Kaieteur News Reports : Aubrey Norton, leader of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), has announced plans to engage Chinese authorities to ensure that businesses owned by Chinese nationals operate within the law, particularly regarding tax obligations. This statement comes amid growing concerns among Guyanese about the dominance of Chinese businesses in the local market.
Norton emphasized the importance of prioritizing Guyanese interests, stating, “We can engage Chinese authorities to make it very clear that they have to operate within the confines of the law. They have to pay the taxes, etc. We will seek to remove any advantages they may have over Guyanese in business.”
He assured that his party would take necessary actions to protect small businesses, asserting that Chinese nationals should not dominate the commercial sector where Guyanese have long had expertise. “The poor government policies of the PPP government have caused many Guyanese to go out of business and rent their places to Chinese,” he explained. “We will rectify that and ensure Guyanese have first preference in business opportunities.”
Norton reiterated that while Guyana values its relationship with China, the priority must be on benefiting the people of Guyana. “We live in an interconnected world, and while China is a significant actor, we must ensure that our citizens benefit first,” he said.
Growing Concerns Among Citizens
Concerns about the influx of Chinese businesses have been voiced by many residents. For instance, in October 2024, residents of Agricola protested against the establishment of a Chinese supermarket in their community. In response, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo acknowledged these concerns, stating that regulatory bodies need to uniformly enforce laws governing Chinese businesses.
Jagdeo noted instances where Chinese business owners bypass regulatory approvals, leading to uneven enforcement of building and operational standards. He highlighted that violations often occur without accountability, causing frustration among local business owners.
“Some Chinese entities sell everything without the necessary permissions,” Jagdeo explained, citing issues with alcohol sales and other regulations that are not uniformly enforced. He expressed the need for the Guyana Revenue Authority to pay closer attention to tax compliance, including VAT collection from these businesses.
Call for Uniform Enforcement
Both Norton and Jagdeo have stressed the importance of enforcing laws consistently to create a fair business environment. Norton concluded with a message of unity and commitment to ensuring that “Guyanese have a right to be involved in business” without being disadvantaged by foreign competitors.
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