As a fractured global supply chain triggers increases in food prices, and further pummelling a world still battling with the debilitating economic effects of COVID-19, Guyanese would have still been better off had the government implemented the recommendations put forward by People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR). At least, this is according to the party’s Leader, Aubrey Norton.
While acknowledging that the entire world is experiencing “inflation”, Norton opined that the Irfaan Ali-led regime could have assuaged some of the economic hardships now facing Guyanese by listening to the PNCR’s cry for a “people-centred” approach in the crafting of the almost $553B, 2022 National Budget.
He blames the government and labels it “incapable of conceptualising and implementing policies and programmes that will address the situation and bring relief to the people of Guyana”. This, the party leader said, raises “urgent questions and leads many to the conclusion that the government is not only incompetent but also uncaring”.
Norton’s comments come against the backdrop of the government’s recently conveyed commitment that it will absorb the increases in power and water bills brought on by the hike in fuel prices and the introduction of Farmer Markets events across the country. It also abolished scores of taxes that were imposed by the former PNCR-led Coalition government from 2015. The government last year reduced freight charges to pre-pandemic levels and just recently relaxed COVID-19 measures to bolster the resuscitation of full-scale economic activities following a significant decline in transmission and deaths.
But Norton opined that his party’s recommendations could have gone a long way in alleviating economic woes.
“Had the government followed the PNCR’s advice and developed a people-centred approach; Guyanese today would have had more money to offset rising prices. The PNCR had advised, for example, increasing the 2022 salary of public servants by over 25%, raising the minimum wage and tax threshold, removing personal income tax for low-wage earners, providing a generous risk allowance to frontline workers, and guaranteeing all households a minimum liveable income. Such measures would have helped considerably,” Norton opined.
The PNCR Leader alluded to the recent 15 percent increase in flour prices; the exorbitant 15 percent hike in cooking gas and the high price of gas at the pumps. He said these increases being faced by citizens are occurring in nation raking in billions in crude oil sales and royalties. He suggested that alterations be made forthwith to alleviate strain on Guyanese.
President Ali recently spoke of a $5B set aside to cushion the rising cost of living. While he is yet to announce its mode of implementation, Norton cautions that time is of the essence.
“We call for the $5 billion Guyana dollars that have been set aside for cost-of-living adjustments in budget 2022 to be immediately put to use in order to shield citizens from these increases in the price of flour and other basic food items,” he urged while talking down this “paltry sum” and lamenting his party’s “exclusion” from consultations.
Nevertheless, he said that his party will be monitoring closely the distribution of the $5 billion allocation to ensure there is no “discrimination”.
He added that a government serious about the welfare of its people would introduce emergency relief measures to help them cope.
Such emergency measures, he suggested, could include granting a market supplement to low-wage workers; expanding the school feeding programme to cover two to three nutritious meals a day; subsidizing basic food items, such as flour, cooking oil, rice, and milk; and providing increase resources to families in the Public Assistance Program.
