Dear Editor,
The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government is committed to governing Guyana in the interest of all Guyanese as outlined in its 2020 elections manifesto.
Let me remind the APNU/AFC Opposition leaders that continue to spread propaganda across this nation that Guyana’s wealth is for all the people of Guyana, irrespective of their ethnicity.
I urge the current opposition leader and the MP Opposition in the National Assembly to work together with the PPP/C Government towards further strengthening Guyana’s democracy and building a more inclusive nation. As our Government reforms laws in the future that should work to ensure that proceeds of oil revenues benefit the entire population.
The People’s Progressive Party Government has been reiterating this fact since establishing their manifesto during the election campaign and the programmes that they have introduced and reintroduced have, since assuming office on August 2, 2020, focused on making sure Guyanese benefit not only from the oil money but from the development of our nation, the modernisation and expansion of our economic development.
All Government programmes, from the COVID-19 cash grant to the increasing of the cash care programme for children and the school uniform programme across Guyana, have benefitted all Guyanese.
Programmes, including those on poverty reduction, the opening up of housing programmes and water systems where they were not there before, the development of Amerindian areas in particular, as well as other villages that were neglected under the previous APNU/AFC Government, are being developed and at a rapid pace.
During the recent catastrophic floods in Guyana, our Government demonstrated to every Guyanese what a caring Government the PPP/C is. The Guyanese people, during the extreme flood and the difficult times they faced in the many hinterland areas and across this nation have benefited from various cash grants, while the Government has distributed thousands of hampers to communities severely affected, regardless of who voted for the PPP/C or their ethnicity.
What was important and applauded is that every person affected by the flood disaster was able to receive the support they needed to rebuild their lives in the shortest possible time.
The fact will remain the APNU/AFC coalition is guilty of discrimination against their own supporting communities when in office and now while in Opposition they continue to keep hollering about discrimination. One cannot believe this the same APNU/AFC coalition that was in Government for five years that refused to obey the rule of law.
This the same APNU/AFC coalition that had trampled on our democracy that caused Guyanese to wait five months for the declaration of the results after a series of attempts by officials at GECOM, who enjoyed the support of members of the APNU/AFC Government, failed to derail the democratic process.
This is the same APNU/AFC coalition which was responsible for holding Guyana back and continue to spread rumours and propaganda about our Government in an effort to derail economic development. These are the same people that are claiming they do not recognise the elected PPP/C Government as the legitimate Government of Guyana.
One must not forget the same APNU/AFC Government had rampantly discriminated against Guyanese when they dismissed more than 1000 Amerindian Community Service Officers and over 7000 sugar workers.
While thousands more Guyanese lost their jobs, including public servants (approximately 2000) because of either the colour of their skin or their perceived political affiliations.
Many businesses went bankrupt, many established businessmen had to throw in the towel because of the hardship of taxation they felt under the previous APNU/AFC Administration.
The People’s Progressive Party/Civic has witnessed this in the five years and will not allow that to happen again in our country.
Let me remind the APNU/AFC coalition in Opposition that the PPP/C Government is committed to the Sustainable Development Goals, Article 13 of our Constitution, our PPP/C Government is committed to the constitutional rule of law and participatory democracy, but it cannot be the rules of those (APNU/AFC) who refuse to accept democracy and those (APNU/AFC) who do not accept the will of the people of our country who elected the PPP/C. Our Government will not be bullied by an Opposition that bullied our nation for over five years
It is time for APNU/AFC leaders take a mature political position by recognising the PPP/C as the legitimate Government of Guyana, opening up opportunity for dialogue on a number of issues in Guyana.
As Guyanese we all had an opportunity to witness the non-economic growth of the pervious APNU/AFC in the five years they we in office you be the judge
What is important is for our people to benefit now they have had a hard five years under the APNU/AFC Administration
The 7 per cent increase to all public servants is one such benefit, despite condemnation by the APNU/AFC Opposition and the unions, we must be reminded that under the former Administration, although the increase was eight per cent, it was only applicable to those public servants who worked for between $100,000 and $1 million. But this time around, however, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government has made a decision to ensure that the increase is across-the-board for all Government workers, and that it is retroactive to January 1, 2021.
This will give some people relief, and there is more coming. Our Government will do these incrementally, as they watch the economy; as the watch our revenue generation, and watch the impact of COVID-19 on our people of Guyana not forgetting the $400 million set aside by the Government for a special 2021 pay out to be made to frontline workers in the health sector, especially in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our Government has outlined a bright pathway for our future and it is imperative that we all get on board, Guyana needs its oil to be a blessing, not a curse.
Sincerely,
David Adams
