GUYANA | Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton meets with IMF in Washington DC

WASHINGTON DC,  Sept 29, 2023 - PNCR Leader and Leader of the Opposition Aubrey C. Norton, MP, On Tuesday, 26th September, met in Washington, DC, with Guyana’s  IMF team to outline his party's people-centered national development vision. 

 He was accompanied by his Economic Advisor Elson Low. AFC MP David Patterson was due to attend the meeting, but was unlawfully prevented from leaving Guyana by the PPP regime. 

The IMF team was led by economist and Guyana Mission Head, Alina Carare, and also included IMF staff Reshma Mahabir and Diego Calderon.

Norton in  outlining his party's people-centered national development vision emphasized a number of  principles necessary for the advancement of the country’s forward movement. 

 (i) He emphasized that human capital development is just as important as infrastructure development and the next Coalition government will ensure Guyanese benefit from world-class social programs and education and training opportunities;

(ii) That his party sees the need for a  comprehensive and structured social safety net based on international best practice aimed at eliminating poverty and economic insecurity, and at ensuring a good quality of life for all citizens;

(iii) That good governance is vital for economic development, and when in office his government will work closely with the IMF to improve the quality of governance in Guyana, in stark contrast to the current government’s insistence on secrecy and  lack of accountability;

(iv) That the oil and gas sector must be governed with these principles of transparency and accountability to ensure Guyanese receive what they are rightfully due, and this obligation is currently in question given the serious concerns about accountability raised in Guyana’s first cost-oil audit.

Mr. Norton also pointed out that the government’s reluctance to publish surveys such as the Guyana Labor Force Survey and National Census prevents an accurate assessment of the economic conditions in Guyana. 

The persistent high cost of living was also discussed. The IMF team expressed deep interest and sought clarifications on a few issues.

The Opposition recommitted to swift poverty eradication (based on a guaranteed livable income for households) and a nationwide economic diversification strategy. Mr. Norton handed over a brief to the IMF that provided more details on his party’s analysis and solutions.

The meeting was productive and provided the opportunity for the Opposition to present a different vision for Guyana's development, in sharp contrast to the PPP's unplanned, wasteful, discriminatory and corrupt efforts.

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