Businessman warns politicians against ‘confrontational politics’

Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) President Clinton Urling has criticised Guyana’s opposition politicians for their confrontational logic, which he said, can hamper the growth of the economy and prevent local and international investment crucial to the country’s development.
Urling said Guyana is a country on the move with a strong economy which has recorded six years of consecutive growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The chamber’s own internal survey released about two weeks ago indicated that the country is performing very well. He stressed that government and private sector investment are at unprecedented levels in all sectors of the economy, but it is by no means perfect.
The GCCI president said it is also important to maintain a stable economic environment, giving the private sector a reason to continue investing and expanding operations.
However, Urling noted that the environment is under threat by the posturing of politicians and policy makers, who seem unable to reach consensus.
He suggests that politicians move from a logic of confrontation to one of dialogue, achieving results in the best interest of the country.
“As leaders of business, industry, policy and government, we must join together to explore the current and the future that we may seize the opportunity and be better able to cope with problems we have in common. We have a responsibility to Guyana’s future development; we cannot sit by and wait for policymakers to make decisions that can affect our lives and that of our country.”
The GCCI president said contrary to popular belief, politics is not the only way to effect change in society. Urling also urged the business community to be more proactive and integrate a mindset of service and volunteerism into their daily activities.
Meanwhile, in an effort to ensure that the chamber is more accessible by the local business community, the chamber’s council announced it approved changes to its membership structure, allowing for a new category of membership that targets micro and small businesses.
The GCCI disclosed that it will now accept membership applications from small- and medium- scale businesses. The council voted unanimously on June 29, to accept membership applications from registered businesses with one to five employees, and an annual turnover not greater than Gy$ 3 million.
Urling said his operation falls within the category of small- and medium-sized enterprises.
“I’m proud of the steps being taken by the chamber to target this important segment of the business community. I can assure you that the chamber will roll out many services for SME under my tenure.”
Urling stated that the new development is in keeping with the chamber’s strategic priority of being a more inclusive organisation, and representing the interests of all types of businesses in Guyana. He added that the chamber intends to offer services which cater to the small business community in Guyana.