2025-2030 PPP/C agenda “not up for renegotiation” – VP Jagdeo

– Says manifesto was established by “the people of this country”

Vice President (VP) Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has made it clear that the governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic’s (PPP/C) 2025–2030 development agenda is not open for renegotiation, declaring that the party’s policies and programmes are based on the mandate given by the Guyanese people, not the approval of civil society.

Speaking at his most recent press conference, the VP said the PPP/C Government remains firmly focused on fulfilling the promises it made during the last elections and will not allow “self-appointed critics” to redefine its priorities. “The agenda that we campaigned on is not subjected to further approval of any civil society group or news media,” Jagdeo stated. “We don’t take our mandate from civil society or [media] or someone else who wants the Government to seek their approval for every initiative we pursue. That mandate came from the people of Guyana.” Jagdeo stressed that the PPP/C’s current five-year development plan—covering the period 2025 to 2030—was designed through national consultations and ratified through the ballot box. As such, he said, the Government’s responsibility is to implement the agenda transparently and efficiently, not to re-debate it. “Whilst we have to subject ourselves to the laws of the country—the financial and fiscal laws—and ensure that projects go through Parliament transparently, the agenda itself is not up for negotiation,” he added. “That agenda was established by the people of this country.”
Core pillars
The VP outlined the core pillars of the PPP/C’s agenda, highlighting ongoing and future investments in education, healthcare, housing, job creation, and regional development. Among the Government’s main priorities, he said, are improving education and healthcare access, providing greater support for pensioners, single parents, and persons with disabilities, and ensuring that every Guyanese family has the opportunity to own a home. “We are focused on fixing up our communities, creating safer, cleaner environments, and ensuring more security for our people,” Jagdeo said. “Our goal is to create better-paying jobs and expand economic activity in all 10 administrative regions.” Jagdeo noted that while the country’s rapid growth—driven by the oil and gas industry—has been concentrated in Region Four, the Government is committed to spreading opportunities to hinterland and rural regions through fiscal incentives, infrastructure expansion, and targeted investment support. “We’ve had a huge spurt of growth in Region Four, but we still have nine other regions that must benefit,” he explained. “The goal is to make it easier for people who live in those communities to access jobs and better-paying jobs. That is what inclusive development looks like—and that agenda is not negotiable.”
Themed “One Country, One People, One Future Forward Together for a Better Guyana”, the PPP/C manifesto was unveiled to hundreds of supporters back in August this year. Among its agenda are the continuation of its housing policy, with 40,000 new homes over the next five years; continuing its major infrastructure upgrades; aviation school, deep-water port, and rail link; and 100 new schools.
Additionally, to ensure that the Guyanese people have more disposable income and that cost-of-living pressures are cushioned, over the next five years, the PPP/C will maintain its policy of no new taxes throughout all the budgets that it will present during its new term of office. Already its Safe Road, safe city, and safe country agenda has seen President Dr Irfaan Ali revealing plans for a major mapping initiative of the drainage, housing stock and recreational facilities across the capital city. He recently announced plans to create a Geographic Information System (GIS) of the entire drainage system across Georgetown. A GIS is a computer system that analyses and displays geographically referenced information.
“I’ve already directed that a full mapping and condition survey of every drain in the city be done, placed on GIS, and after that we will launch a massive drainage programme across every street, every alley, every single area in Georgetown,” the Guyanese leader stated. Similarly, the Head of State detailed plans for the mapping of all the capital city’s housing stock and recreational facilities. “I’ve asked for a full mapping of all the housing stock in Georgetown so that we can develop a sustainable urban housing plan that would ensure the housing stock issue in the city is dealt with. I’ve also asked for a mapping of every recreational facility and a condition survey so that we can invest in recreation to bring a quality of life in the city that leads to wellness,” he added.