Ashni Singh dismisses WIN’s manifesto as ‘woefully short on originality; full of copied ideas’

Dr. Ashni Singh, Guyana’s Finance Minister, has dismissed the manifesto released by the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party as one that is completely lacking in originality, describing it as “short on originality, and full of plagiarized, copied and recycled ideas”.

“Predictably, it was striking for its complete lack of originality and the extent to which it either plagiarised or recycled initiatives that the PPP/C is already implementing or has long committed to implement in the public domain,” Dr. Singh told the News Room on Thursday night.

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Dr. Singh pointed out several examples from the manifesto, which he said the PPP has been executing already or explicitly committed to in their recent manifesto consultation that drew a large crowd at the Princess Hotel on the East Bank of Demerara.

For example, the Finance Minister said, the PPP has already publicly promised a new development bank which will finance small and medium-sized enterprises using state funds. WIN, he pointed out, says it will establish a similar bank for these enterprises, providing loans with flexible terms and offering startup capital, seed funding, and microloans.

He also pointed out WIN’s plan to establish business incubators, which will offer free training, brand development, and mentorship to entrepreneurs and SMEs. However, Dr. Singh said the PPP has already been doing this and plans to expand such ventures once re-elected.

WIN’s plans to amend the 2021 Local Content Act so that other sectors are catered for, Dr. Singh said, have also been committed to the PPP.

But it’s not only about business development. Dr. Singh said the promises from housing expansion ventures to increased cash incentives have been made and delivered on by the PPP since taking office in 2020 and will continue in the years ahead.

Dr. Singh also pointed out that it was only on Saturday, while in Moruca, that President Ali said the cost of hinterland travel will be reduced as the PPP will remove taxes on ATVs and boat engines. These were also promises unveiled on Thursday by the WIN party.

“So this manifesto is, unsurprisingly, a huge disappointment that is woefully short on originality and recycles ideas from much that the PPP has already said publicly,” Dr. Singh contended.

WIN launched its manifesto on Thursday at the party’s head office in Providence, East Bank Demerara.