Guyana has made significant progress

Dear Editor,
It can be said that Guyana and its citizens have ended the year with a positive outlook for future developmental projects throughout the ten regions and the numerous villages and districts within the country.
Such massive developmental projects include construction of new roads, bridges, schools and, most importantly, installation of new and larger pump stations which are meant to prevent or reduce flooding of cash crops, rice lands and properties.
These massive developments could not have been achieved without the skillful, stout, brave and ingenious leadership of President Dr. Ali, which is second to none in Guyana, the Caribbean, Latin America, and elsewhere.
In his New Year’s message to the nation, His Excellency Dr Irfaan Ali has not only acknowledged the success of these developmental projects, but has also outlined his administration’s plan to invest billions of dollars in 2025 in the construction of houses, roads and bridges, not to mention in human development.
Against this backdrop, and in an impromptu visit to Region 10 (Linden), President Dr. Ali reiterated that since he took office in 2020, his administration has invested almost $6 billion in housing in the various communities in Linden, and he promised that such large-scale investments would continue in Region 10 in 2025 and beyond.
President Ali told Linden residents that, during the last four and a half years, a whopping $96 billion was expended to enhance and modernise the region’s infrastructure, which includes the Linden-to-Mabura Road and the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, among others.
It is true that President Dr. Ali’s Administration has invested more in the Linden communities than any other administration in the history of Guyana.
Guyana’s Head of State, Dr. Ali, highlighted several transformational projects and initiatives that are expected to be completed in 2025. Among them are the Gas-to-Energy project; the new Demerara River Bridge; six new regional hospitals and two state-of-the-art nursing schools; a new, ultramodern bridge across the Berbice River; the Wismar Bridge; widening of the Corentyne Highway; and the building of the Corentyne River Bridge between Guyana and Suriname, which is a joint venture between the two countries.
These ongoing projects would boost the country’s development, improve its image and the lives of its people, and move its status from Third World (Global South) to First World (Global North).
More pointedly, President Dr. Ali, in his new year’s message, promised more opportunities and a more unified and inclusive Guyanese society, which forms the basis of his “One Guyana” Initiative. The President noted that one such prospect is democratic renewal through free and fair elections, and that each citizen has the power to shape the future of Guyana’s democracy in 2025.
According to the President, democracy is the foundation for a just, impartial and inclusive society, and it must be protected by all, regardless of political persuasion, ethnicity, or religious beliefs. He did not mince words when he candidly and explicitly called on all leaders: political, religious and social, to be true to themselves and embrace and affirm their commitment to free and fair elections and a vibrant democratic process, to show the world that Guyana’s democracy is not only resilient, but also durable and eternal.
Despite the high cost of living during the last two years, Guyana has made remarkable progress under the outstanding, judicious and clever leadership of President Dr Irfaan Ali, Prime Minister Brigadier Mark Phillips, and Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, who did not yield to the enormous pressures both from within and without of the country. Simply put, they stood their ground.

Sincerely,
Dr Asquith Rose