`A lot of work has to be done in this country and I, at this time have joined the team that had said to me they want to build and not to burn.'

TOURISM, Industry and Commerce Minister, Mr. Manzoor Nadir has urged Guyanese to join efforts towards the development of the country and not destroy it.

"A lot of work has to be done in this country and I, at this time have joined the team that had said to me they want to build and not to burn", he said to applause from the Government benches in Parliament Wednesday.

"So, I have joined the team that wants to hire and not talk about fire", he stressed.

The leader of The United Force (TUF) is one of three technocrat Cabinet Ministers President Bharrat Jagdeo appointed earlier this month and made his appeal Wednesday during debate on the 2001 Budget.

He backed the budget measures announced by Finance Minister, Mr. Saisnarine Kowlessar saying the minister had done a good job under the existing circumstances.

"In the short six months that we have to implement this budget, I am calling on Guyanese to sign up on board a plan that can work - so that we could turn the corner from a negative 0.8 per cent growth to realising a close to three per cent real output which the Minister (of Finance) is talking about".

According to Nadir, persons have already begun to show renewed interest in investing in Guyana.

"Since the budget was presented two Fridays ago, no less than half a dozen letters were received at the Ministry (of Tourism, Industry and Commerce) of persons wanting to resuscitate concessions they had five or six years ago, to the tourist sector", he reported.

He promised to actively pursue consumer affairs so that protection can be put in place to ensure the safety of consumers.

"Consumer Affairs is very important and the ministry has in train the installation of a 24-hour hot line to receive consumer complaints", he announced.

Further, he said, the ministry will be consulting the three consumer groups in existence to look at the implementation of hire purchase legislation.

"Mini-buses, (and) taxis are important not only in terms of consumer affairs, but we have to look at the issue of bringing them up to scratch to prepare for the inflow of tourists. They have a vital role to play even to transport the tourist", the newly-appointed minister pointed out.

He promised to push efforts at easing the credit crunch affecting businessmen.

"...we are going to lobby the Minister of Finance shortly to help those industries, not only rice, to deal with the credit crunch on right now", he said.

The Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister noted that the Omai Gold Mines Limited is an important industry, which is why President Jagdeo offered a one per cent rebate on the royalties from Omai if gold prices fall below a certain level.

He said this was to help the company start exploring for more ore.

"...in five years time we have to get a new ore deposit for that mining to continue, and here we have the Government offering more incentives...for that mine to continue so that the exploration dollar could flow into the country", Nadir added.

He said he was concerned about the sluggish performance of the manufacturing sector in Guyana.

"The Finance Minister did acknowledge forthright that manufacturing was down by 13.5 per cent and clearly indicated the areas of growth and the areas of decline...", Nadir noted.

He told members of the House that his ministry does not intend to see any industry or firm cease operations.

According to him, the manufacturing sector has to be given the same level of support as the Trinidad and Jamaica manufacturing sectors.

The minister commended People's National Congress Reform (PNC/R) Member of Parliament, Mr. Stanley Ming who provided suggestions for the use of increased use of technology to boost productivity.

Ming, in his presentation on the budget, said the infrastructural works in the country "in many cases leave a lot to be desired."

He said an institution is needed to assist in coordinating and promoting new technologies and educating the population with regards to the use and acceptance of new methods and technologies.

He stated that in many instances methods of technologies that are more than 50 years old, and in most cases are a lot more expensive, are in use, while the new technology is long lasting and less expensive.

According to him, many heads of government around the world talk about what they would like their respective countries to achieve in the next 20 years.

"We need such a plan for Guyana for the next twenty years, (to be) categorised in a five-year increment, once it is agreed upon by the various stakeholders that whichever government gets into office, that is the plan we will pursue as we strive to make our country a better place", he said.

With Guyana's few areas of comparative advantage - agro-production and processing, eco-tourism, extraction and exploration of mineral resources, forestry-related and water-based industries, Guyana can be promoted as the gateway to South America for the Caribbean and beyond, Ming noted.