VG Newswire: 2 Jul 2010

Vision Guyana to Financially Support Mahdia Residents – “Condemns the lack of a Fire Brigade even though it has been requested for many years”

Vision Guyana (VG) is saddened by the loss of property of the residents of Mahdia due to the fire on Jul 1.

We are more disappointed that the Government has rushed to this village promising money for damages when in the past, they were asked many times by the residents to provide a Fire Brigade to the area.

In addition, the government failed to ensure that the water from the nearby creek was flowing adequately into the area free of obstruction.  As a result, residents have been suffering for running water for months. Had these two infrastructural services been in place, the fire damage would have been minimal.

Chairman of Vision Guyana Peter Ramsaroop said “Once again, the lack of government attention to key areas in our nation has made our citizens have to suffer the consequences. A mere $10,000 check will not bring back the losses they have incurred. Had the government put preventative measures in place by using the money they now offer toward the purchase of fire engines in addition to ensuring a constant flow of water in this area, this massive loss would have been avoided.”

Vision Guyana calls for a comprehensive examination of all inhabited areas around the country that lack a fire service and ask that adequate funding be provided for such.

We are one of the highest taxed nations in the world, and the money is squandered on a few contracts while the citizens paying the money are left to suffer and punish.

VG is behind the residents of Mahdia to rightfully be given what they deserve; constant running water free of obstruction and a proper Fire Brigade service.

For more information contact: 687-7692

Stabroek News – One week after a policeman shot and killed a Riverview, Ruimveldt fisherman, the Guyana Police Force is yet to complete an investigation to determine whether the rank used excessive force.

Meanwhile, on Friday last the Mark Benschop Foundation in association with two city businessmen donated a quantity of foodstuff and clothing to the man’s widow and four children.

Last week Monday police killed Felix Da Silva during a raid on his Riverview home after a businessman in the area had alleged that the 27-year-old and others broke into his shop and stole a quantity of items. The police later alleged that Da Silva had attacked the policeman who had gone to his house to arrest him, resulting in him being killed.

On Friday, the Mark Benschop Foundation and businessmen, Ron Morrison, proprietor of the local Hanes Franchise and Peter Ramsaroop of Roop Group donated a quantity of books, clothing, toys and sports gear to Da Silva’s wife, Michelle Russel. In addition, Ramsaroop promised to open accounts starting with $5,000 for each of the four children. Russell also collected a quantity of baby foods, pampers and other items for her four-month-old son.

Speaking to Stabroek News on Friday Benschop lauded the contributions of Morrison and Ramsaroop, saying that the businessmen could always be counted on to render assistance to the less fortunate.

RBP + LEF + O = D (Race-based Politics + Limited Economic Freedom + Oil = Disaster)

This column is a follow-up to my column of on December 23^rd titled “Natural Resources” where our team proposed that we share the profits of oil with the people as was written in an academic paper from one of our team members J.C. Bollers.

Introduction:

The riots in Kenya that have killed hundreds of people and displaced hundreds of thousands more. This should motivate us to conclusively resolve ethnic conflict in Guyana if we ever want to have lasting prosperity. The post-election violence and riots have caused tourists to flee Kenya or decide to visit somewhere else. Trust in Kenya’s political system has been shattered. Their economy may soon follow; and they do not even have oil.

This should teach us that democracy is much more than being able to vote once in every election. When people use their own money and judgement to make purchases or donations, they are practising a type of ‘economic democracy’. Everyone is part of the mechanism that chooses the best firms and charities. When one ethnic group or race is favoured over another for both political office and economic opportunities, both types of democracy are lost. The disenfranchised in Kenya are not rioting only because their candidate has (probably wrongfully) lost the presidential election. They are rioting because their country has not even found a half-measure to resolve the ethnic discrimination that characterizes both their politics and also their economy.

