Dear Editor,
As we continue our nation’s growth, we must gain focus on controlling the pace of growth. The development horizon must go beyond election cycles and be set in a timeline that covers 15-year planning periods.
Embracing such a perspective and approach to long-term planning will ensure that our nation’s development is successfully managed without placing artificial constraints resulting from populist policies and electoral gimmicks.
This is especially important when construction and mining are key drivers of economic growth in an environment riddled with corruption. Projects will be implemented with better adherence to standards via improved oversight without the current high risk of having to redo completed projects shortly after their completion which creates more pressure on the treasury and prematurely depletes our resources.
In addition, high levels of employment can be maintained for a longer period while also ensuring lower unemployment rates as new workers enter the workforce. The 15-year planning cycle also allows for better alignment with our nation’s human resource capabilities. This extended development cycle will ensure the treasury maintains and gains financial strength by utilizing the smoother and better controlled growth trajectory to leverage higher return opportunities.
CRG strongly recommends such a planning and development cycle shift occur with bipartisan approval in parliament. We, the Guyanese people, will benefit from improved predictable growth and the removal of politically motivated projects that are orchestrated primarily for the short-term gain in votes. Continued stable growth over the long term that is independent of changes in leadership will firmly place Guyana on a sustainable long term growth trajectory.