Manifesto suggestion box: Over 1000 submissions made; Jagdeo confirms cash grants, old age pension hike

…eyes subsidies for water, electricity at places of worship

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has received an overwhelming public response to its call for input into its next-term manifesto, with more than 100 formal submissions and over 1500 ideas submitted via WhatsApp in just one week, according to General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo.
Speaking at his weekly press conference on Thursday, GS Jagdeo thanked citizens from both within Guyana and the Diaspora, for their enthusiastic participation, describing the initiative as “an incredible demonstration of civic engagement”.
He explained that a significant number of submissions addressed concerns around drainage, flood control, and water management; the removal of derelict vehicles, improved parking systems, and relocating small industrial operations such as auto repair and upholstery services that disturb residential areas.
Additionally, while addressing recurring questions regarding several key PPP/Civic policies, Jagdeo confirmed that these initiatives will continue and/or be enhanced in the next term. These include an increase in the old-age pension, the “Because We Care” children’s cash grant, and public service salaries, and reduction of taxes on vehicles, including double-cab pick-ups.
“Public service pay increases. Will there be that? Yes, and significantly. That will happen. We have already, a lot of suggestions came about investing in recreational and sports facilities, and we are committed to doing this. We’ve made it clear that every ground across the country on the coast will be developed as recreational areas and then for sports, including with pavilions and lights, every single one in every community,” the General Secretary said.
Further, Government will create more than 10,000 new parking spaces across Georgetown, and upgrade public verges and walkways with pavers and greenery, while to address residential disruptions, small industrial activities like welding or auto repair will be relocated to new “micro-industrial zones” in village backlands.
Outside of these developments, Jagdeo revealed that the PPP/C Administration was eyeing subsidies for water and electricity at places of worship.
“Places of worship – they want free water and electricity. Well, I think the free water – up to a limit – they’re already getting; and the electricity – I think we can put a cap too, because you don’t want people to be, everything, they start renting out the place too and then get… the bill would go high. So I think it’s a good idea and we have already, there’s a sympathy in the Government for that sort of thing,” he explained.
About a week ago, Jagdeo invited members of the public to suggest initiatives that they would like to see implemented in the new term.
Recommendations can be made via WhatsApp at 741-2575 or drop-in mail at Freedom House on Robb Street, Georgetown or at PPP offices in the various regions across the country.
Jagdeo, who currently serves as Vice President in the ruling PPP/C Administration, pointed out that it was through similar consultations and feedback that the PPP were able to craft the 2020 Manifesto, and deliver on promises such as tax reduction on overtime and second salaries, which were recommendations that were made back then.
The current Dr Irfaan Ali-led Government has fulfilled and even gone beyond most of the promises made at the last elections, and, as the PPP heads towards the 2025 elections, the party aims to build on these successes, pushing forward with more ambitious projects to improve the lives of Guyanese citizens and secure the country’s future in an increasingly globalised economy.
Only earlier this month, Jagdeo noted that they have already identified three big business opportunities in the oil and gas sector that could be tailored to facilitate investments for the small man such as the farmer, the teacher and the public servant.
In fact, the current PPP/C Administration has been floating the idea of a fertiliser plant, which would use natural gas from offshore, as one of the projects for ordinary Guyanese to invest in, so that they, too, could earn from the country’s petroleum industry.
Apart from these wealth-generation ventures, the PPP/C would also be focusing on further enhancing Government services by making them digitised, and would be improving the quality of health care in Guyana.