Latest update February 22nd, 2025 2:00 PM
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ELECTION PROMISES ARE POLITICAL GIMMICKS
In less than two years, the mandate of the government will end, and as required by the Constitution, a new election must be held to give the citizens an opportunity to elect a government. But their choice will be limited between the two main parties.
The past three years has been relatively shaky for the administration, even though it managed to defy initial predictions that it would not survive a full year as a coalition. It has a smaller than usual parliamentary majority of just one seat which has left it hardly any comfortable room to effectively manoeuvre, but with a mandate to deal with serious economic, political, social and crime problems.
While some of the economic challenges were influenced by external factors due to international pressures, others were of domestic origin, which some critics have linked to poor government policies or the lack thereof. Feedback from the various media, letter writers and the general public shows that a considerable number of people appear to be unhappy with how the government has managed the affairs of the country, especially the economy and crime.
The uppermost question on their minds is when the government will make the changes it campaigned on. Since no government in Guyana (as anywhere else) has ever relished the thought of losing an election – and being in opposition for a number of years, it may attempt to change its course of action sooner rather than later.
This would be nothing new in the historical context of our politics, because our politicians are aware that we, like most other people, have often been regarded as having short memories. Therefore, they know that making promises at election time, whether in the form of tax relief, creating jobs, reducing crime, or increasing workers’ salaries are a political gimmick that can have the favourable effect of gaining votes.
However, a huge fiscal deficit has placed the government in a difficult financial situation, and even if it is tempted to fulfill its promises by 2020 based on the impending oil revenue, which is not a guarantee, the promises will be costly to the taxpayers. However, the government could boost its election prospects by manipulating the economic policy instruments, such as increasing public spending and the budget deficit, and create jobs.
Given the risks associated with such a strategy, especially the country’s financial constraints, it stands to reason that the national interests should always come before the ruling party’s interests. Therefore, what is required of the government is to do what is best for the people and the country.
Considering the failing sugar industry, the slow growth of the economy, lack of jobs, high crime rate, corruption, the huge debt and the high cost to service it, the critical question is when and how the government intends to solve these problems. The truth is, since the last general election, the administration has not communicated its policies effectively to the people. The evidence shows that there is not a strategy or a plan to do so. And, if there are such policies, the citizens were not apprised of them. In fact, the President has held only three press conferences in three years. This lack of communication could affect the government seriously.
Both APNU and the AFC (which is running as an independent party) could receive a shellacking in the local government elections. A wise politician once said, pre-election promises are followed by a post-election hangover. It is clear that this government has to embark on an austerity plan in order to fulfill its election promises. The result could affect the country’s long-term economic growth and stability.
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