Equal opportunities for all Guyanese – Pres Ali at Rose Hall meeting

…as engineering school slated for Berbice

There will be equal opportunities in Guyana. This assurance has been given by President Dr Irfaan Ali. The Head of State committed that during the next term in office under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government, all Guyanese will have the same opportunities for development, regardless of their background or geographical location.

Addressing a rally hosted by the PPP/C at Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) on Wednesday, President Ali said that there was once a time when some dreams “were too big for us to contemplate”.
“Any teacher from Berbice can become a trained teacher and a trained graduate teacher. That is why today, the son of a cane harvester and the son of a doctor can have the same future. Because we are giving them the same opportunity. That is why today, a young girl from Black Bush or a young boy from New Amsterdam can dream equally. Because they know they have a government that will realise their dreams. That is why today, any young person wanting to do a law degree, wanting to do a medical degree, pharmacy, engineering, all of these things you can do it now, because we will pay for it,” President Ali pointed out.

Alluding to the fact that the Government had been providing free training at all levels, President Ali noted that more than 40,000 young Guyanese have already benefited from the Government’s Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) scholarship programme, while another 70,000 have been trained in various fields, equipping them to contribute to the national development of Guyana.
“The next generation of children will have not a single worry of paying for any level of education, and do not take that for granted. Any person here who wants to be a nurse, we will train you free of cost. We will give you a stipend while we train you. Any person wanting to be an engineer, today we cannot produce enough engineers for the pace of development that is taking place in our country,” President Ali said.
The President noted that while the education was being provided at no cost to individuals, the Government was focusing on the bigger picture.
“It is about developing a prosperous future. And it is not only about educating you… It is helping you,” he assured.
Giving an example of this, Ali pointed out that the PPP/C Government has been placing more emphasis on young persons than ever before.
“There was a time in this country when the criteria to get in a management position in the public service were that you had to be old enough, close to 60. Today, the entire middle management of the public service is all young people,” President Ali pointed out.
He said there was much in store for Berbice during the PPP/C’s next term in government.
Among these will be an engineering school to be established in Region Six.
“The School of Engineering must come to Berbice so your children can do mechanical, electrical, or any degree in engineering right here in Berbice. That is the future I am talking to you about. I am talking to you about a future of fulfilment, dignity, honour, pride, prosperity, and sustainability.”
Meanwhile, President Ali also shared some of his other future plans for the region, including the town of Rose Hall.
He said the plan was to ensure that recreational facilities were established in every community.
“We must have parks where families can go out safely and enjoy the beauty of their community and country. We must have recreational facilities in which our sportsmen and women must develop their best talent with the best facilities.”
Speaking specifically about Rose Hall Town, President Ali said there would be a proper sanitation facility to ensure proper disposal of solid waste.
On the wider spectrum, Ali, who is seeking a second term in office, pointed out that during the next five years, investments would see all Guyanese becoming homeowners.
“We want to make homeownership cheaper and more affordable by directly transferring benefits to help you improve your home and build a new home. We are going to work with the banks to further reduce interest rates so that you pay back less. We are going to reduce the taxes and give tax incentives to persons so that homeownership can be a deductible that puts back more money in your pockets and makes it easier for you to build your home.”
President Ali reminded that persons in Region Six would be enjoying the same benefits as persons in any other part of the country, as he urged persons to support him at the September 1 polls.
“You, in this region, are voting for your own medical school, your own engineering school, two bridges; one across the Berbice River and one across the Corentyne River, your own four-lane road, your own stadium, your own level five hospital. You are voting for your own housing programme. You are voting for your children to become lawyers and doctors, and engineers right here. You are voting for your small and medium-sized enterprises to see a government that will invest in you to build your businesses,” Ali said while promising a strong, stable, and secure future for all.