A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change

micevan1l6

– Taxpayers have a right to know what’s going on in their backyardBy Kiana Wilburg Kaieteur News prides itself on an unwavering focus on relevant issues, particularly relating to the benefits that the country has received or is receiving from major investors who promised the moon and the stars when they initially proposed to enhance our wellbeing.This newspaper’s primary efforts in recent years have been dedicated to examining the proposals/investment/concession agreements brought to the negotiation table by mainly foreign investors. Given what has already been uncovered, it would be an understatement to say that this area requires eagle-eyed and continuous perusal.At a recent press conference, for example, we were informed that the Indian logging company, Vaitarna Holdings Private Inc. is expected to get more involved in value-added activities in Guyana. On the surface, it would seem that this would have a significant impact in terms of benefits, but it is reckless to just deal with the superficial.A central point that cannot be emphasised enough is that a foreign investor’s proposal is a critical document that the citizenry should, indeed must, have access to. If, for example, a proposal outlines that an investor wants to start a logging company in Guyana while having access to substantial tax breaks etc., then s/he must be giving the nation something in return, even if it is in the form of a wood processing plant that will add value to the logs being felled.To make it simpler, if an individual sees a space in your backyard and s/he wants to cultivate crops there because of its immense potential, then s/he obviously has to tell you how exactly you will benefit from his/her use of your nutrient-rich lands.Thus, the questions that come to mind in relation to what I earlier indicated are: What have we benefitted from Vaitarna for allowing the company in our backyard? What did they commit to doing, according to their signed proposal/agreement with Guyana? And has the company fulfilled its promise to the nation?A FORENSIC VIEWWhen the current government got into office, it launched a series of forensic audits. The reasons for the audits have varied from minister to minister. Nevertheless, a forensic audit was done on the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC). In that audit, there is not much mention of Vaitarna —a company that according to the official records, has access to 737,835 hectares of State forest — relative to the extensive reporting that has been done on BaiShanLin.The auditor provides information on the history of the company; how long it has been here, and the value of some of the concessions granted to it based on the company’s investment agreement with Guyana.In short, the report did not provide much help, if any at all, as it relates to the commitments of the company to Guyana.PROMISES, PROMISES!Long before May 11, 2015, the then opposition parties, A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change, on numerous occasions, supported the need for proposals/investment agreements to be made public. They even promised that they would do so, should they be given the chance in office. And when as a coalition they got into power, there were more statements about the “belief” of the government that that it is the right thing to do. When that got stale, there were more promises that those documents would be released.Just to recap, it was President David Granger, who in June, last, made it clear that he believes in full disclosure and has no intention of changing his mind when it comes to Government honouring its promise to release certain concession agreements. He told this newspaper that this is what the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited and the various branches of government should do – make concession agreements public.This view is also one that is shared by Finance Minister Winston Jordan. He said that information regarding any aspect of the concessions granted to foreign and/or local companies under the past regime is not a state secret.Jordan stressed that the media, or any member of the public for that matter, have a right to know how the nation has benefitted in this regard.The Finance Minister said, “I have said it before and I will say it again, the public and the media have a right to know what is going on in the country. It is reasonable for taxpayers to want to know what the government of the day is doing in various sectors. It is even more reasonable for them to question how members within various sectors are operating, and operated, during a certain period.”He added, “We need a society that questions what is going on, and if the taxpayers ask for information, once it does not conflict with the laws of the land, then why should entities not make it known? I believe that they have a responsibility to do so. These things are not state secrets, so make it known.”Even after these statements were made, Kaieteur News has continued to ask for these proposals and has been given the runaround. It is now over 17 months since the newspaper has asked for those documents to be released and there is still no action.BACK TO SQUARE ONE?The former regime made several wrong turns regarding the management of the forestry sector. The BaiShanLin case can be classified as the most diabolical of them all. What this company did to Guyana’s forests and more importantly, what it was allowed to do, is well documented. That’s an entire column by itself.But to briefly recap, this Chinese logging company was granted eye-watering concessions, plundered our forests, and now owes the nation of billions of dollars in taxes, all following its promise to establish a “state-of-the-art” wood processing plant.Now Guyana is left standing with an empty promise in its hand. And what is worse, we are not even able to ascertain how we have benefited from the billions worth in concessions which were granted to the company. So much for good bargaining…With all the political posturing that is taking place daily, it is hoped that the Government does not make the same unforgiveable mistake as its predecessor and keep the nation in the dark.I am quite aware that this coalition administration never promised the nation a rose garden during the election season, but the least it can do is keep one of its promises and release those proposals. If it doesn’t, we can only assume that we are back to square one.The bottom line is that taxpayers have a right to know what’s going on in their backyard.