“Never again must they come close to power” – Ali blasts Opposition for slashing Leguan budgets

…unveils hospital, agriculture plans

President Irfaan Ali has sharply criticised the former coalition Government, A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC), accusing them of neglecting the needs of residents of Leguan Island, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), and cutting vital budgets when they previously held a majority in Parliament.
Addressing a large gathering on the island on Tuesday, the Head of State reminded citizens of the Opposition’s track record, charging that they slashed allocations for agriculture, infrastructure and social services, thereby limiting opportunities for growth and development.

“Leguan, do you remember in 2013 when they had a majority in parliament what they did? They cut your agriculture budget. They cut your D&I budget. They cut your infrastructure budget because that is what they’re good for: spite the people when power is in their hand. They spite you when they had absolute Government by taking away the ‘Because we Care’ grant; by taking away subsidies from the pensioner. They are careless in what they do. They’re merciless. They’re brutal, and never again must they come close ever to the reins of power in this country because power is not about unleashing terror. Power is about responsibility, and we don’t ask for power. We ask for the responsibility to build a stronger country, a stronger society and a better-quality life for all Guyanese,” the Guyanese leader said.
The president emphasised that his Government’s pursuit of office is not about political power but about responsibility.

He explained that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) seeks to build a stronger country, improve the quality of life for every citizen, and create a society grounded in opportunity, dignity, democracy, and development.
Ali told residents, particularly the youth, that opportunities available today were unimaginable to earlier generations.
With this in mind, the Head of State outlined several plans to further boost the Guyanese island’s development. These include the complete rehabilitation and modernisation of the local hospital to ensure mothers can give birth on the island, access to advanced healthcare such as digital x-rays, and an expansion of the agricultural sector.
He announced that the Government will construct an irrigation canal to reduce farmers’ reliance on rainfall and provide free transport for paddy and rice, along with support for seed paddy, fertiliser, drainage and irrigation.
To ensure profitability, Ali promised the creation of a price stabilisation fund for rice farmers, alongside the introduction of crop insurance. He also said fisherfolk and speedboat operators would benefit from the removal of duties on engines of up to 150 horsepower, while alternative income sources would be supported through aquaculture, cash crop farming, and other diversification efforts.
“We have to build that here to enhance the income of our fisherfolk, of our women and our farmers here. We have to introduce crop farming so that we can have crops all year round, expand the market and support you in diversifying your income. That is what is going to make food production, agriculture and farming viable: giving you alternatives, giving you options, making it easier for you to have a sustainable livelihood… For the next five years we want to empower the residents of Leguan to be the owners of those opportunities. We must build the capacity here so that every building, every road, every koker, every drain, every bridge that we build on this island must be built by you, the people of Leguan, and that revenue must remain here with you, the people in Leguan,” he added.