Members of the local business community on Wednesday pressured President Donald Ramotar on several issues they claim are unfair and depressing to the overall business environment in Guyana.

Many of them placed their demands on the table which included a review of the incentives offered to foreign companies and the taxation policy of the incumbent PPP Civic administration.

Guyanese entrepreneurs complained bitterly of unfair competition with foreign companies, which they claim the administration is totally responsible for as a result of the inducements that are often afforded to foreign companies while local businesses are left to face burdensome tax requirements for the importation and exportation of goods and equipment.

President Donald Ramotar was at the time presenting his plans for the advancement of businesses in Guyana ahead of the upcoming polls at a luncheon organized by the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association – GMSA – at the new Guyana Marriott Hotel.

While fielding questions from the audience, the President disagreed with businessman Howard Bulkan on his charges of an unbalanced playing field being encouraged by the PPP Civic, particularly in the logging industry.

Bulkan, who is the Managing Director of Bulkan Lumber Works Inc, said Asian companies have dominated the sector with the control the administration has placed in their hands.

“There is no in-country processing or transfer of skills and our prime species are being harvest by these companies who have all the fiscal concessions,” Bulkan advised the President; before adding “the Asians get everything while all we ask is for level playing field.”

The administration has continuously been accused of favoring foreign investors over locals but the President insists it is untrue. “They bring in hundreds of trucks and all sorts of things, we don’t get those sorts of things,” Bulkan lamented.

Meanwhile, businessman Kim Kissoon was very vocal on the issue of taxes.

Earlier in the day the Head of State had rejected proposed tax reforms put forward by Presidential Candidate of the Opposition Coalition – APNU+AFC – David Granger as irresponsible and promised that should Guyana discover oil and gas the administration may be in a better position to lower Value Added Tax – VAT – and other income taxes.

Granger had promised that under an APNU+AFC government Guyanese stand to benefit from sweeping tax reforms which would include reductions in the current 30% Pay As You Earn (PAYE) and 16% Value Added Tax.

Kissoon in a bold statement told the President “people don’t want to wait until we get oil to get taxes down. You promised us a review of VAT but until now nothing.”

He proposed an increase in VAT to 20 percent along with the elimination of all income taxes and went onto to explain “this will give people more spending power. If you do the maths you will see that the government doesn’t come off worst. The government comes off better because I can guarantee you that at least one third of this country doesn’t pay any personal income tax but you will catch them with VAT.”

Kissoon received a rousing applause on that proposal but went onto to demand also that the President be more firm with other Caribbean Community – CARICOM –countries on accepting goods [fruits and vegetables] exported from Guyana.

He complained that the non-tariff barriers which are in place are affecting largely exports from Guyana which are usually made to rot on wharves.

Other businessmen called for the government to put in place a clear policy for the development of the energy and other sectors which in turn is hoped to reduce the speculation of hidden agendas. (Kurt Campbell)

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