PPP/C front bencher Priya Manickchand yesterday criticised senior government ministers, saying they have failed to tell the people how the administration will drive a turnaround in an economy that the Finance Minister has said has challenges.

In her address on the proposed 2018 national budget, which she called a “dead end,” she argued that the ministers have not addressed issues that were identified as challenges in the budget.  She also noted the absence of both finance ministers-Winston Jordan and his junior, Jaipaul Sharma-from the National Assembly for the past three days and, therefore, their failure to hear the issues raised by the opposition.

(Jordan appeared later in the day for the first time this week and was welcomed by Manickchand.)

She said instead of providing a stimulus for the troubled economy, the government is telling 2000 sugar workers that come next year they will have no income. “Two thousand persons, two thousands families, ten thousand people, are going to be affected. We are talking about these numbers, Mr. Speaker, and I just want if we can close our eyes for a minute and stop and imagine what happens if you are to wake up tomorrow…without a job and in a wheel chair… because we are not only knocking them off we are failing to give them anything they can do, we are crippling them,” a passionate Manickchand said as she held up a copy of Wednesday’s Stabroek News, which had a front page story on the 2,000 sugar workers from Skeldon who received retrenchment letters.

She likened the workers’ situation to if someone is “licked upside down by a car” and described the government as car “licking ten thousand people upside down,” including women and children and not giving them any kind of wherewithal to go and make a living.

“These are not skilled, educated people that you can just get up from one desk job and go [to] another…,” she pointed out, while calling upon the government to put the workers first before profit and she questioned whether it is because “it is not your people.”

The former education minister also queried how much taxes were earned last year as a result of taxes being placed on education goods and services and whether come next year that money could be applied directly to the children of the fired cane cutters.

“We are saying, very clearly in this House, Mr. Speaker, that there needs to be more done for the people who are suffering from economic decline, defined and articulated by the Minister of Finance himself. We say you can begin by telling us in this House… how you are going to deal with the sugar workers and their children,” she suggested.

Speaking right after Manickchand, Minister of State Joe Harmon, who earlier this week noted that Cabinet was surprised when the retrenchment letters were sent out to the workers, would only say that there was a “big chunk” in the budget to provide severance for the workers.

‘Party paramountcy’

Manickchand also accused the government of not having an ideology and she questioned “the green economy” it has touted since it came into office.

She questioned whether it was about painting buildings and fences green, such as is being done at State House presently—an act that has been criticised but which President David Granger has staunchly defended.

As she spoke, a government member remarked that it was about “Green and Clean” even as Manickchand held up a new old age pension book, which also now has the colours green and yellow—the two main colours for the parties that are in government.

According to Manickchand, while it sounds like a small issue and something that can be trivialized, the move is a return to the days of party paramountcy.

“Party paramountcy has done nothing for the development of Guyana and for the development of her people,” she said, while adding that it is only people who have no plan and vision who can occupy the country with such distracting issues, such as painting the country green and forcing the staff at Office of the President to wear green.

As she related the above, Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence could be heard saying, “Bring the evidence!”

According to Manickchand, the government seems incapable of projecting growth, while noting that it had to readjust the numbers downwards twice over the last two years. She also questioned whether investors would want to come to the country and invest where heavily armed policemen are raiding the homes of citizens. “I want to ask them if frivolously charging political opponents, arresting them and charging them… has anything to do with people believing that this is an unstable place where an investment is not going to see growth.” she said.

She also mentioned the unilateral appointment of retired Justice James Patterson to the position of Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission, to which government members retorted, “Fit and proper!” Manickchand pointed out that this decision has been heavily criticised and she questioned whether it has anything to do with the fact that the country’s income is not as the Minister of Finance projected because people believe Guyana’s environment is not stable enough for investment.

She labelled the government incompetent and untrustworthy. “The APNU+AFC government is politically spiteful and happy with dumping years of democratic practice that has brought stability to this country. They are not business-friendly and they are without the ability to plan and or implement for a better Guyana,” she added.

