Beyond surface-level growth – Pres Ali says PPP/C building self-sustaining, resilient Guyana

President Dr Irfaan Ali has reaffirmed that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government is strategically positioning Guyana to withstand mounting international pressures and global economic uncertainties through long-term planning, institutional strengthening, and aggressive investments in national development. Speaking to a large gathering of supporters in Enterprise, East Coast Demerara (ECD), President Ali emphasised that the PPP/C’s developmental agenda goes far beyond surface-level growth, highlighting that his administration is strategically re-engineering the country to be self-sustaining and shock-proof in the face of rising international tensions, food and energy insecurity, climate crises, and economic volatility.

President Ali took the opportunity to contrast the present momentum with the economic paralysis he said the PPP/C inherited just five years ago, following what he described as the “disastrous” rule of the former A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Coalition.
“The international pressure of rising energy costs, the international pressure of rising transportation costs, the international pressure of the consequences of wars and conflict, the international pressure on the healthcare system, the international pressure on the education system, we are building a country in which we will address all of these issues so that we can self-sustain ourselves, so that we can produce not only our own food but that we can produce the food for this region, so that we can invest in infrastructure and transportation to reduce the cost of movement of goods and services,” Ali told thousands of supporters.
“Those are the things that are critically integrated in the economy that we are building. My friends, my comrades, the future that we talk about is one that is exciting and how easy is it to forget that just five years ago when we assumed office, we came into an economy that was paralysed, one in which no investor was looking at, one in which the APNU/AFC would have destroyed our credibility. No one wants to invest in an undemocratic society. No one wants to invest in a society where there is political instability but they did not care. They did not care that they were destroying our country with their actions,” the Guyanese leader said.
The Head of State recalled that under the previous administration, households were defaulting on mortgage payments, non-performing bank loans soared, and economic fear gripped communities. Contrary to this, the Head of State noted that today Guyana stands transformed as the fastest growing economy in the world, ranked among the top 10 global destinations for mining and energy and the leading nation for foreign direct investment per capita, among others.
Against this backdrop, President Ali encouraged Guyanese to ensure the country continues along the trajectory of growth and economic development
President Ali urged voters to entrust his administration with the responsibility to work toward a better future for Guyana in the upcoming September 1st election. He called on the people to “honour us with a responsibility to work for a better Guyana, a more progressive Guyana, for a stronger Guyana, a wealthier Guyana, a healthier Guyana, a more educated Guyana, a more united Guyana.”

Ali emphasised his vision of building a nation that stands as a source of pride not only for South America but also for the Caribbean and the entire Western Hemisphere. He spoke of a Guyana marked by equity, unity and prosperity, where everyone has access to essential services with dignity and respect.
He highlighted the importance of safety and opportunity, particularly for families and women, saying he wants a society “in which young women can grow and fulfill their aspirations in a safe and secure society, in which our families can walk on the road in safety, honour and dignity.” This, he said, is the future his Government aims to deliver.

Sweeping array
Turning his focus to local development, President Ali outlined a sweeping array of ongoing and upcoming projects that will directly benefit Enterprise and surrounding areas. These include the construction of concrete drains, full road reconstruction, and 100 per cent street lighting coverage, mobile police outposts, CCTV cameras in every village and street for improved safety, upgraded health facilities, nutritious school meals and transportation support for students and pensioners and a $200 million feed mill for livestock farmers to stabilise input costs.
Ali stressed that these initiatives are part of a deliberate effort to raise living standards, foster economic inclusion, and unlock prosperity for every household.
“Our investment is about jobs, supporting every single small and medium-sized enterprise so that you can have access to capital, you can have financing at zero per cent interest, you can have the technical support for your businesses, supporting our women in our society to be part of the agriculture transformation, supporting our livestock farmers because we know the difficulties you’re having with all the development”.
“Let me tell you, we’re going to invest $200 million dollars on the east coast in a feed mill so that we will provide the feed for our livestock farmers and they will be able to carry on their livestock industry without any problem,” the President announced.