The Facts:

If Guyana’s oil reserves are proven and then controlled by our government, it could spell disaster for our country. With the nature of our current politics we cannot allow simultaneous control of both political and economic power. We may be able to foster long-term prosperity and peace if we can somewhat separate political favour from economic opportunity. We have researched and written about democratising Guyana’s natural resources extracted from public property. This means that oil royalties would be dispersed evenly amongst our citizens. The government would have to accountably tax us in order to fund its operations. To date our organization Vision Guyana is the first and so far the only organization to adopt this as part of their vision of a prosperous future for Guyana.
On January third, CGX Energy Inc. released an independent assessment of the probable amount of oil found in the offshore Corentyne concession. Its best estimate puts our oil reserves at 2.7 billion barrels. However, the odds of finding NO OIL at all are 61 percent. This leaves a 39 percent chance of finding even a little oil at either one or both major drill sites, to be produced at Global Competitive Prices.
One Saudi oil minister once said, “All in all, I wish we had discovered water.” We too may be ‘lucky’ enough to understand why he said this. The risks we face as a resource rich nation are as real as Saudi Arabia’s. Those we face as a developing multiracial democracy are as real as Kenya’s. If we allow the bounty of our country to further divide us along racial lines, we may forever be the land of many backwaters. Most Guyanese may continue to prefer living elsewhere.

Conclusion:

Let us act now to secure our democracy by ‘democratizing’ our natural resources extracted from public land. Each Guyanese citizen will vote every day by spending or investing his or her share of the royalties in a free market economy. Nobody’s race will be an issue to someone wishing to sell or buy something. No one’s party affiliation will affect whether or not they profit from the public natural bounty that rightfully belongs to each and every one of us. I don’t offer this as a solution to all our problems, but this might be the one thing that makes the biggest difference in our way of life. We propose that consultation be started on exploring these recommendations.

“Democratizing our natural resources” can help us realize our hope for ONE NATION, ONE PEOPLE, with ONE DESTINY.

The inflation rate in 2007 is one of the highest in recent history and real GDP growth is at a very low rate. Unemployment continues to cripple our country. These real issues, while seemingly complex to some in government, have in fact simple basic root causes: The lack of a positive investment climate hurts foreign and local investors, and punitive tax and investment codes discourage business activity.

I continue to lobby for the macro changes that will allow for the economy to grow and ultimately benefit the citizens. In 2007, there were few mentions of the 2001 National Development Strategy, which outlined the necessary changes for this decade. I have not only written on this topic, but I have also extensively invested real dollars on building a Caribbean “Tiger” economy in Guyana and to sustain a “free enterprise” brand for our nation that will attract investment and encourage commerce. An encouraging government sector, with an activist mindset can drive economic policies.

In fact, these economic policies need to be the result of broadminded consideration of a number of goals and objectives over a period of time, perhaps as much as five years. Public sector responsibilities such as law and order, public utilities, transportation infrastructure, healthcare, are all vital issues to tackle. However, the government must also encourage investment, a positive lending environment for business and banking sectors, and the development of globally competitive industry. They are many components of a sound economic policy that are geared to growth and stability that are discussed in both of my books on Guyana and also in the National Development Strategy.

STRONG Proposals for 2008 for a BETTER Guyana:

1. Engage the Diaspora. The skills, experience, and wealth of our brothers and sisters who have left Guyana should be engaged to help to bring businesses here. The need to focus our public debate on jobs, jobs, jobs! How do we encourage foreign companies to build operations here, build tax free export zones, free up the money held hostage in our moribund financial sector, extend credit to consumers – we can do this all through a focus on growing employment opportunities.
2. An economic policy that concentrates on real people and their real needs. Everywhere I go in our country, I see the poverty, but also the resilience of our fellow citizens. However, policies should not just be about talking statistics and debt/citizen ratios, it is about making the hard work of all Guyanese pay off in better lives and stronger families. We must cease our reactionary budget approach and spontaneous spending and look at solid long-term investments that will demonstrate a Return on Investment (ROI) every citizen can personally measure. Handouts that are not in the budget plan should have a trade-off on what program will be reduced.
3. Alternative Energy -Ethanol Production: Since 2004, we have advocated for the diversification to Ethanol production. The IMP supports this direction, but we are yet to take on this initiative. In addition, the Amalia Falls project seems to have been a scam, as it is yet to get off the ground. In 2007, when the MOU was signed by the Prime Minister, Snergy and GPL, it was stated that they will provide a 25MegaWatt Generator within a month as part of the deal. This did not happened. We need to attract real investors in this sector.
4. Future Oil – Amend our constitution to state that ALL natural resources belong to Guyana’s citizens and let each Guyanese choose which bank to have their royalties deposited.
5. Reduced Government and change our investment and tax codes to encourage real investors. Establish trade free zones.
6. Solar Power and Wind Power- An urgent consideration as energy alternatives, from a sunny and windy Guyana.
7. Education, Education, Education- Major Improvements, with major Funding for High Schools, Technical Institute, and University of Guyana.

