That retreat with the business community
Editorial
BUSINESS leaders were out in force at the swearing-in earlier this month of President Bharrat Jagdeo and he had a special message for them on that occasion. "I hope to introduce a more comfortable environment for our people and foreigners to invest in the development of the country. "I intend to do so with the full partnership of the major players in the society - the private sector, the labour movement and civic society", Mr. Jagdeo pledged in his first public address as President. The leaders of labour, civic society and business at the State House ceremony welcomed the promise yielded by the new President, looking forward with enthusiasm to dealing with him on the problems they face and will face. "To consolidate our collective efforts into a great national project aimed at modernising our society will take tremendous effort. "The essence of such a venture requires me to embrace all sections of the society", the President recognised. He has started meeting leaders of opposition parties as promised and has announced a special retreat with the business community within a month "to consult with them on some of my proposals to address" the issue of job creation and investment. Investment is critical to job creation, President Jagdeo acknowledged and he also plans to meet labour leaders on the matter. In line with these steps, strong foreign policy initiatives are proposed to bring trade and economic benefits to the country, the President said in his first broadcast to the nation Sunday night. There are growing signals that the major players in society are prepared to seize the fresh opportunities offered by the change in the presidency of the country. Business people have not failed to recognise that they will be dealing with a head of state with whom they have been negotiating for several years as Finance Minister and they would be more comfortable with someone who is more closely familiar with their concerns. In a real sense, he speaks their language and the promised retreat within a month is full of promise. The President plans to take his proposals to the retreat and we suppose the business sector would be advancing their plans at the forum. The important thing is that the retreat has been put on the table and the business community should take every advantage of this reaching out in the interest of the nation. The ultimate goal, as the President said at his swearing-in, is "human development and in all our economic programmes this must manifest itself." The retreat offers an excellent opportunity for further fine-tuning of the way forward.
|