KINGSTON - Today, August 18, 2015 marked the second day of budget debates at Parliament Building and saw Hon. Annette Ferguson, Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure making her debut speech.
Thank you Mr. Speaker! I wish to offer you warmest congratulations on your ascension to the Office of Speaker of the National Assembly.
I rise in this august House to add my contribution and give my support to Budget 2015, under the theme “A Fresh Approach to the Good Life in a Green Economy” .
Mr. Speaker, I would like to first extend congratulations, to the Hon. Minister of Finance Mr. Winston Jordan for a well-crafted and comprehensive inaugural budget presentation which will inject G$221 into the economic vein of this dear land of ours.
I would also like to commend my colleagues in Government and the Cabinet for their efforts, energies and co-operation to realise Budget, 2015 within four months. Indeed it is a people’s budget.
Last but not least Mr. Speaker, I would like to publicly, express thanks to His Excellency, the President, Brig. David Arthur Granger and other senior members/Colleagues of Government for bestowing upon me the honour of service at the level of Central Government. Indeed, I stand here today, the embodiment of this APNU/AFC government’s trust and confidence in the young people of this our dear land.
Sir, I wish to assure that, with God’s Guidance and wisdom, I will serve the Guyanese people with pride and distinction.
Mr Speaker, the theme for this year’s budget is an apt starting point for the enactment of the vision of a green economy, of this APNU/AFC Government.
As quoted, from one of his Excellency’s writings, ONE Nation - A Good Life for all Guyanese, Under Human Development Crisis, paragraph 1, when he said, and I quote:
“Guyana is facing a human development crisis as a result of the PPP/C’s CHRONIC Maladministration. Public protests have become the visible and voluble expression of resistance against the PPP/C’s, mismanagement of public health, public security, public works and public education system. Guyana, in the new millennium, has become more unsafe and more unstable than, ever before owing to the high rate of crime and low quality of life.”
This crisis is what guides us in the development of policies, programmes and projects for all. We have to correct and analyse current projects, and recreate and develop innovative responses.
Infrastructure, by its very nature, Mr. Speaker, is dynamic and responsive. But that is postulated on the position that you have something to respond to, a framework so to speak that encapsulates the very philosophy of your development thrust. Sadly, in the past, such basics were not adhered to. Instead we have had the pseudo-development of policies, weak-kneed and half-hearted responses that seemed more geared towards short-term achievements. At this juncture though, we cannot focus on the past. We need to marshal our resources, both human and technical to ensuring a better quality of life for all.
Mr. Speaker, infrastructure is too pivotal a sector to be left chance. Indeed it is the chief enabler of development. Its role span from ensuring that businesses have the necessary foundations upon which to build the economy, and that people have various amenities for the good life to ensuring.
As such, emphasis must be placed on creating the infrastructure that connects our people, and changing the existing access points by developing new roads into the hinterlands, by creating enabling infrastructure for new industrial, residential and agricultural communes.
This has to be augmented with studied approaches to harmonising our Port Authorities, ensuring Strategic Plans are in place for all of our Agencies, developing Business Plans and having a cohesive, well-developed overarching National Infrastructure Development Plan for Guyana.
The Ministry of Public Infrastructure will create and table in the National Assembly a State of Infrastructure Report at its earliest opportunity. This Report will set out the state of existing infrastructure and will also delineate critical responses to ensuring longevity, connectivity and value. No more will we be doing things over and over again, but will in a systemic manner consult with local stakeholders, craft long term responses and create interventions that will redound to the benefit of all.
Mr. Speaker, I now turn my attention to some of the agencies under my remit. I am compelled to put on record Mr. Speaker, that in the two months, three weeks since I have assumed ministerial responsibility for these agencies, I am appalled at the level of neglect and mismanagement of these agencies by the previous administration.
Mr. Speaker, allow me first to examine and give an overview of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority, the GCAA.
The GCAA is the regulatory body, vested by statute with the responsibility of regulating the civil aviation sector in Guyana.
The agency was established to better enable Guyana to fulfil its obligation as a signatory to the International Convention on Civil Aviation, Commonly referred to as the Chicago Convention.
Unfortunately Mr. Speaker, this agency has not been able to fully realise its mandate. Since I as Minister was assigned responsibility for the GCAA, I observed that this critical organisation has been plagued by a number of problems, including poor management and a lack of competent and qualified technical personnel.
Guyana, which falls under the auspices of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) South America office, suffers the indignity of having the lowest level of effective implementation of the standards and recommended practices established to ensure the safe and orderly development of Civil Aviation in the South America Region. A Paltry 44 percent Mr. Speaker, 44 percent! The regional average stands above 70 percent Mr. Speaker.
This has been the position for the last 8 years, Mr. Speaker, 8 years. Time and again, officials from the International Civl Aviation Organization (ICAO) would have expressed their concerns to the previous administration.
