Inspirational Irfaan Ali commits to transformational inclusivity

…says “I will be a president for all Guyanese”

Decked out in trademark red and surrounded by his party’s top executives, Dr Irfaan Ali stood before a mammoth crowd at Kitty Market Square, Georgetown, vividly illustrating how transformational the country would be if the longest standing political grouping – the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) – returns to power.

PPP/C Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali on Sunday

The audience erupted into cheers and applause as he took to the podium, having waited several hours to hear from the Party’s presidential candidate.
“Today (Sunday), I stand here humbled by the opportunity to be President for all Guyanese,” the 39-year-old presidential hopeful expressed.
“Not a president for friends and supporters alone, but a president that would work hard every day for the upliftment of every Guyanese.”
Ali evoked the heritage of the original nationalist and united PPP that was formed “three scores and ten years ago in 1950” and had a brief “glorious moment of unity”, which he vowed to return to Guyana when he and the PPP/C were re-elected to office.
In January 2019, Ali was elected by the Party to serve as its presidential candidate for the March 2, 2020 polls.

A section of the thousands of supporters at the Kitty, Georgetown launching of the PPP/C 2020 campaign

He will be vying against the incumbent, Retired Brigadier David Granger of the People’s National Congress (PNC)-led A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition, which was toppled subsequent to a No-Confidence Motion in December 2018 – triggering the need for early elections.
But according to the young politician, he has no interest in delivering empty promises.
“Today (Sunday), I am not here to deliver promises, but I am here with this wonderful team to outline aspects of a clear strategy and vision to take our country forward.
“A plan that is not defined by oil and gas, but one that speaks to the holistic aspirations of every Guyanese.”
He explained that the Party’s plan, as outlined in its elections manifesto, sought to secure, strengthen, and expand the economic base of the country; stimulate growth; create opportunities; support the Private Sector and ensure social justice.
“Unlike David Granger, as a new generation leader, I am not stuck in the past; I understand the true meaning of transformation,” Dr Ali posited.
“To transform our country, we must be able to transform our thinking. To transform our country, we must first transform ourselves,” he stated, referring to the incident where PPP/C supporters were attacked by coalition supporters while putting up flags at Laing Avenue, Georgetown.
“Not one of the leaders in the PNC has condemned the action, because up to today, their minds and hearts have not been transformed,” he asserted.
Dr Ali admitted that he may not have all the answers, but said he was committed to transforming himself to deliver whatever was necessary for Guyana.

“I intend to be the person tomorrow whom you see today. Not one to make promises and then turn my back on our people and what I promised,” he explained.
According to the former Government Minister, “We have the experience to govern; we have a track record in managing the country’s resources.”
The PPP/C has 23 years of governing experience under its belt; Ali simultaneously served as Minister of Housing as well as Tourism and Commerce in PPP/C Administrations prior to the last elections in 2015.
While its tenure in office saw major infrastructural development and particularly a boom in the housing sector, the Party was criticised on several fronts.
Dr Ali admitted that the Party made mistakes, but explained that its members would have learnt from them.
“Yes, we have learnt from our shortcomings, I have and will continue to reflect on how we can be a better government than we have been in the past,” he stated.

Transformative projects
As he elaborated on his party’s plan to the attentive and enthusiastic audience, Dr Ali reiterated that the Party would restore the “Because We Care” back-to-school cash grant, an initiative which was developed under the former PPP/C Administration whereby every schoolchild across the country benefited from $10,000 in cash.
And according to Dr Ali, there is room for that amount to be increased to as much as $50,000 per child per year.
Reflecting on the decline in economic sectors and the huge loss of jobs across all walks of life, Dr Ali assured that the PPP/C has a plan to create as much as 50,000 job opportunities for locals.
“These jobs will be across every single sector, not only oil and gas,” Dr Ali said as he cited sectors like agriculture, manufacturing, mining, forestry and tourism.
He pointed out that under the former Administration, the country recorded positive growth without the advantage of massive oil wealth.
“You know why? Because we have competent leaders as against the incompetence we have today,” he posited.
But with the millions Guyana is poised to earn from its petroleum sector, Dr Ali asserted that the funds must be used to improve people’s lives, and that the PPP/C has a plan to achieve just that.
He said the oil revenues would be used for job creation, improving social and economic infrastructure, and to facilitate tax reduction.
Dr Ali also assured that under the next PPP/C Government, he would initiate works on several transformative projects such as the Deepwater Harbour, the Linden-Lethem Road, the four-lane Highway from Georgetown to Timehri, the bridging of the Corentyne River, the high-span bridge across the Demerara River, the Parika-Rockstone Del Conte Road link with Bartica as well as a duty-free zone.
Additionally, Dr Ali said his government would work towards the provision of cheaper electricity by completing the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project.
“We will not stop until the cost of electricity comes down by as much as 70 per cent!”
In speaking about opportunities for young people, Dr Ali said he would establish a National Youth Advisory Commission to the President, where youths would have the opportunity to contribute to the country’s development.
Scorecard
With regard to guarantees that the Party would deliver, Dr Ali simply charged the electorate to study the PPP/C’s track record and compare it with the “scorecard” of the APNU/AFC.
“You cannot fake knowledge, you cannot fake experience, you cannot fake results, but you can regurgitate fake news, so president stranger, show us your scorecard.”
According to Ali, the Granger-led Government’s term in office is characterised by 30,000 jobs being lost, a decline in economic sectors, increase in taxes, reduced spending power, hike in non-performing loans, and increase in infant mortality among others.
“This is your scorecard! This is your record!”
“This is what we will hold you accountable for and on March 2, you will pay the price when we take you out of office!”
Many in the audience were visibly moved by the sincerity of Dr Ali’s commitment to the transformation of the country.