During Manickchand’s presentation, there was sometimes insistent heckling by members of the government side and at one point former attorney general Anil Nandlall, while seated, turned to Speaker Dr. Barton Scotland with his hands gesticulating and said “Mr. Speaker, I can’t hear.” He was then asked to stand by the Speaker who informed him that there is a method by which the Speaker is addressed and that there should be no outburst in the Chamber. Nandlall then enquired about the method and was asked to take his seat but he insisted, adding, “You are not hearing the outburst from the other side?” While some of his colleagues said it was unfair and one even suggested that the Speaker would have to eject all of them, Scotland remained silent and eventually Nandlall took his seat and Manickchand continued her speech.

Meanwhile, another opposition member, Odinga Lumumba, during his presentation caused a slight uproar when he said former President Forbes Burnham stole elections. The government members protested and called for him to withdraw the statement, even as Attorney General Basil Williams rose to his feet and made a formal objection.

Scotland informed Lumumba that he should withdraw the statement and suggested he could express himself differently. Lumumba said while he withdraws the sentence there are historical documents that state clearly that the PNC rigged elections.

 

Source: https://www.stabroeknews.com/2017/news/stories/12/08/manickchand-accuses-ministers-of-silence-on-overcoming-economys-challenges/

 

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Opposition Member of Parliament, Priya Manickchand on Thursday opened day four of the Budget Debates and immediately proceeded to describe the government’s 2018 fiscal plan as a “deh deh and checkbox budget.”

She surmised that the document was robotic in laying out a programme and plan for the development of Guyana and believes the budget is bare in addressing the issues and challenges faced by the country.

Manickchand said the government has failed, to date, to tell the nation what is its ideology and philosophy for Guyana, arguing that the former People’s Progressive Party government was clean on its vision for the nation.

Recalling the PPP’s performance in government, Manickchand said her party delivered development that benefited all groups of citizens, from young to old.

The PPP governed Guyana between 1992 and 2015.

Ms. Manaickchand said that the period of PPP rule saw reduced poverty and challenged the coalition government to continue to ensure that poverty is further reduced but hastened to point out that the 2018 budget was void of measure to support poverty reduction.

She boasted that the PPP had cut poverty by half during its term in office. “It means that all citizens of this country got a better standard of living regardless of who they were.”

“It is important that the government tells us what their philosophy is… the government does not have a plan and the budget did not present on.”

Turning her attention to the performance of the economy under the APNU+AFC, the PPP MP said there is a lack of a politically stable environment in which people feel comfortable to invest.

She said there are a number of reasons that continue to cause the economy to perform badly including the government’s incompetence and untrustworthy nature.

Added to that, the MP said the government needs to reverse the dumping years of democratic practices which brought stability to the country and become more business-friendly.

She urged the government to work with the opposition to craft and present a stimulus plan. “Where is the stimulus for a stagnant economy?” she asked.

Manickchand said most of the government’s policies and programs that are working are those that were started by the PPP while in government.

 

Source: http://newssourcegy.com/news/ppp-slashed-poverty-in-guyana-by-half-during-its-time-in-office-manickchand/

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Cap on CSEC subjects

Former Education Minister Priya Manickchand criticised the proposal to limit the number of subjects pursuable by Guyanese students sitting the Caribbean Secondary Examination Council (CSEC) Examinations, dubbing the application a “threat by the Granger Government.”

Former Education Minister Priya Manickchand

 

In an interview with Guyana Times, the Member of Parliament responded to the call for change within the secondary educational system, noting that it is a misinformed decision, impeding on the rights students and their families.

The former Education Minister is of the view that the threatened ban has “not been informed by sense, statistics or the reality of where we are as a country or indeed a world.” As such, she posited that the banning students from writing as many subjects as they preferred is dictatorial and archaic.

In her objections, Manickchand went on to question the motive for such a direction, adding that it will only prevent students from exploring their personal potential. By doing so, she noted that Government send the message that they have no regard for the rights of children to make informed choices nor of the capabilities of children.

In her contention, the former Education Minister further indicated that of the ten to twelve thousands students sitting the CSEC examinations each year, less than two per cent actually pursue a total of about 15 subjects or more. With that, she questioned the extent of research conducted prior to this release of this projection, hinting that enough was not done in considering the possible effects.

