Getting our citizens back to work is vital to the PPP/C Administration

Dear Editor,
The APNU/AFC Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) who argued that progress was visible over the past five years under the APNU/AFC Administration, during the 2020 budget debate, should be ashamed of themselves. And to say that budget 2020 was designed to benefit the Private Sector is nonsense.
As Guyanese examine this budget in its entirety, they would realise that this budget would provide employment for all Guyanese. In creating this budget, we must all agree that our Government under Dr Irfaan Ali has recognised that while our economy grew in the oil and gas sector, every other sector fell or dropped straight down at high speed. Those were the sectors that had created and generated jobs for Guyanese. However, the coronavirus (COVID-19) came into play, and resulted in more persons losing their jobs.
The APNU/AFC Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) failed to remember that it was under their watch that 30,000 Guyanese lost their jobs in their five years of Government. So when our Vice President, Dr Jagdeo, and his budget team created the 2020 budget, the key thing on their minds was to give stimulus to areas, to ensure that Guyana resume activities in mining, accommodations, forestry, agriculture and fishery in an effort to get Guyanese employed again.
What is also key here is that this 2020 budget would allow the 7000 sugar workers who lost their jobs under the APNU-AFC Administration to return to work by Christmas of 2020, which must bring smiles on their faces and their families’ faces.
Getting our citizens back to work is vital to the PPP/C Administration, our country’s stability, and the wellbeing of our nation.
We all see why the APNU/AFC Government failed this country, and are now sitting in the Opposition: they are saying that the 2020 budget was crafted for the Private Sector, without understanding why the Private Sector needs stimulating.
Guyanese, put it how you want to, the Private Sector of our economy creates jobs for us, and it is not sincere of the APNU-AFC opposition to pretend that they know something when they really do not.
The budget made provision for our pensioners, increasing their pensions. Vat was removed on water and electricity, and there were many incentives that were put in place. The removal of corporate tax on health and education, the removal of vat on medical supplies, the $15,000 cash grant for students, and the doubling of school uniform allowance are incentives which every parent in Guyana would be happy about, because they simply put money back into their pockets. Every cent in this budget benefits all Guyanese, regardless of whom they voted for in 2020.
Taxes were removed from machinery and equipment. Can you imagine that under the APNU-AFC Administration, when you bought a bulldozer, you had to pay over $5 million in taxes? Under the PPP/C Administration, you will pay zero dollars. Here is an opportunity to put our small miners and farmers back to work.
What is amazing here is that the budget is $330 billion dollars, and a large part of it has already been spent by the previous APNU-AFC Coalition Government, who should be ashamed to debate this budget in Parliament. Contrary to what they are saying, our Government made a rapid assessment of all agencies to determine what kind of Government we inherited.
It is shocking to know that in the area of energy, GPL had $1.9 billion in the bank, but that would have covered their expenses only until October of 2020, adding fuel to the fire. The APNU/AFC Administration owes CPL $13.1 billion, which is now inherited by our new Government.
Budget 2020 marks our country’s first step on the journey to reverse the policies that plagued our nation over the last five years under the previous APNU-AFC Administration. Guyana had gone through very difficult times during the APNU-AFC Government. That struggle had many dimensions, all of which had consequences for this country as a whole, and for every individual Guyanese in his or her own way. It was a struggle that defended our democracy and the right of every Guyanese to elect a Government of their choice in free and fair elections. It was a struggle to hold APNU-AFC Government officers accountable, particularly those in executive positions. It was a struggle that demanded transparency. Today, I am proud to say that, under the People’s Progressive Party Civic, the people of Guyana will enjoy a better life, and the 2020 budget is just the beginning.

Sincerely,
David Adams