The PPP’s first year record

Aug 08, 2021 Letters

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Dear Editor,

As the PPP/C celebrates its first year in office, it is important that we examine its performance. In order to get a true perspective, I think we have to examine the general environment in which that party ascended to national political leadership, as well as other factors, which I set out to do below.
After the elections were called in March 2020 and polls were closed, from ascertaining the results of those elections to the declaration of the winner was an extremely rough and treacherous journey. It took the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) five months to produce the result of an election that involved less than 600,000 people. During that time, too, the novel Coronavirus disease that first struck in 2019, and which threatened to unravel human society, was raging all over the world, ravishing the lives of millions of people and collapsing global economic, health and social systems. The implications were and (still are) very staggering for global trade, commerce, and industry. Developing countries were hard hit by the fallout of this virus, at the base of their economies and fragile public health systems.
In Guyana, those events have conspired to provide unprecedented challenges for the new ruling party, PPP/C. Importantly, in the midst of all of that, the government had to win the trust of the people. Generally, large swaths of the population had grown weary of promises because they have derived no tangible benefits from the previous administration over the preceding five years. In fact, one of the high negatives of that period was the termination of services of thousands of workers in the sugar industry and the loss of thousands of more jobs across various sectors due to their incompetent management. The termination of sugar workers had a crippling effect, economically and socially, on entire villages and communities in which those workers reside and those businesses, in those areas, that depended on the support of those workers. Indeed, it was a devastating blow to ordinary people.
Therefore, on its coming into office, the PPP/C had to immediately grapple with economic problems, public healthcare, education, national safety and security, and the issue of public trust in government and governmental systems. The government did not shirk its responsibility but rose squarely to those challenges. In its budget, ($330 Billion) in 2020, the government put in place, a menu of measures to help citizens. There were wide-ranging incentives and a review of tax measures. This allowed Guyanese to benefit from $20 billion in relief to their pockets. These include the reversal of VAT on water and electricity, the removal of VAT and duties on machinery, equipment. In addition, numerous concessions and support for farmers and those in the extractive and manufacturing industries.
Again, the government moved swiftly to offer assistance to the people. Cash grants were distributed to households across Guyana. The National Assembly in December 2020 approved a $17. 4 billion Supplementary Budget, with $2.5 billion in additional monies for the COVID- 19 cash grant programme. Billions of dollars in cash were given to Guyanese to help cushion the effects of economic hardship due to COVID-19. Of course, a number of other relief programmes were activated by the government. Food hampers and cleaning supplies were distributed to citizens. In addition, the Ministry of Education provided care packages for children of school-going ages.
Also, the “Because We Care Cash Grant” programme has been rolled out. Each child, in the school system, will receive $19,000 per year, to assist with school supplies and associated things. The government has also enhanced public health care and made numerous interventions to contain the spread of the virus and save lives. Old age pension has been increased, and frontline workers benefited from additional help from the government.
While all of these things are happening, the government is keeping the economy on the path to growth and prosperity. The government continues to sustain the delivery of public services to citizens and businesses. The private sector is increasing its strides and global and international corporations are showing keen interest in doing business in Guyana. These include Wal-Mart, Amazon, Apple, Amerisource Bergen and United Health Group. There are now huge market opportunities available to countries and corporations. Again, in the face of this pandemic, the government has been upgrading infrastructure. I think one of the first good moves of the government in this regard was the liberalisation of the telecommunication sector in Guyana. This immediately created a positive impact, throughout this country, and a competitive environment in that sector, which resulted in the benefits of consumers. It allowed for improvement in that technological infrastructure and quality of service.
In the housing sector, the government has already given in excess of 5,000 house lots to citizens. Again, the government by this action is encouraging homeownership. This in turn could facilitate personal and family growth, which would ultimately benefit the country. Within the macro plan are special arrangements for housing schemes in the hinterland and for professionals. I believe no one can successfully doubt the government’s great success in this area of its national governmental responsibility. More people now own their own homes and can better plan for the future for their families.
Another driver is the willingness of the government to partner with the private sector, non-governmental organisations, community-based organisations and groups to make systems work and to put Guyana on a trajectory of national growth and development. Again, they can collaborate with key stakeholders. Each will bring a unique and important perspective when considering options and various solutions to challenges. As a result, collectively, they are better able to manage those solutions and appropriately respond to the dynamics of our country in these very uncertain times.
Finally, the government has been able to balance immediate and long-term needs. Beyond those aforementioned things, there has been a series of initiatives, in public finance, information and medical technologies, security, oil and gas, tourism, healthcare, education, judicature, social welfare and the environment. All aimed at encouraging investments, and lifting the nation Guyana to a new plateau of sustainable economic prosperity for all Guyanese.

Yours faithfully,
Thomas Cole

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