Yesu Persaud has never been seriously innovative - People’s Progressive Party
photo caption: President Bharrat Jagdeo witnesses in disgust the signing of the MoU on the National Competitiveness Strategy by Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon on Government’s behalf and Chairman of the PSC Yesu Persaud on behalf of the Private Sector. (Office of the President photo by Sandra Prince) photo stolen from Government mis.Information News Agency
Completely aghast is what came to mind when a substantial and leading personality chose to cross swords with the authorities on a matter of serious government policy and in the process created high focus, which the paper print media seized, to highlight what was being described as a controversy.
The ensuing public pronouncements were closely followed by most citizens, but more particularly the business community and quite possibly potential investors, both locally and abroad.
What a pity the entire hullabaloo was initiated by the well respected, leading businessman, Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) Chairman, Mr Yesu Persaud. With the most sympathetic mind in the world, it is thought that something unknown went wrong and prompted such a mindless exhortation by this amiable successful business executive. More especially when one considers how often favourable consideration have always been afforded Mr Persaud and his entities, which he headed. Indeed, President Jagdeo in his open criticism of Mr Persaud alluded to previous tax relief granted to one of several businesses headed by him (Persaud), including medical transcription services, and therefore he should have been more cautious in exhorting that incentives and conditionalities and privileges should be extended to others, not only Queens Atlantic Investments (QAI), inferring quite sadly preferential and privileged treatment being extended to QAI; really a terrible faux pas on the part of Yesu Persaud.
The reaction from the Head of State was in the particular circumstances quite appropriate and reasonable. There will be times when various situations combine to produce unexpected reaction, which in the initial suddenness, will create unfavourable reception and this regrettable spat may very well be just such an occurrence.
But a brief examination of the relationship with this administration will disclose that there were always more than satisfactory conclusions to proposals from Persaud and it is not the purpose of this editorial to disclose matters that should remain in the realm of good practice between negotiating parties. It is, however, not too sensitive to say that within very recent times, Demerara Bank has been favoured with an attractive resolution on the question of siting the expansion of operations. It is a real wonder to think why Mr Persaud should seek to go out of his way to embarrass this administration. It is not out of place to observe that over the long years of operating in the business sector, Persaud cannot claim to have been seriously innovative apart from his very successful bottling of spirituous products.
It is no pleasure to us to continue with this unpleasant incident, but in the effort of satisfying equity, it was felt that some perspectives needed to be placed on record, inasmuch as the whole issue was spawned by voluntary attempts to embarrass the government.
The People’s Paper - Weekend Mirror - 14-15 June, 2008
Tags: bharrat jagdeo, guyana, yesu persaud
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