Let us renew our commitment now as we start 2008 to an energetic, positive approach to bringing prosperity to Guyana. Without reducing the cost of energy as the main focus, Guyana will continue to be squeezed by global economic and financial pressures.

We wish ALL Government Leaders and Guyanese in Guyana and in the Diaspora a Healthy, Happy, Prosperous, Successful, and Peaceful 2008. OUR wish is for our Government Leaders, to better manage Guyana in 2008, so that we can ALL realize the DREAM MOTTO “One Nation-One People-One Destiny.”

Happy New Year! – “Roop”

One of my young advisors, JC Bollers, the grand nephew of the late Sir Harold Bollers, recently completed his academic paper on Guyana’s Resources. Since his paper directly relates to the general theme of this column, I thought it was appropriate to share his thoughts with the general public. As we approach the new year, it is a time we reflect on the our accomplishments and failures of the year. Given our current economic environment, we have to ask ourselves why the average citizen has not progressed during this year and why are there those who have even gone backwards? I would ask that you keep the contents of this column for future reference as we get closer to oil.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always asked myself how our country can have so much natural wealth but still be poor? Guyana is suffering from what academics call the ‘resource curse’. This happens when a country’s economy becomes too dependent on primary exports like oil and sugar, sugar in our case. It’s more likely to happen in a country with institutions that lack transparency and caring leadership for all.

A resource state’s incentives are to keep the handful of export producers happy. In this situation, voters and the private sector commonly find themselves subject to a government that isn’t as accountable to them as it is to the sugar or oil company. When commodity prices fall, the economy falters and lacks a private sector strong enough to pick up the slack. Normal economic growth needs healthy private sector which requires predictable enforcement of laws, contracts, property rights and an open economy. This is often absent in a resource state.

A functioning democracy requires that the government be dependent on the electorate for tax revenue. The government produces accountability in exchange for this. This accountability creates trust and legitimacy. It is absent, though, when a government gets enough of its funding from resource rents. In this situation, various groups fight for their ‘fair share’ of the resource rents at the government level. When the resource wealth gets distributed according to politics, that’s when widespread ethnic conflict and political instability take place.

UK journalist Nicholas Shaxson says: “If citizens had the oil money in the first place, and the state had to bargain with them to get its cut, it seems likely that would change the game entirely.”

Maclean’s Magazine of Canada has said that Guyana may be able to eventually match Kuwait’s annual oil production of 500 million Barrels. However, if only one tenth that amount is produced and royalties are 55 percent, at US$100.00 per barrel, that means an average annual payment of roughly $US3600.00 per person or $US300.00 a month.

Do you want that HUGE AMOUNT to go to the government?

For the future, I STRONGLY recommend the following:

• Amend our constitution to state that ALL natural resources belong to Guyana’s citizens.
• Let each Guyanese choose at which bank to have their royalties deposited.
• Have CGX (or any extractor) publicly state each payment and pay it directly to the banks.
• Tax only withdrawals of principal to encourage saving and investment.
• Allow banks to issue credit to citizens based on all types of income.
• Enjoy an economy bursting with energy, life, HOPE and PROSPERITY for ALL.

“The People may get lazy” you say. Is that worse than government using all the money to selectively bless others with laziness?

“Well people may waste the money,” you say again. Does the government have the monopoly on being wasteful? People spend according to their priorities. Governments spend money on what is politically expedient. We should be asking if people are more wasteful than the government.

“Well what about infrastructure?” The government will get REVENUES through taxation. That should be enough to build infrastructure and buy some accountability. That would be a very merry Christmas indeed for ALL.

Our Best Wishes for a Merry Christmas with a Healthy and Prosperous 2008.

Vision Guyana Chairman Peter Ramsaroop last week said he is disappointed with the government and opposition’s response to Venezuela’s apology over the recent invasion at Cuyuni.

In a press release Ramsaroop said citizens are appalled that the government is “satisfied” with the Venezuelan response and contends that that country must compensate the Guyanese whose property was destroyed, in this latest violation of Guyana’s territorial integrity. “Vision Guyana reiterates its demand that Venezuela withdraws its claims against Guyana’s territory including the Ankoko Island,” the release said.

