power for the disastrous Bharrat Jagdeo and company.
Starting with the 50 % catastrophic increase in salaries for ministers for which the justification used was to “dissuade corruption” was the first sign that not much had changed. In that short space of time, the APNU coalition has miraculously and unquestionably alienated its base of once ardent supporters, including the many Indo-Guyanese supporters who were tired of the inept and corrupt PPP/C and wanted change as well.
Today, every citizen is feeling the brunt of heavier taxes on every and all things under the sun, an ill-advised and possible corrupt parking meter system for Georgetown that is fraught with a number of issues and unintended consequences, including for a fragile business community, a significant reduction of small business investments, a shrinkage of economy which we are continuously told was inflated because of the rampant drug trade that flourished under the PPP/C resulting in a surplus of dirty money circulating, these and just of the few complaints that one will hear from the average citizen of every colour in Guyana.
Editor, each day that passes we see more evidence that President Granger, while truly a decent and noble public servant, is NOT the transformative leader hoped for and is leading a team of inept and out-of-touch with some possibly corrupt ministers. All of this, plus the broken promise of bringing to the halls of justice, the people who abused this country under the PPP/C for the past 22 years with Bharat Jagdeo as the principal, is now looking to be a non-reality and it is now my belief that the APNU does want to create a precedent which may come back to haunt them if they themselves are questioned for accountability or abuse.
So now as I look around the world, we see example after example of great democracies shifting from one side to the other due to the voice of the disenfranchised and the forgotten proclaiming enough is enough. We now see the shocking and unpredicted exit of the UK from EU (famously coined BREXIT), to the arrival of Donald Trump and the theme is always the same…”when you forget the people, someone will eventually have to pay”.
Editor, I must ask these questions: Are our leaders looking at what is going on around them in the world? Are there any lessons to be learned?
After 18 months I must conclude that our leaders do not have a clue nor do they see the writing on the wall and we as Guyanese must decide if we can continue down this path.
I beckon to all my fellow Guyanese that we MUST look at a future that does not include the PPP or PNC and perhaps decide that the time has come to change things radically, a time for a different political mindset. I believe in my heart that Guyana needs its own version of candidate Trump to harken in a new era in Guyanese politics, a leader that does what he says and takes no prisoners, one to shake up the establishment and cares less about being politically correct and who loves his country and puts it first…this I believe is the direction our country needs to take and we must take or forever lose our country and rightful place in the league of exemplary nations for which we are truly capable.
Editor, we MUST banish mediocre leadership and join the rest of the world that say NO to politicians and leadership who do not have our best interests at heart.
Sincerely,
Tony Persaud

many are now against granger and his coalition

After 18 months I must conclude that our leaders do not have a clue nor do they see the writing on the wall and we as Guyanese must decide if we can continue down this path.