As such, Manickchand recommended that Government do more research on the issue before solidifying the decision.

Moreover, the education activist pointed out that a rigid assessment system is generally employed by public schools in establishing the capability of each student before registration for the examinations. This therefore means she added, that a vetting process is conducted whereby the administration of the institutions review the student’s performance over the years and advises on the appropriate number of subjects.

The parliamentarian underlined her dismay in the potential outcomes of this proposal, noting that it will not only have a negative effect on the students and their families but also stands in the way of maintaining the country’s reputation of producing the region’s top performers. “It is sad that at a time when our country and our students have been continuously topping the Caribbean at CSEC, getting the scholarships given out by CXC… that this Administration would seek to dash the hopes of our young people,” she lamented.

“While most other countries are seeking to establish programmes to address their academically gifted children, our Government is bizarrely threatening to impose an environment where brilliance and high academic aspirations by our young people and their parents are to be seen as something to be ashamed of, to hide, and to stifle,” Manickchand noted. The former Minister’s position is backed by widespread criticism from sections of society as it is the majority opinion that the decision limit the avenues made available to students does not align with the best interest of the country’s youths, especially in the age of technology advancements.

Ever since the appointment of the new Administration two years ago, former Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine had expressed intentions on the Ministry’s behalf to place a cap on the number of subjects students are allowed to pursue through the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC), primarily at the CSEC level. However, just days after the removal of Roopnaraine which saw the elevation of Junior Minister Nicolette Henry to the senior office, the Education Ministry has officially announced (through a circular disseminated to public second schools) that they exploring the possibility to implement this new system.

If executed, this limitation will bar students of senior secondary schools, including the sixth form institutions, from writing an excess of 10 subjects, while students originating from junior secondary schools will not be able to pursue more than six CSEC subjects.

Former Education Minister Priya Manickchand criticised the proposal to limit the number of subjects pursuable by Guyanese students sitting the Caribbean Secondary Examination Council (CSEC) Examinations, dubbing the application a “threat by the Granger Government.”

The former Education Minister is of the view that the threatened ban has “not been informed by sense, statistics or the reality of where we are as a country or indeed a world.” As such, she posited that the banning students from writing as many subjects as they preferred is dictatorial and archaic.In an interview with Guyana Times, the Member of Parliament responded to the call for change within the secondary educational system, noting that it is a misinformed decision, impeding on the rights students and their families.

In her objections, Manickchand went on to question the motive for such a direction, adding that it will only prevent students from exploring their personal potential. By doing so, she noted that Government send the message that they have no regard for the rights of children to make informed choices nor of the capabilities of children.

In her contention, the former Education Minister further indicated that of the ten to twelve thousands students sitting the CSEC examinations each year, less than two per cent actually pursue a total of about 15 subjects or more. With that, she questioned the extent of research conducted prior to this release of this projection, hinting that enough was not done in considering the possible effects.

As such, Manickchand recommended that Government do more research on the issue before solidifying the decision.

Moreover, the education activist pointed out that a rigid assessment system is generally employed by public schools in establishing the capability of each student before registration for the examinations. This therefore means she added, that a vetting process is conducted whereby the administration of the institutions review the student’s performance over the years and advises on the appropriate number of subjects.

The parliamentarian underlined her dismay in the potential outcomes of this proposal, noting that it will not only have a negative effect on the students and their families but also stands in the way of maintaining the country’s reputation of producing the region’s top performers. “It is sad that at a time when our country and our students have been continuously topping the Caribbean at CSEC, getting the scholarships given out by CXC… that this Administration would seek to dash the hopes of our young people,” she lamented.

“While most other countries are seeking to establish programmes to address their academically gifted children, our Government is bizarrely threatening to impose an environment where brilliance and high academic aspirations by our young people and their parents are to be seen as something to be ashamed of, to hide, and to stifle,” Manickchand noted. The former Minister’s position is backed by widespread criticism from sections of society as it is the majority opinion that the decision limit the avenues made available to students does not align with the best interest of the country’s youths, especially in the age of technology advancements.

