Dear Editor,
Guyanese can be assured that we are once again on the road to economic development and prosperity with the PPP/C Government at the helm and the $329.5 billion 2020 budget bears testimony to that.
In retrospect, in 1992 the PPP/C had taken over a thoroughly bankrupted economy with debt service being at the rate of 95 cents to the dollar. We were a highly indebted poor country and there seemed to be no solution in sight after 28 years of acute mismanagement of the economy, mass thievery, astronomical corruption, a complete breakdown of the rule of law and increasingly debilitating poverty. There was a poverty rate of 67 per cent, dilapidated infrastructure and the worse health and sanitation, education, housing and sanitation in the Caribbean. There was a mass exodus of Guyanese and they fled to all parts of the world seeking to eke a living and where many lived as last class citizens.
However, a massive transformation began from 1992-2015, we moved from a highly indebted low-income country in 1992 to a fast-developing middle-income country by 2015. It was a marvel to behold. Guyanese were living a high standard, many could have afforded their own homes and cars. Severe poverty was reduced to about 18 per cent. Educational standards greatly improved and there was greater access to education. New schools were built in every region. The health sector became greatly improved as new hospitals were built and drugs shortages became a story of the distant past. Social ills were drastically reduced.
But then in 2015, the APNU/AFC came into office and with it came a tsunami of economic deprivations and hardships. They systematically began to reverse each and every aspect of development which the PPP/C Government had worked so hard to bring to this nation. Once again, corruption rose to unprecedented heights, cronyism became the order of the day, thievery became widespread and engulfed every stratum of Government, poverty began to rise as thousands were vindictively kicked out of their jobs, four estates were maliciously closed which added to the suffering, all the sectors began to crumble and the economy began to retrogress sharply while the rule of law became hostage to a growing dictatorship. By December 2018, the No-Confidence Motion made it clear that Guyanese have had enough, but the coalition clung desperately to power as they used old tricks and invented new ones to do so. But the end may be postponed but it was inevitable. It came five months after the March 2 General and Regional Elections, despite many attempts to rig and remain illegally in power.
On August 2, PPP/C’s Dr Irfaan Ali was sworn in as Guyana’s ninth Executive President and the PPP/C Government assumed office. Once again, as it was in 1992, the President and his Government embarked on the immediate task of rebuilding the economy by presenting a $330 billion budget just 38 days after they assumed office. But this is not all, the PPP/C now has to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic which began to spread in all the regions due to the deliberate negligence and ineptitude of the former Government. The content of the budget matches the theme: protecting our people in a COVID-19 environment; strengthening democracy and the rule of law; incentivising economic growth and job creation, and enhancing welfare. After a hiatus of 5 years, Guyanese can now be assured of the illusory ‘good life’ which was repeatedly promised by the failed coalition Government. The PPP/C Government did not wait for ‘100 days’ but have hit the road running at a tremendous pace to make the good life possible for all.
The PPP/C has kept its campaign promises as stated in its manifesto: VAT was removed from a number of essential items such as machinery and equipment, building and construction materials, reversal of VAT from water and electricity, resumption of subsidy on water and electricity for pensioners, cash grant of $15,000 and $4000 uniform vouchers, old age pension increased to $25,000, allocation of monies to reopen the closed estates, reversal on increases of land lease fees, land taxes and drainage and irrigation charges, mortgage interest reliefs, provision of $25,000 COVID-19 relief per household, allowed importation of vehicles over 8 years old and used tires, reduction in license fees by 50 per cent, removal of 25 per cent corporate tax on education; removal of 25 percent corporate tax on health and VAT on medical supplies, reversal of VAT on exports, tax concessions on investment in agro-processing facilities, cold storage and packaging, special incentives for planting corn and soybean, 25,000 solar panels distributed to Amerindian communities, the reintroduction of the ADF to the tune of $800 million, removal of VAT on hinterland travel. Massive expenditure is allocated for tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. And the list goes on. This budget will see over $20 billion going back into the pockets of Guyanese.
This is the complete opposite of what the coalition did, they took out from the pockets of Guyanese and filled their own.
It has been proven over time that only the PPP/C has the capacity and competence to rebuild every time the PNC destroys and it has already been said by even the APNU/AFC supporters that this 2020 budget has proven that it is only the PPP/C which has the ability to move Guyana forward. Guyanese from all walks of life are happy with the immediate relief which the PPP/C has brought to end the sufferings which Guyanese experienced during the past 5 years. It is an indication that the best is still to come and this is not 2011 when the APNU/AFC used their one-seat majority to stymie development. No attempt to stop this progress will be tolerated by Guyanese.
Yours sincerely,
Haseef Yusuf