OVER the past week, the Internet has been rife with discussion surrounding the release and subsequent distribution of a number of videos vividly displaying students from various high schools engaging in sexual acts. Dubbed the “sexual act challenge,” the videos all seem to have been recorded on school premises, while the children are in uniform. The circulation of these videos has further sparked widespread outrage on several grounds from members of the public. There is first, the shock at the content itself: minors indulging in sex and doing so in a manner that clearly identifies them. Second, there is outrage at the spread of the videos, as hundreds of persons have taken to sharing them for reasons ranging from shock, to disdain or unfortunately, amusement.
Much of the discussions surrounding the matter involves the blame game: who or what is responsible for this type of behaviour? Many fingers point to the “new generation” and their disregard for morals and values that should have been taught them. Others believe that there is a lack of discipline in the homes, while others believe that the school system is what is failing these children.
But a fair assessment would point to technology and the dark side that follows, along with all its greatness. In this age, our children are born into the world of computers. In fact, tablets and smart phones are devices made available to children at such a young age, that there are toddlers who know to download and navigate apps and games before even learning to read.
This is the world in which we live. Hand in hand with technology, goes the Internet– that vast space of infinite information. This magnificent pair therefore provides us all with one thing: exposure — to knowledge; to good; to bad; to everything.
A 2014 survey by Time.com revealed that the average young person spends over seven hours a day on media devices, all of which are connected to the Internet. The Internet, in turn, provides uninhibited access to websites, movies, music videos and apps that portray gross sexual content and messages. The reality of the situation is that upon entry into even the tiniest corner of the Internet, a person gains access to the world.
The other side of the coin is that, even without the Internet, young people’s knowledge about sexual activity is no less limited. In fact, discussions on this series of events sparked comments that these acts have been occurring for years, and that today’s version in video form and social media popularity is simply an evolution brought on by technology.
On a side note, that the callous way in which the situation was handled by adults which resulted in the pandemic spread of these videos — despite the fact that the acts involved minors which therefore required their protection — is yet another shameful result of Internet culture and a lack of boundaries.
But exposure to the Internet makes it impossible to assess exactly how much children learn from each other, both in person and online. But this exposure does not come with advice on how to deal with these elements. Our children are exposed — to the point of overexposure — and we must now meet them halfway by ensuring that the knowledge and wisdom we instil in them are just as evolved as the technological world they now explore.
It means that sex education must be upgraded — at home and in schools. Studies show that Sex Ed is not being taught enough in schools and for those schools that do have it on their syllabus, many students have already been privy to sex and sexual activities by the time they are actually taught. So consideration should be given as to when the introduction of Sex Ed is made. Parents, of course, need to talk to their children and move away from the misconception that they are “too young” to deal with certain things. If “too young” does not qualify for their entry into the wide, wide world of the Internet, then it should not qualify for instilling knowledge in them about the things that the Internet introduces them to.
Sex Ed must also now evolve to even incorporate social media culture; advice on online dating etiquette; cyber bullying; catphishing and various tech-related features that could very well cause an explosion of disrepute in the manner that we see all too often. As one member of the public said within one of the discussions, “We make our children, we do not make their minds,” but we must prepare their minds to make healthy decisions. Once they enter into the world, they are on their own, and it is the knowledge that is instilled in them, that will guide the decisions they make.

these children are not interested in school. how will guyana develop

THE meeting between the Georgetown Mayor and City Council and President David Granger and members of his Cabinet, on Wednesday, 8th February could not be timelier. With central Government taking a decision to have an input into the conflict surrounding the parking meter system, which has been escalating since last year, ought to bring about the needed calm in the society and hopefully a resolution to the mutual satisfaction of those involved and affected.There is nothing that is wrong with Guyana that cannot be made right by Guyanese, and this is not being idealistic, but pragmatic. This land belongs to all of us and every Guyanese should have an interest in its prosperity and the people’s peaceful co-existence, irrespective of which party is in government— central, regional and local.
Mayor Patricia Chase-Green, after leaving the meeting on Wednesday evening, said that within 72-hours, i.e. by Saturday evening, consultation on a way forward would begin. This progressive step — though some may be skeptical or ask, “why wasn’t this done in the first place”– must be given a chance to bear positive results. In our contentious politics, there is more than enough blame to go around, but finger-pointing does not bring solutions, it exacerbates conflicts. Guyanese are capable of rising to the occasion of achieving solutions.
Though it is not lost on those following this issue that there exists overt opposition political undercurrent in the daily protests, it should not be allowed to consume or torpedo genuine concerns about the meter system. Placards such as “kick them out” and “welcome to 1968 and 1973,” should be recognised in the context as persons enjoying the right to freedom of expression, and a positive development in the society. The politically astute should see such placards as opportunity presented to promote an agenda and not the rationale to not engage with those who seek engagement.
The meter conflict is another lesson for this nation and how it is resolved will be another defining moment for the City Council. The Council should also be mindful that the less than respectful approach it has taken in dealing with the vendors, it has earned the ire of the citizenry, and clearly from the daily protests, has lost their confidence and respect. At the same time, it cannot be lost sight of that the vendors’ issues which are yet to be settled in an atmosphere of mutual respect, observers, including the vendors, will be watching on as to how the meter conflict will be handled.
Thus far, the Council has treated stakeholders in both groups, may it be said of different classes, the same way. Now that it is moving to engage stakeholders on the parking meters, it should recognise that vendors will be expecting similar treatment. Irrespective of class or other diversity, no group in Guyana must take away the feeling of inequity in treatment. In seeking to build this nation that belongs to all of us equality, justice, and fair play must be the ever-guiding convictions.
This state-owned newspaper is rooting for the success of the society as the City Council proceeds to have consultation with stakeholders. Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkhan, who has responsibility for local government, on Tuesday said his ministry is open to dialogue on the parking meters. The President’s meeting with the City Council and the statement of the mayor on leaving that meeting confirm the seriousness of Minister Bulkan’s statement.