Ramsaroop, who is “a Presidential contender for 2011″, said one of the key areas of his campaign is the protection and sovereignty of the nation and “the need to mitigate any aggression by the Chavez administration and his claim to (three-fifths) of Guyana.” These issues ultimately limit Guyana’s ability to grow and is a major deterrent to foreign direct investment in the region, he said.

The group said leading geologists have opined that that area contains one of the largest basins in the region where oil can be found and contends that it is preposterous for President Hugo Chavez to claim that “he is for poor people, yet [he is] stifling” Guyana’s quest for oil and economic benefits that will take the country out of poverty.

Vision Guyana also reiterated its call for citizens to petition the government to utilize all and every means necessary to deal with this threat. The group said it is necessary to build a Guyana strong enough to prevent further aggression and to ensure that any claim to Guyana, by the Venezuelan government, is immediately removed.

[see more photos]

(Caribbean Net News, Published on Thursday, November 22, 2007)

By Gordon French

GEORGETOWN, Guyana: A shipment of oil from Venezuela may have averted a massive fuel crisis in Guyana, but did little to roll away an ongoing spat between the two countries following Thursday’s military attack on miners inside the Guyana border.

That attack has been described as a continuation of a “choke and rob” situation that has led to poor investments in western Guyana.

The government has dispatched a Note Verbale to Caracas registering their concern over the incursion.

No response has been tendered since, but critics believe that a shipment of 16,000 barrels of oil on Tuesday may have been an attempt by the Hugo Chavez administration to soothe recent wounds.

However, …. Presidential contender for the 2011 elections, Peter Ramsaroop has expressed the disappointment with the government’s initial response to the Venezuelan invasion.

“The attack by Venezuela on Guyanese in Guyana’s waters cannot be condoned, not even in the face of a shipment of 16,000 barrels of fuel to avert a crisis gripping our nation. This is downright alarming,” Ramsaroop stated.

One of the key planks of the Ramsaroop campaign is to mitigate any aggression by the Chavez administration and his claim to two thirds of Guyana. He called on Guyanese to petition the government to utilise all and every means necessary to deal with this threat and to ensure that any claim to Guyana’s territory is removed immediately by the Venezuelan Government.

He noted that bad policies of both the PNC and PPP governments have cost Guyana valuable population growth, intellectual capital retention, and fostered weak institutions. According to Ramsaroop, Hugo Chavez, who constantly warns that the US may someday invade Venezuela, is already training neighbourhood-based civilian militias.

His government opponents say he is trying to create the means to suppress dissent and defend his presidency at all costs. “We cannot allow Hugo Chavez also to create fear in our government; we have to assert our rights with any help we can get from friendly governments and relevant international bodies. We must build a country that others would want to help and invest in,” Ramsaroop noted.

According to Guyana, 36 Venezuelan soldiers used helicopters and Compostion-4 (C-4), a type of plastic explosive, to blow up two dredging machines in Guyana waters.

Maduro promises ‘information’ on Venezuelan invasion

(Stabroek News, Thursday, November 22nd 2007)

Venezuela’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Nicolas Maduro has promised to send “information” to his Guyanese counterpart on the invasion of Guyana’s territory by the Venezuelan military last week…

Meanwhile, Vision Guyana run by businessman and self-declared presidential contender for 2011 Peter Ramsaroop in a release issued yesterday said, “the attack by Venezuela on Guyanese in Guyana’s waters cannot be condoned, not even in the face of a shipment of 16,000 barrels of fuel to avert a crisis gripping our nation. We should not be bought.”

Vision Guyana said it believed that fear of a Venezuelan invasion was a deterrent to major private investors wanting to invest in the Essequibo region, which is rich in natural resources.

“This is a longstanding issue that we must take aggressive action, whether military or diplomatic to protect the sovereignty of our lands. We lack the bold leadership and foreign policy necessary to deal with such aggression by our neighbour in holding our country hostage,” Vision Guyana said.

The group called on the government to use all means necessary to deal with the situation to prevent further aggression and to ensure that any claim to Guyana’s territory by the Venezuelan government was removed.

Vision Guyana follows the parliamentary minority parties AFC and GAP-ROAR in condemning the invasion. (Miranda La Rose)