PPP/C Govt has done wonders in year one (Part 1)

Dear Editor,
President Irfaan Ali was made head of the Government of Guyana on August 02,2021. President Ali’s assumption of office came five months after the elections on March 2, 2020. That vote itself occurred a year later than it should have.
Let’s rewind: By one vote, the then Opposition under the leadership of Dr Bharrat Jagdeo had succeeded in passing a no-confidence motion against the David Granger-led Government. The then governing coalition APNU/AFC held 33 seats to the Opposition’s 32, but one of its members, Charrandas Persaud, dramatically defected.
Under the constitution, that should have triggered an election within 90 days, and the Government should have resigned. It didn’t.
On August 02,2021, Dr Irfaan Ali became Guyana’s 9th Executive President, but inherited a dire state of affairs that the APNU/AFC left this country in, and the two-year absence of a budget.
Guyanese immediately were blessed with a Government that would serve all the people of Guyana. A Government and cabinet that have worked with feverish intensity to deliver benefits for all citizens over the last year, A President and Government that remained committed to the health workers, teachers, and members of the joint services for their heroic efforts in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and for the additional risks which they have so willingly shouldered.
This is a Government and cabinet who have buckled into the driving seats of their various Ministries from day one, as they steer their teams to deliver our Government’s vision.
Guyanese, our patience and understanding during these difficult times is commendable.
The PPP/C has always maintained that they are guided by their Manifesto, which constituted their relationship with the people of Guyana. It is underscored by a long-term vision. The tasks which have been set after widespread consultations commit our Government to work day-in, day-out to ensure opportunities, engineer equality, and entrench national unity across all Guyana.
The PPP/C has always risen to the occasion. And, true to form, they have commenced the task of remedying the lamentable state of affairs which they inherited.
Guyanese must be extremely pleased with the performance of our Government during its first year in office. All our Ministers have been proactive. They have been going out to meet and address the people’s concerns. Over the past year, our Government has responded responsibly to every crisis it was faced with in the past year. It has rebooted the economy, relieving citizens’ burdens, restoring hope, rebuilding confidence, and re-engineering development.
Our Government’s foremost priority, response to the coronavirus pandemic, has been comprehensive and multifaceted. Testing capacity has been increased to the point where the Health Minister can administer as many as 1000 tests and more per day, and they have also acquired adequate supplies of personal protective gear and allocated millions in the emergency budget 2020 and 2021 budget for frontline workers.
Ventilators, oxygen concentrators, and other equipment necessary for treating patients the Government has provided. The Infectious Diseases Hospital has been retrofitted, making it suitable for offering meaningful patient care, and the capacity of regional hospitals has been enhanced to treat coronavirus patients. Much needed drugs have been acquired, and are being used to improve patients’ recovery. It is under the PPP/C Government that every Guyanese has been allowed to be part of the worldwide immunisation process, allowing every Guyanese to be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus.
We have all borne witness to the horrendous murders of three teenagers in West Berbice, and the brutality meted out to villagers, friends and neighbours due to political manipulation. These deaths were not a matter which should be manipulated to divide our people; every life matters.
Another immediate priority of the PPP/C was the rebooting of our economy while ensuring that the people and society were protected, not forgetting that the PPP/C Government came into office without a Budget. In record time, they were able to craft an Emergency Budget which included measures aimed at nursing our economy to good health, stimulating our economic sectors, attracting new investments, creating employment, and improving the economy’s competitiveness. The measures they instituted to improve competitiveness include providing tax concessions on mining, agro-processing, cold storage and packaging; the removal of VAT on exports, and allowing exporters, including those in the fishing, rice and timber industries, to reclaim input VAT. We have also removed the VAT on fertilizers, agro-chemicals, pesticides, and key inputs into the poultry sector. They reignited the engines of commerce and industry, allowing people to go back to work. Small businesses regained ground with the co-operation of financial institutions and financial initiatives of the PPP/C Government.
Investors’ interest is high today. Our economy has been robust again in a positive development trajectory. The support for our traditional sectors is integral to aligning Guyana along a positive development trajectory. Our Government has begun the process of reopening the Skeldon and Canje estates, and has established the Wales Development Authority, aimed at implementing new and innovative opportunities for the Wales community.
Land preparation, servicing of equipment and the recruitment of staff
In Kwakwani bauxite sector, RUSAL has expressed an interest in restarting its operations; however, the Government has requested the company to submit a proposal which must be consistent with Guyana’s labour laws and the protection of workers’ development.
Other investors have also expressed an interest in mining bauxite ore located at Tarakuli, in the East Berbice-Corentyne Region.
Efforts are being made to revitalise our forestry sector, which had fallen into ruins during the period 2015-2020 under the previous APNU-AFC administration. However, under this present Administration, Guyana is rising again. As part of the efforts at ensuring a growing, diversified and modernized economy, the PPP/C Government has liberalised the telecommunication sector. This is a tipping point in our country’s development. Guyanese have been waiting for 30 years for this to happen. The liberalisation of the sector will stimulate greater investment and competition, and spawn the expansion of the sector and the range of ICT services available.
Guyanese consumers are now benefiting from reduced costs for overseas calls and improved capacity of internet services.
The construction sector has been key to driving growth in our non-oil sectors. Construction activity is being propelled throughout our economy, while the PPP/C Government has been relieving the burdens which had been placed on the backs of the people as our people were left stranded without much relief during the pandemic, the PPP/C launched a $5 billion COVID-19 relief grant which saw every household receiving G$25,000, while G$150M had been set aside for risk allowances for our frontline health workers. We know that this cannot compensate fully for their efforts, but our Government has done what is within its means at this time, given the state of the economy. However, our Government will continue to do more as resources permit for our health care workers.
Throughout all of this, our Government has not forgotten our men and women in uniform, who have helped maintain order and peace in difficult times. The members of our Joint Services have benefited from a two-week tax-free payout for 2020, which they were denied by the previous APNU/AFC Government.
One must not forget also Guyanese had to shoulder burdensome increases and additional taxes and fees over the five years of the APNU/AFC administration. These taxes and fees deprived us of much needed disposable income. It stifled business activity within the productive sectors. The PPP/C Government lifted those burdens and removed the unconscionable Value-Added Tax (VAT) on water and electricity, restoring free water for pensioners, while the oppressive corporation tax on private education and VAT on medical supplies were carved out. Our farmers were saddled with increased fees for leases and drainage and irrigation services. Many of them could not afford to pay these unconscionable increases imposed by the former Government. The PPP/C Government step up to the plate and reduced these fees and slashed in half the increases in license fees.
Our Government has restored hope by providing relief aid aimed at reducing Guyanese burdens, while making life better for many Guyanese families. Our Government has reintroduced and launched the “Because We Care” cash grant which was callously snatched away from parents. But not only has the Government restored it, but it has been increased to G$15,000. In addition, the uniform allowance has been increased. These measures have made it easier for parents to outfit their children for school.
Let’s not forgotten the elderly. Old age pensions have been increased from G$20,500 to G$25,000 per month.
Guyanese all across the country have seen and experienced progress over the past year. All of Guyana’s Government Ministries have been involved in delivering improvements in the lives of every Guyanese citizen. The achievements are so numerous that it would take us an inordinate amount of time to enumerate the wonders this Government has done in one year.

Sincerely,
David Adams