Ever since the appointment of the new Administration two years ago, former Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine had expressed intentions on the Ministry’s behalf to place a cap on the number of subjects students are allowed to pursue through the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC), primarily at the CSEC level. However, just days after the removal of Roopnaraine which saw the elevation of Junior Minister Nicolette Henry to the senior office, the Education Ministry has officially announced (through a circular disseminated to public second schools) that they exploring the possibility to implement this new system.

If executed, this limitation will bar students of senior secondary schools, including the sixth form institutions, from writing an excess of 10 subjects, while students originating from junior secondary schools will not be able to pursue more than six CSEC subjects.

 

Source: https://guyanatimesgy.com/manickchand-criticises-threat-to-limit-students/

Former Education Minister Priya Manickchand has described Government’s decision to impose the Value Added Tax (VAT) on private education as “senseless and unimaginative”.

Manickchand told Guyana Times on Monday that the situation begged the question whether the David Granger-led Administration planned to stick with the promises it had made with respect to education.

Under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government, the “Because We Care” Education Grant was introduced to the public school system in 2014, while Manickchand was Minister.

The initiative saw parents receiving $10,000 for each public school student annually that aided the schooling of children at the nursery, primary and secondary levels. To be eligible, children had to be registered with a public school.

Manickchand recalled that when the then PPP/C Government had introduced this new initiative, not only did it receive popular support, but the then A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance For Change (AFC) Opposition parties had conceded that it was a sensible decision.During that period, both parties, according to her, had suggested to the PPP/C Government that they should also extend the grant to include children attending private educational institutions.
The then Government had expressed its willingness to consider the recommendation, on the basis that APNU and AFC felt that “private school students were poor”.
Manickchand told Guyana Times that the Government’s new position on VAT on education, therefore, highlighted the grave “vindictiveness” and “flip-flop” approach that were evident each day.

“So, one year before you came into office, you said private school students were poor and are deserving of cash grants, an omission we had made as a government. One year later, you come in, and tax the hell out of them and their parents,” she noted.
The former Education Minister said it was “really sad” that parents were now being forced to consider how they would meet the monthly or termly school fees, in addition to surviving the increased taxation implemented by the new Government.

She said, “The average schoolchild (private school) has to pay $25,000 more in school fees. That is 50 lunches they are taking out of that child’s lunch kit. To do what? To fund extravagance by the Government? Travelling, travelling with large delegations. I mean, if we can cut back on that, then we can give our children the education that the Government said when they were campaigning.”

Manickchand continued, “It is really quite a shame. It is unnecessary. It is almost a punishment to the parents (and children) who want to do better for their children, so that these children can do better for Guyana.”

Although the policy has received widespread condemnation, Government remains firm on keeping the 14 per cent VAT that was applied to private education effective February 1, 2017.

Cabinet has taken the decision that the VAT on education will remain for the rest of 2017; however, during its 2018 budget planning, a review of the VAT regime would be done.

The PPP/C has made it clear that if it was reelected to office in 2020, it would reverse this and other policies it deemed unnecessary that were imposed on Guyanese by the coalition Government.

 

Source: https://guyanatimesgy.com/manickchand-dubs-govts-vat-on-education-policy-senseless/

– dubs it “strangest bill ever”

The controversial State Assets Recovery Authority (SARA) Bill 2017 has been labelled “poorly drafted” and the “strangest bill ever” by Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) and former Minister, Priya Manickchand.

PPP/C MP Priya Manickchand

Manickchand told the National Assembly on Thursday that the Bill not only undermined constitutional offices and office holders, but showed reckless disregard for the country’s supreme law (the Constitution).
The former Minister pointed out that there was no proper consultation, and despite widespread condemnation, the Government was still determined to have the Bill passed.

While explaining that the Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is not against asset recovery, Manickchand stated that the Government did not go about crafting this bill the right way.

