The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) on Monday said Government continued to fail the people of Guyana, as cries continued to be heard about the prevailing economic conditions under the coalition Administration.
PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee
The Party’s General Secretary, Clement Rohee said he has been visiting various parts of the country and has been listening to the concerns of residents.
He said many were speaking out, saying if this was the change they voted for, they did not want it.
“Hundreds of thousands are anxious to see the PPP/C back in Government knowing that with such an eventuality the economy will recover and there will be a resurgence of economic and financial activities in the country from which all Guyanese will benefit,” Rohee said.
He said those who voted for change have lost the little hope they had that that change would have brought them the much touted ‘good life’, rather he said what they were seeing was Government Ministers enjoying the ‘good life,’ which the common people should be enjoying.
Rohee said in this situation, the youths are the hardest hit, with unemployment spiralling upwards, reaching about 40 per cent according to the Caribbean Development Bank.
He said the coalition’s promises have all gone up in smoke and have left young people not only at risk but as ready and available prey for the criminal underworld.
“We are having some bad economic times and generally in times like these, there would be increased unemployment especially at the youth level.”
He said the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Manifesto had promised that the National Youth Policy would focus on reducing risk factors such as crime, drug abuse, alcoholism, teen pregnancy, suicide, violence and illiteracy.
The current Administration, Rohee said, had also promised that its programmes would generate support and allocated resources to make recreation, the arts and sports hallmarks of excellence, while restoring the bond between young people and the communities.
“Study issues which lead to alienation of boys and young men from our education system, including: dropping out from schools, engaging in crime and violence, marginalisation, accessing the labour market, and poverty alleviation have become meaningless to many young people who see no future for themselves under the Granger coalition Administration.”
He said the PPP for its part in its 2015 manifesto expressed its commitment to: implementing national apprenticeship and special youth employment programmes; providing incentives and opportunities for employers to employ youths, and develop entrepreneurship and apprenticeship programmes.
