Help promote better Guyana image abroad - Da Silva implores opposition By Miranda La Rose Stabroek News April 8, 2000 Government Minister Geoffrey Da Silva asked the opposition to help promote a positive image of Guyana to encourage investors and tourists during the budget debate on Thursday. The Minister for Trade, Tourism and Industry lamented the poor image of Guyana abroad. He refuted the myths that this was an expensive place, there was little to see and the country was a crime zone. He noted that only in December of last year there were some 16,000 arrivals at the airport and most of those were returning Guyanese - a target group that needs to be encouraged to visit the many resorts and see the "flora and fauna". $44M will be spent on the tourist industry this year, he revealed. Da Silva's hour-long speech was in reply to PNC MP's Dunstan Barrow's hour-long speech. Barrow inevitably painted a gloomy picture of the economy. He had picked through the budget figures carefully and concluded that though rice and sugar production were up world prices were dropping and the future looked bleak. No matter how much we struggled to increase production or prayed we were beholden to the fortunes of fickle world markets, said Barrow. He questioned why the state entity GUYSUCO was rushing headlong into a US$200M expansion drive and demanded the plans be laid before parliament for consideration. The downward spiral in bauxite exports (-13%) was only mitigated by the Aroaima Bauxite Company's (ABC) performance. Barrow said the government was whining about no dividends coming from ABC when government sat on the board and knew all the plans for the company. "Do you homework and shut up!" was his fatherly advice. Same thing with Linmine and Bermine; Sell the things and stop talking about how you are on the verge of or about to, he advised. Barrow wondered what kind of muddled politics the government was practising "socialism mixed up with capitalism" or something else. This brought cries from across the floor as to "what are you?" Barrow bluntly stated "capitalist". A momentary silence followed as if he had said something rude. Meanwhile, Da Silva was holding up Cuba as a good example of a country that is diversifying but "isn't going to move away from sugar". He said trade facilitation offices were to be set up in Brooklyn, Queens and Toronto (otherwise known as regions 11, 12 and 13 ) this year and "we are looking at London". But his speech reverted to one long "to do" list; Value Added Tax "we're looking at that"; the Development bank "things have ...developed quite a way"; copyright legislation "about to be done" Guyana/Brazil road "looking at that"; US$30M work on the airports "Big project, big." "We're discussing information technology... actually, seriously. " He said there will be a publication coming out soon to help consumers know the standards for electrical and other products. Da Silva said the government would not give up on the national flag carrier GA 2000, "despite it facing difficulties... we will not abandon it. " The Leader of the Opposition Desmond Hoyte appeared uninterested by all this, until Da Silva refuted charges there was favouritism in the tender process and only one particular group was getting contracts. With opposition fingers pointing Da Silva cried "I dispute it! I dispute it!, I dispute it!" and proceeded to read a list of christian sounding names to prove his point " Benn, Harris, Frances...." The PNC urged him to "read the other list!" Barrow, the capitalist said the government should sell off a portion of its remaining 20% in GT&T to T Boone Pickens or some other corporate raider, end GT&T's monopoly and immediately open up the cellular phone sector. He lambasted the government's meddling in GUYOIL accusing it of pressuring the company into allowing one customer to have a hold over bill of $30M and making them sell lubricants below cost. "You deh worse than the PNC", the PNC member shouted. (William Walker)