But no longer Mr. Speaker. I as Minister will ensure that this embarrassing state of affairs ceases to exist!
Mr. Speaker, our government understands the benefits of Guyana to obtain an FAA/IASA Category 1 rating and as such will spare no effort in ensuring that Guyana is able to attain same in the shortest time possible.
Under the International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program, the United States Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) determines whether another Country’s Oversight of its air carriers that operate, or seek to operate into the U.S. or code share with a US air carrier complies with Safety Standards established by the ICAO.
Specifically, Mr. Speaker, the Assessment Performance Programme focuses on a county’s ability, not the ability of individual air carriers to adhere to International Aviation Safety Standards and Recommended Practices.
Mr. Speaker, in order to realise our objectives in this important endeavour, emphasis must be placed on the recruitment of qualified and competent technical personnel for the GCAA. We must ensure Mr. Speaker, that the Authority is staffed with the required number of inspectorate staff, particularly in the areas of Flight Operations and Airworthiness.
Mr. Speaker, the GCAA is vested with a dual role, that of Regulator and Service provider. Specifically, Mr. Speaker, I would like to turn our attention to the provision of air navigation Services in Guyana.
The introduction of the use of the Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast System (ADS-B), to enhance aeronautical surveillance, is a worthwhile initiative commenced by the GCAA and one which I as Minister, intend to fully support.
Mr. Speaker, recognising the indispensability of Civil Aviation to the growth and development of Guyana, the budgetary allocations in Budget 2015 will be put towards institutional strengthening, to ensure a well-equipped GCAA, one which is able to carry out its mandate and thereby facilitate the development of the aviation sector. The APNU/AFC government has no intention, Mr. Speaker, of shirking its responsibilities on delivering on the promises made to the people of Guyana. I recall that in the APNU/AFC Manifesto we promised that in terms of the Maritime & Aviation Sectors to ensure that the legal and regulatory framework would be examined to ensure that these sectors are properly constituted and equipped to meaningfully contribute to the growth and development of the Guyanese economy. In this regard Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that I will shortly be seeking to pilot through the National Assembly, a Civil Aviation (Amendment) Bill, which Bill seeks to make critical changes to the current regulatory framework for civil aviation in Guyana geared at ensuring a robust, responsive framework.
Mr. Speaker, I expect as well, that shortly, industry consultations on a new set of operating regulations will commence.
Mr. Speaker, I now turn my attention to the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation.
The Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation is a floating steel structure which is 6,074ft in length (1851.4m) and spans the Demerara River from Peter’s Hall on the East to, Plantation Meer-Zorgen on the West.
Mr. Speaker the accounts /financial Statements for D.H.B.C. for the years ending 31st December ,2011 and 2012 respectively were laid In the National Assembly in July,2015.
The Financial Statements for the year ending 31st December, 2013 has been submitted to the Audit Office for Auditing.
Mr. Speaker, the projected Sum to be spent on Capital Works for the D.H.B in this four months period is $ 90 M.
This sum will facilitate extensive rehabilitation work. Mr. Speaker, the Construction of a new crossing between the eastern and western Banks of the Demerara River is a priority for our government.
It might be recalled that under the previous administration through NICIL, an “Expression of Interest”process using the Public Private Partnership Model was initiated.
Sir, I can assure you that this new Administration in its pursuit to construct a new crossing will be developing a more creative and cost effective model, to construct a new fixed bridge across the Demerara as indicated by the Finance Minister, Hon. Winston Jordan. This will be done with the involvement and consultation of the appropriate agencies and stakeholders, hence the Theme: “A Fresh Approach”.
The Asphalt Plant, which is now under the Management of the D.H.B.C. in 2014, produced a total of 48,408.88 tons asphaltic Concrete.
The Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation has recently acquired a new Mobile Asphalt Plant which would assist greatly in enhancing productivity and support the Government’s intensive road rehabilitation programme not only in Georgetown, but in the rural areas.
Mr. Speaker, under the previous administration the Transport & Harbours Department, sadly, was reduced to a mendicant state, from a profitable department to one dependent on handouts. There has been a systemic decimation of capital forming assets.
There have been no increases in rates for the last ten or more years, whilst simultaneously the already beleaguered T&HD is saddled with two other vessels whose only distinction is drinking fuel and increasing costs.
Mr. Speaker, this situation cannot be allowed to continue!
It is time to acquire an efficient, proper, cost effective fleet to service the Transport and Harbours Department, and it is to this, Mr. Speaker that this government will concentrate its energies.
