Guyana’s high unemployment rate was a hot topic at the Annual General Meeting of the Georgetown Chambers of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) on Thursday and Minister of State Joseph Harmon reminded that it is the private sector that has the power to employ the masses.
Harmon, who delivered the feature address at the GCCI’s Annual General Meeting, urged the private sectors to choose business models that would allow them to employ more locals.
“I am calling on you, as a representative of Government, in the models of business which you choose to remember that we have a high unemployment rate in this country,” Harmon said.
Government’s recent Labour Force Survey revealed that the country’s unemployment rate is pegged at 12% corresponding to 37,119 persons. The youth unemployment rate is almost twice of the total working population at 21.6%.
Harmon noted that it is the role of the Government to create a business-friendly climate and therefore it is the role of the private sector to provide jobs.
“It is the private sector, it is the GCCI that will drive this economy, the government has set the structure and framework within which businesses will flourish, it is the businesses that will generate employment,” the State Minister said.
Meanwhile, GCCI President, Deodat Indar said the group has continued to distinguish itself over the past year and is committed to continuing these fruitful relations with the Government and other stakeholders.
“The GCCI’s relationship with our partners continue to grow. Locally, the Chamber continues to meet with Government agencies, which are key to unlocking a more conducive business climate…
“Our Chamber has also been able to establish dialogue committees with critical stakeholders for the private sector, including the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated. Regionally, the GCCI continues its strong relationship with the Caribbean Development Bank, executing the first project of its grant funding, which targets improving capacity for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in Guyana. More projects are expected to roll out in 2018,” Indar was quoted as saying by the Ministry of the Presidency.
GCCI Senior Vice President and Chairperson of the meeting, Nicholas Boyer, said that the members of the Chamber remain committed to working with the Government.
“We, at the Chamber, look forward to these continued partnerships with the Government so that dialogue can be had and we can promote the interest of both the Government and businesses in their search of developing the country,” the Ministry of the Presidency quoted him as saying.
The over 200-plus member strong GCCI is one of the oldest and largest business support organisations in Guyana. The Chamber boasts a diverse membership, which is valuable in helping it to execute its mandate to advocate for policies aimed at stimulating, and increasing, trade and investment in Guyana.
Minister of Business, Mr. Dominic Gaskin and members of the diplomatic corps also attended the meeting.
See other related stories: https://newsroom.gy/2018/03/16/employment-rate-below-50-guyana-labour-force-survey/
https://newsroom.gy/2017/10/10/be-your-own-boss-jordan-pitches-as-solution-to-unemployment/
