PRESIDENT Cheddi Jagan on Friday reassured the private sector that his regime was willing to meet its representatives at anytime so that it could work closer with the government in developing the country.
He, however, asked that the constant questioning of governme:nt's intention and ideology be put to rest.
"Judge us by what we do and not what we hope to do tomorrow," tbe President told a gathering of private businessmen and diplomats at the commissioning of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) building on Waterloo Street.
Yesu Persaud, leading city businessman, appealed to the President minutes earlier, to have:a forum set up so that he, Dr Jagan, could meet specific groups in the private sector to address problems.
"You and the govemment alone cannot do it", Persaud said.
Dr Jagan, at another forum earlier this week, called on the private sector to put its house in order for the nation to recover fully. This call followed pleas by leading private sector figures for government to do more to facilitate the business sector.
However, at the commissioning on Friday, outgoing president, Beni Sankar, acknowledged serious shortcomings within the PSC.
Persaud said the exodus from Guyana has left the countn bare of basic skills. and the private sector and government had to see what they could do "together". He told the President the private sector wanted that when he, Dr Jagan, left office sometime in the future, something more enduring was left behind.
Dr lagan, in his addwss, restated that the government saw its role as a facilitator of the private sector at every stage of the development process.
He also said that he was open to meeting the private sector but this should be as a last resort after meetings with the ministers of finance and trade.
The head of state said the government was working to have a conducive enviromment for development but some still question its motivation and ideology. He referred to the parting with Senior Finance Mmister Asgar Ally, from his administration and debunked claims that it was an issue of ideology that caused the split.
"It has nothing to do with ideology but many other questions we do not agree with, " said Dr Jagan.
He also referred to the letter from an opposition party to former US President Jimmy Carter on help provided to the national development strategy as a red herring, alluding to the innuendo that help was being given to a communist to win an election.
The President denounced such inferences, opining that Carter was a great humanitarian and Guyanese should take their hats off to him in praise for his help to the country.
The President on Friday revealed that a Council of Sustainable Development would be set np following the launching later this month of the draft national development strategy. The launching of the strategy will coincide with independence celebrations.
Dr Jagan also compared the economic growth enjoyed by Guyana in recent years to that of Latin Amenca as a whole and conceded that while the administration had not brought in any big foreign investors, this was not through its (the government's) fault.
But he cited Finance Minister Bharrat Jagdeo's message in the PSC Annual Report which noted that the local private sector invested US$131M in 1995 and planned to invest another US$110M this year. In that report Jagdeo recognised that many problems still have to be addressed to further stimulate investment, including adequate and reliable power supply, an improved transportation network and an upgraded social infrastructure.
These problems, Jagdeo said, have been occupying his government's attention and are being adequately addressed but the pace depended on government's ability to collect domestic revenue.
Persaud, at the ceremony, called for the reintroduction of tax incentives including tax holidays. To sustain growth, there needs to be investment, he said.
President Jagan agreed that the government should do more and wants to do more but repeated that it has to meet World Bank and IMF conditions and Jagdeo has to look towards a balanced budget.
"Let us continue the dialogue...we are always open to dialogue so you can see the full pictute and be a part of the solution," Dr Jagan assured the private sector, noting that he has met their representatives from time to time.
He used the forum to commend the trade unions for their positions at the May Day rally, contending taht the Trades Union Congress ws taking a "very enlightened approach".
TUC President, Gordon Todd, urged politicians not to make race an issue at next year's general elections campaign and said differences on the Trade Union Recognition Bill will not be insurmountable. He also warned that the movement would insist that the government in its quest for a comprehensive development plan not countenance or encourage enterprises which insist on being non-union.
The PSC building was funded by PL 480 counterpart funds - $31M and the Centre which will cost US$600,000 and is being funded by the KU, will be in place shortly.
US Ambassador to Guyana, David Hobbs and John Calighirou, head of the EU Delegation in Guyana made brief remarks at the ceremony.