A/HRC/10/11/Add.2 page 14 Many consider that economic policies have been formulated to benefit the Indian population at the expense of Afro-Guyanese jobs and income. Union representatives noted a trend of State support for Indian-dominated industries such as the sugar industry, while allowing the predominantly Afro-Guyanese bauxite mining industry to decline and be privatized resulting in the loss of thousands of Afro-Guyanese jobs. One union representative described a “policy to economically destroy the African people”. Another commentator stated: “Now all the public entities are being privatized, such as banks. They are going to PPP people and supporters with ‘sweetheart deals’. Previously they were owned by the people. By and large they don’t employ Afro-Guyanese now.” 37. Afro-Guyanese expressed frustration at being unable to obtain employment in Indian owned or managed firms due to their African names, their colour, or their addresses in Afro-Guyanese villages. Those with Indian surnames might be invited for interview but rejected when they are seen to be African or of mixed heritage. Discrimination is said to be manifested in negative stereotyping of Afro-Guyanese as lazy, dishonest, dirty or criminal. Afro-Guyanese experience difficulty accessing bank loans and credit, due to perceptions that they do not repay loans. Without access to credit they are unable to establish small businesses. 38. The scarcity of employment opportunities for women, particularly from Afro-Guyanese and indigenous communities, is a major concern. Women, both young and older, are being forced by poverty into crime, drug use, trafficking, and prostitution. Afro-Guyanese women spoke of the failure of many men within their community to fulfil family responsibilities. High numbers of single mothers subsequently face an extremely heavy burden of care. Child neglect is a problem within Afro-Guyanese communities. 39. Serious allegations were raised of discrimination and corruption in government procurement of goods, services and public works contracts. There is a widely held belief that government contracts are systematically awarded to companies supporting the Government, Indo-Guyanese companies, and those in which government officials have personal interests.17 In lieu of a functioning and independent public procurement commission, the tender process is the sole responsibility of the Ministry of Finance. Sources indicated to the independent expert that it lacks adequate regulation, accountability and transparency, leaving it open to substantial abuse. 40. A Public Procurement Bill was passed in 2003 establishing a National Procurement and Tender Administration Board and with a view to creating a public procurement commission, as provided in the Constitution. This commission should monitor public procurements and procedures to ensure that the procurement of goods and services and the execution of works (projects) are fair, transparent, competitive and cost-effective. A stakeholder process initiated by the President on 12 March 2008 had additionally agreed that the delayed commission should be expedited within 90 days. To date, no progress has been made resulting in allegations by opposition that the Government is actively delaying the process. 17 Transparency International’s 2008 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) ranked Guyana 126 out of 180 countries surveyed, assigning the country a score of 2.6 (with 10 being least corrupt and 1 being most corrupt).