“I believe the concept of asset recovery is excellent, it is needed, and it is timely. But it is the way it is being done. And we are not against corruption or dealing with corrupt politicians. This is why we, on this side of the House, brought a motion to the National Assembly to say ‘declare your assets’,” she recalled.

The outspoken PPP MP said a government that was genuinely concerned about addressing corruption would have voted in favour of that motion, which called on every member of the House, including those in Opposition, to declare their assets.

“This Bill is worthy of being thrown into the garbage…I believe strongly that this is a defining time in our country. This Bill in these circumstances concretizes what this Government is and our move into a descent in this culture,” she added.

 

Source: https://guyanatimesgy.com/manickchand-says-sara-bill-2017-poorly-drafted/

Leading the debate from the opposition benches, People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Parliamentarian Priya Manickchand, told the National Assembly on Thursday that the Party was not against asset recovery and exposing corrupt politicians.

As the second speaker on a list of 18, Manickhand laid out the opposition’s position on the State Asset Recovery Bill, just after Attorney General Basil Williams moved the second reading.

The PPP MP said the opposition is in total agreement with the concept of asset recovery. She did, however, have some reservations particularly with the government’s push to pass what she believes, was a poorly drafted Bill that lacked consultation.

“The concept is excellent, it is needed and timely but it is the way it is being done,” she said.

The former PPP Minister told the Assembly that she believed the consultations held by the government were a sham since none of the recommendations were taken on board.

Manickchand also argued that the Bill undermines the authority of several Constitutional office holders and shows disregard for several laws.

She lamented that the Bill was poorly drafted and also questioned the means by which it seeks to appoint a Director and a Chief Executive Officer of for the State Asset Recovery Agency. Her contention is that the Agency seems political.

In fact, Manickchand believes that if the government was serious about addressing corruption it would have voted on a PPP Motion, calling for all MPs to declare their assets.

The opposition wants the Bill to be sent to a Special Parliamentary Select Committee where it can be further discussed.

 

Source: http://newssourcegy.com/news/more-consultation-should-have-been-done-on-sara-bill-manickchand/

Former Education Minister Priya Manickchand is questioning whether the real reason the Government has taxed private education is because President David Granger believes there is education apartheid in Guyana.

Granger, as Opposition Leader in 2013, said education delivery in Guyana was akin to ‘apartness’, another form of ‘apartheid’, and “we must avoid and avert the danger of children being separated along lines of gender, social class or geographical location”.

Manickchand, speaking to reporters, pondered if Government imposed the burdensome tax on private education so as to limit the number of children who access quality services from private institutions.

“I have a question for Mr Granger; his view was that a certain set of children were accessing, a certain ethnicity was accessing certain education. By now, he should have been disabused of that view, because everybody wants good for their children whether you’re black, you’re Indian, you’re Chinese, you’re Portuguese, you’re yellow, you’re pink or you’re blue; most people want their children to do better…So is that the reason they have now taxed private education, because he believed that a certain set of people only were accessing that?” she enquired.

Nonetheless, the former Education Minister posited that there was no education apartheid in Guyana and said the President should have used his time in office to inform himself that children from all backgrounds benefit from private education – in some cases at the cost of personal sacrifices.

Protests in various forms have erupted against the 14 per cent tax on private education and educational materials, since Government imposed the measure in its new tax regime in the 2017 National Budget.

Protests have taken the form of petitions and picketing actions outside the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) as well as the Finance Ministry.

In response to the outcry, President Granger maintained that the tax must remain on education because some private schools were not tax compliant.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan had also defended the decision to add the 14 per cent tax to the private school fees by contending that the public school system was always free.

He ignored the fact that the public school system, as admitted by Government Ministers, was not at the level which it should be in order to guarantee quality education delivery.

Additionally, he failed to assess the capacity of the public system to receive an influx of students who can no longer afford private education and would have to resort to the public sector.

Many stakeholders, including educators and students, have argued that taxing education was definitely not the way to go in modern society as education is the backbone of any developing country.

They questioned the Government’s logic to tax education, especially since President Granger peddled the rhetoric of wanting an educated nation to build and develop Guyana.

