Page 24 - GMSA 2017 AR Print for flip1

GOVERNANCE & ADVOCACY
protection, quality products and a level playing field. It to increases in prices and reducing cash flow in some
also urged Government to expedite the national quality instances.
infrastructure (laboratory facilities) while enacting anti-
dumping legislation that triggers early action when goods They were also seen as necessary because of the growing
are dumped into a jurisdiction. concern with regard to non-performing loans which
increased from the corresponding period in 2015, for the
Additionally, the Association called for an improvement in manufacturing sector and services sector by 17 percent and
overall security arrangements especially police response 23.3 percent respectively.
and 911 system and the provision of tax incentives for
businesses investing in security with security-related The GMSA was duty-bound to make the recommendations
expenses being tax deductible (eg, cost required to set too after it had taken note of instances where Guyanese
up and maintain security equipment and infrastructure). manufacturers of quarry materials, pharmaceuticals and
Pointing out the importance of a Green Economy, the GMSA agro-produce have been replaced by imports sourced
asked Government to undertake, with the private sector, a in public procurement. Such measures, coupled with
programme of greening of businesses (GMSA already did a decreasing domestic demand and imported substitutes
joint exercise with the EPA early in 2016). (in the case of the wood processing sector in particular)
have been unhelpful to value adding and encouraging the
A number of these recommendations have been included manufacturing sector.
in Budget 2017 and, therefore, the GMSA’s presentation
achieved its overall objectives, especially in the area of The GMSA also used the budget discussion to welcome
taxation and incentives. Government’s intention to move the country from being
a primary producer to one where we can add value across
These recommendations were made against the challenges the productive sectors – whether agriculture, forestry, or
presented by tax measures introduced in Budget 2016 such mining.
as VAT on electricity and on forest products which have
impacted negatively on the manufacturing sector, leading

22