Home News We have proven our trustworthiness to this nation – President Ali in...
As Guyana celebrates its 57th Independence anniversary, President Dr Irfaan Ali has stated that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government has proven its track record and fulfilled its promises made to the Guyanese people.
“We have proven our trustworthiness to this nation. Our track record on how you can trust us as your government and as leaders is undeniable. We are a listening government that listens, hears, analyzes, and acts on peoples’ concerns. We have fulfilled our commitment to every segment of the Guyanese population,” the Head of State said in his Independence Day message to the nation.
Among the areas, according to President Ali, that his administration has acted upon the trust instilled in it is enhancing the lives of the country’s senior citizens through the increase of the monthly old age pension to 33,000 – an overall increase of 60.97 per cent since assuming office in 2020; reinstating the light and water subsidy; and giving a One-Off Cash Grant to Old Age Pensioners in 2020 and 2021.
For 1,400 vulnerable single mothers, women, and persons who were unable to complete basic secondary education, he noted that the government has given them a chance to graduate with the SCQF ‘Level 6’ qualification of the Get Ready for Opportunities to Work (GROW) initiative.
With regards to the Amerindian people, the president said not only were they equipped with promised tractors, tools, chainsaws, and ATVs but more than 2,000 Community Service Officers (CSOs) were reinstated with jobs and received trained in outboard engine repairs, solar installation and repairs, tractor repairs and maintenance, Garment sewing and Tourism and hospitality. Additionally, Amerindians also benefited from 15 per cent of the first-ever forest carbon credit sale agreement to the tune of $4.6 billion.
In the area of education, President Ali pointed to the 14,500 GOAL scholarships that were awarded to over 13 accredited institutions across the world; the reinstitution of the cash grant and uniform allowances for children which now stands at $30,000 per child; the reinstitution of the hot meals programs in schools, and teachers being offered the chance to advance their training and qualifications.
For our farmers, the Head of State outlined that his Administration has reduced the VAT on inputs and equipment, spent one billion dollars in fertilisers, spent tens of billions of dollars on ancillary services and infrastructure including drainage and irrigation and farm-to-market roads.
Moreover, Ali further pointed out that the PPP/C reversed over 200 APNU/ AFC government-imposed taxes that stifled private sector growth.
In housing, he disclosed that some 23,056 house lots have been distributed since August 2020, while Guyanese have also benefited from the steel and cement subsidy programme that has received 1,542 applicants to date with 776 applications already approved.
The Guyanese Leader added that his government is building six new modern regional hospitals; a state of the art maternal and pediatric hospital and offering to train any person who is desirous of being a nurse or patient care giver.
“Just as you have trusted us and we have delivered, so too can you trust us in the good times and the not so good times. In the sunny days and in the cloudy days and at this tragic moment in our history you can trust us to do what is right – trust us to have the best interests of the families of these children at the centre of everything we do,” he contended.
President Ali made this remark as Guyana mourns the tragic loss of 19 lives – 18 female girls between the ages of 12 to 17, and a five-year-old boy – who were killed in a massive fire that gutted the secondary school dormitory in Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) on Sunday.
According to the Head of State, celebrating the shining stars of the nation is important now more than ever in this moment of mourning. To this end, he recognised the many athletes who brought Guyana medals at the South American Games, the Carifta Games – the national football, and national cricket teams and the students especially, all of whom he said earned Guyana glory regionally.
“I recognize those who toil every day for the health, safety, upward mobility, and edification of our people,” President Ali posited.