For the past 10 years the previous administration injected one billion, eight hundred and twenty eight million dollars in a failed policy of repairs, on vessels each over 50 years old which take on a trip from Parika to Bartica over 5 hours, depending on tide condition, whilst failing to retool critical income generating sources of revenue such as the dockyard at Mazaruni and the Central Workshop, both of which can service the existing fleet and provide repairs and other services to sister agencies such as the Demerara Harbour Bridge. Ironically, some contractors use the very drydock facilities, with some of their equipment, to effect repairs to vessels for T&HD costing hundreds of millions.
In similar cavalier fashion, Mr. Speaker, the then Minister of Public Works halted the operations of the Transports Sports Club which was not only income generating but also provided much needed recreation and social space for employees of the T&HD.
Mr. Speaker the need to address the total welfare of our human resources was clearly lost on the previous administration. Mr. Speaker, I was appalled to see the working conditions and environment under which staff of the T&HD was expected to perform and produce!
We cannot allow these types of situations to continue Mr. Speaker!!
We would embark on a programme to ensure that the Transport & Harbours Department becomes a viable, well-coordinated entity, able to support the developmental thrust of this APNU/AFC Government!!!
This Programme, Mr. Speaker, envisages the phased development of critical infrastructure, supported by a sensible repair and maintenance scheme, geared towards ensuring the solvency of the Department. Further, we will ensure that the establishment of the Advisory Council, as contemplated under Section 5 of the Transport & Harbours Act Chapter 49:04, is given priority. Instead of casting persons with institutional knowledge aside, we will utilize their energies and expertise to lift the Department to stardom!!
Mr. Speaker, this budget also seeks to find synergies between the various agencies. The Works Services Group, which will be dealt with more extensively by the Hon. Minister Paterson in his presentation, will ensure that our roads, bridges and sea defenses are optimally advanced, taking into consideration proper checks and balances to ensure value for money.
Our Force Accounts Unit, as you are by now aware, is going through a systemic resurfacing of most of the streets in Georgetown and the region, and with the full commissioning of the Mobile Asphalt Plant, will be going into the various regions to deliver these critical services. Indeed, they will be equipped and provided with the requisite machinery, equipment and personnel to ensure that they can deliver quality works as we build on their internal, self-sufficient capacity.
No more patches for the eyesores we call our streets. We can and must build in-house capacity to deliver services in a more responsive, time bound fashion, instead of farming out contracts right, left and Jagdeo to sycophants and cronies.
Additionally, the programmes and projects of the Hinterland Electrification Company Inc., which is tasked with ensuring the necessary energy infrastructure is in place for persons utilizing services in the Interiors of Guyana, will be expanded to include not just the 6000 households that were given access to power via solar panels, but also ensure that schools, community centers, health clinics and other development nodes are given access to increased power supply through the creation of Energy Hubs for Development. These nodes will facilitate access to ICT, further processing and other services of like kind. We also need to be maintaining and replacing components over their critical life.
Mr. Speaker, we will also develop mini and macro hydroelectric facilities to capture the latent energy running in our numerous rivers and falls such as Kato, Tumatumari, Wamakaru, Moco Moco. These are all initiatives that we are proposing to secure and preserve our common energy future, and for which we seek broad based consensus.
Mr. Speaker, time will not permit me to elaborate on the woes facing the Guyana Post Office Corporation, nor the state of its infrastructure. Suffice it to say that we are in the process of crafting a Strategic Plan to take that Agency into full service mode utilizing all of the available technology, coupled with unique financial services provision. Monthly, the Post Offices pay out billions of dollars on behalf of other state Agencies and receive little value for services. We will ensure that we revisit some of these arrangements and come up with creative strategies for sustainability, utilizing its physical presence in various parts of the country.
And finally, Mr. Speaker, I am compelled to point out that the measures outlined in the 2015 budget, are geared towards rooting out endemic inefficiencies, building staff and organizational morale, improving infrastructure and capabilities and catapulting these agencies into increased productivity and profitability.
We can and we must develop public service institutions with creative approaches encapsulated in the tenets of a New Public Management System. Everything must make economic and social sense.
No longer can we afford to plod along, no longer can we leave development to chance! No longer can we hope to create change by muddling around.
Rather, we as a government must be responsible, change-oriented, development conscious and purpose driven to ensure that the Guyanese people are the beneficiaries of all that a productive and prosperous Guyana has to offer!
In short Mr. Speaker, no more campaign roads, no more half-baked, bird brained responses to crises, no more sacrificing the Guyanese people on the altar of personal aggrandizement. No more!
It is time to create a prosperous Guyana. It is time we realise our common destiny. It is time we walk hand in hand with those who want to walk with us.
Be assured Mr. Speaker, Guyana will advance, a stronger, resilient and purposeful nation. She will be endued with the latitude to breathe again, she will survive and thrive. Naysayers notwithstanding. It is to this that we commit ourselves as a government and it is to this that we pledge our lives!!
Mr. Speaker, I thank you!!!
