| By Kiana Wilburg The new government seems determined to rejuvenate the “seemingly lethargic” Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest), as Minister of State Joseph Harmon disclosed yesterday that Cabinet has granted the permission for the appointment of a new board for the entity.Harmon made this statement at government’s first post-Cabinet briefing at the Ministry of the Presidency.GO-Invest is a government agency which provides advice and concessions, when necessary, to investors who are looking for the best way to start a business in Guyana. It also enables entrepreneurs from around the globe to tap into the wealth of trade and investment opportunities available in the country.Harmon told members of the media that the life of the GO-Invest board came to an end in 2014 and the company is now operating without one.Keith BurrowesHe said that given this situation,Wholesale China Jerseys, Business Minster Dominic Gaskin made an application for an interim board to be appointed for the purpose of guiding and directing policies for the agency over the next six months until a permanent board is appointed.Harmon said that Cabinet subsequently gave its approval for the interim board to be appointed. He said that it will comprise persons from the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Private Sector Commission, the Ministry of Tourism,Wholesale NFL Jerseys, the Ministry of Business, and individuals in the Diaspora.Gaskin was also approved by Cabinet to appoint persons to the board as he sees fit and based on the realities of Guyana.The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Office for Investment is Keith Burrowes.Earlier this week, Burrowes had called the media indicating that he is going to step down from the agency, saying that he has had it with the unwarranted criticisms from some quarters. Burrowes then made an about turn, choosing instead to put his decision to leave the agency on pause.But considering the new board to be appointed, his future at the company is now shrouded in uncertainty.In an interview with this newspaper on Sunday last,Boston Red Sox Jerseys, he had said that his decision to hit the road was made primarily on comments circulating in the media that he is perceived as a “political appointee of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP).”Business Minister Gaskin is also reported as saying that there is the perception of crucial problems plaguing the entity and he is determined to rectify these, even if it means reshuffling senior management.Burrowes had said that he agrees with the Minister’s comments and as such, would “do the good thing by stepping down.”“I am happy that the new government has taken this position that there will also be no more political interference and political appointments in GO-Invest. But I would like to say that we are an organization that carries out its work regarding promoting investments in Guyana. We do our work.”But Burrowes took offence to some of the statements made recently by some members of the PSC during a recent meeting with President David Granger.“I keep hearing them (PSC members) say how they want to see GO-Invest revamped, but I have some questions for them. Why they never prepared a list of suggestions to give to the government as to how the agency can be developed instead of merely casting stones? These statements uttered by the so-called PSC come from a few recycled persons or all their members?” said Burrowes.Burrowes also held a position as a Board Member of the cash-strapped Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo). But due to years of poor management, he,NFL Jerseys Outlet, among others,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, was forced to tender his resignation.While he sat at the helm of the investment company,Wholesale NFL Jerseys Online, he was also accused of failing to keep proper documents on the number of concessions the entity was able to facilitate. There have also been several cases where major investments were steered away from the agency due to political interference.In a previous interview with Kaieteur News, Burrowes said that the company was kept in the dark in relation to many foreign investments in Guyana.Mr Harmon had spoken to the issue of political interference when his party was in opposition.He had said, “We are aware that in the past there were instances where Ministers tried to interfere by giving directions of a political nature to businesses seeking to invest in Guyana.”“This needs to change, because it will not foster a healthy environment for which investors need to feel safe. We hope that the support for institutional strengthening of the agency will follow the appointment of Mr. Burrowes as he seeks to energize GO-Invest, so that it becomes what it was intended to be— a one-stop shop for investors in Guyana.”Minister Gaskin expressed that he had conducted some preliminary discussions with Burrowes recently and he is hoping to make moves to strengthening the entity. He said that he wants to bring an end to the political interference which took place under the previous administration.Gaskin said that he has a number of plans in store for the agency but is intent on regularizing the manner in which business is done in Guyana, and ensuring that investment opportunities are available to all and benefits granted as the law so allows. |
