Twelve-Point Contract with Guyana

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Guyanese government must assert its dedication to serve all the people of the land.  As a businessman and civic leader, I feel strongly that Guyana needs a new civic-minded approach.  After studying nations around the world that face challenges similar to ours and speaking with hundreds of my fellow Guyanese, I have compiled this 12-point Contract for Guyana.

 

1.        Creating National Pride, Unity, and a Sense of Duty: Patriotism

�         Implement our National Anthem: “One land of six peoples, united and free.”

�         Recommit to our Guyanese patriotism.

�         Develop a blueprint for operating in a multi-ethnic society.

 

2.         Our Children Are Our Future: Creating a World-Class Educational System

�         Our children are our future.  Therefore, we must upgrade our battered educational system.

�         We must give our youth an education that is career-oriented, nationalistic and moral.

 

3.         Renewing Guyana’s Purpose: Expanding Our Wealth in a Healthy Economy

�         We must build on the unique strengths of the people and the country—creativity, cultural diversity, natural beauty and strategic location—to expand the economy into service- and knowledge-based activity.

�         Optimize competitiveness of the goods- and commodity-producing sectors.

�         Employ sound financial management to reduce taxes and increase revenues from exports.

 

4.        Taking the Side of Innovation: Technology

�         We must radically improve our technological infrastructure and education.

�         Modern communications—cell phones, Internet, wireless capabilities, etc.—must be expanded throughout Guyana.

 

5.         Modernisation: A Robust Infrastructure

�         Develop roads, schools, power and light, and hospitals.

�         Measure implementation and enforce strict accountability for projects, including environmental protection.

�         Consider a light rail system between major cities.

�         Establish a new public housing program.

�         Develop a modern international airport to serve as a hub to the Caribbean and South America. 

�         Implement “Guyana 21.” 

�         Move to a coordinated, dynamic vision of our future infrastructure, in which all of Guyana’s regions are brought together as one.

 

6.         Reviving Our Economy: Competitive Industries

�         Encourage competitive industries to build on our strengths of geography, agricultural produce, and climate. 

�         Develop food-processing plants, expand exportation of livestock, fruits and other non-traditional crops, and reduce prices in Guyana.

�         Improve the economic framework, develop a positive business climate and reduce regulatory impediments,

�         Help our farmers develop export markets, attract manufacturing facilities, and transportation/energy investments.

 

7.         Protecting Our Citizens:  Law Enforcement and Justice Reform

�         Increase the police forces and raise their wages so as to be more in line with the cost of living. 

�         Enforce harsh penalties for theft and drug-related crime.

�         Improve civility through simple improvements such as streetlights and stop lights. 

�         Implement justice reform in order to reduce crime, build faith in the justice system and secure liberty for all Guyanese. 

 

8.        Duty of Hope:  A Modern Health-Care System

�         Promote disease prevention through awareness and disease management programs.

�         Reduce the public sector cost of health care and improve the well-being of all Guyanese via simple policies such as investment in continuing education for health professionals and the development of national, uniform inspection systems to ensure a safe food and water supply.

 

9.        The Well-Being of a Nation: Eradicating Poverty

�         We must unequivocally commit ourselves to the eradication of poverty by 2020.  This does not mean that all our people will become rich or that the rich must be impoverished so that all might be equally poor.  It does mean that social safety programs for health, education, and skills training should be provided for all Guyanese.

�         Provide basic and essential services.

�         Realize that the eradication of poverty aids all Guyana, expanding the economy as a whole and creating new jobs, broader access to credit, and opportunities to fulfil dreams. 

10.       Renewing the Dream: Universal Housing

�         Through new approaches to expand land and home ownership and renew distressed areas, public and private sector initiatives can build housing and communities throughout Guyana, including the hinterlands. 

�         Tap the unutilized resources of Guyana to solve problems such as basic infrastructure for squatters and enforcing property rights.

 

11.      Building Conservation Partnerships: Protecting and Defending the Environment

�         Guyana’s environment is a heritage of almost unbelievable value.  Its maintenance and protection are critical duties that we all share. 

�         Establish an environmental code and enforce strict penalties. 

�         Protect biodiversity, opening Guyana for diversified development within strict environmental guidelines and impact assessments.

 

12.      Getting Results: Reforming Our Government

�         Reforming government will enhance individual liberty and allow the other eleven proposals to be more effective.

�         Encourage the involvement of the people in all aspects of society.

�         Government must provide effective, visionary and inclusive leadership to ensure the elimination of racism.

�         Downsize government and bureaucracies in order to encourage entrepreneurship and the development of a free, robust private sector.

�         Explore new modes of government to break impasses and political polarization, such as “shared governance” model or an “alliance approach,” in order to enhance inclusiveness and ultimately build security, trust, and prosperity.

 

      To move forward, we must reward courage and vision.