Joining the campaign, the former Education Minister called on the Government to remove the 14 per cent tax on education, noting that it would only result in Guyana regressing.

 

Source: https://guyanatimesgy.com/manickchand-questions-real-motive-behind-tax-on-education/

Red House fiasco

People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Member and Attorney Priya Manickchand has rubbished claims made by Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams that the Conservatory Order requested by the Management Committee of the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre Incorporated (CJRCI) was refused.
Last Friday, the local media was informed that Attorneys Anil Nandlall and Manickchand had secured a Conservatory Order on behalf of Hydar Ally, Chairman of the CJRCI Management Committee. The Order, granted by Chief Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, seeks to restrain the Attorney General, his servants and/or agents and every officer of Government or the State, from interfering with or removing or destroying any property, materials, artefacts of the CJRCI stored at Red House

Priya Manickchand

However, the following day, the Ministry of the Presidency issued a statement calling for the retraction of reports that the Order was granted. In the State’s release, Attorney General Williams claimed that the Conservatory Order was refused after it was pointed out during Friday’s hearing that the declarations requested by Ally had no basis. He noted too that he had informed the Chief Justice that the lease was already cancelled and Government has taken possession of the Red House.

However, on Tuesday, Manickchand told <<<Guyana Times>>> that the claim by the Attorney General, who along with the Guyana Lands and Survey Commission (GL&SC) was named respondents in the legal action, is “bizarre”.
She noted, “It was a bizarre claim by the Attorney General that (the order) was not granted when there is a perfected order entered to that effect… It is also a rather bizarre claim from the Attorney General. That really needs clarification, when he said that Government has possession of the property.”
Furthermore, Manickchand pointed this newspaper to the Court Order, copies of which were also posted on the Party’s Facebook page, outlining that “… upon hearing Attorney-at-law for the Application/Plaintiff and the Respondent/Defendants it is by consent ordered that the first named Respondent/Defendant give an undertaking that all items property and artefacts of the Application/Plaintiff stored at the demised property that is Area ‘A’, now called Red House, comprising Lots 65, 66 and 67 High Street, Kingston… will not be interfered with or removed until further ordered.”
In the court document, the Chief Justice also granted leave to the respondents to file an Affidavit in Answer within 21 days from Friday’s ruling date, and further ordered that the applicant file an Affidavit in Reply within 14 days thereafter.
On Thursday last, President David Granger ordered that the lease for Red House, which houses CJRCI be revoked and give the occupants up to December 31, 2016, to vacate the property. He also instructed Minister of State Joseph Harmon to see that the building be assigned to house the National Trust of Guyana, its staff, stores and equipment effective January 1, 2017.
However, quick action by the PPP-backed Management Committee saw legal actions taken to reverse the President’s decision.
In the meantime, workers from the Ministry of the Presidency on Friday hammered down the hallmark sign of the Red House. A major commotion erupted outside of the High Street premises as the workmen stripped the building of its identity and barred the gates to the premises even though Government had given the occupants up to Saturday (December 31, 2016) to vacate the property.
PPP members had rushed to the scene to defend the legacy of former President, Dr Cheddi Jagan. The workmen attempted to transport the wooden sign bearing the words “Cheddi Jagan Research Centre” but fierce opposition from the PPP members and stewards of the Red House prevented them from doing so.
The men eventually drove off in a canter; the PPP members worked together with others on the scene to re-hoist the sign onto the building. Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo who was on site during the standoff with the Government officers, noted that the attacks against Dr Jagan and his legacy is the height of indecency and callousness of the Government.
“This is heinous, reprehensible act on the part of this Government. They have so many things to deal with in this country than to come and do what they did here today (Friday) to forcibly eject the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre from this building,” Jagdeo said.
Later that evening, the PPP’s peaceful candle vigil to voice concerns over Government’s move to evict the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre from Red House was marred by a protest by group of People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) supporters, led by the Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence.
This ‘Red House saga’ has sparked immense public outrage, with countless of Guyanese condemning the Government for its unjustifiable attack on the legacy of Dr Jagan – who significantly contributed to the struggle for a free, independent and democratic Guyana.