4th Anniversary of the PPP/C Government
Creating a sustainable future with enhanced livelihoods, more opportunities, crucial infrastructure
- Guyana continues to advance rapidly, as the journey to prosperity continues
‘A lesser party would have folded with the challenges we faced’
—Dr. Jagdeo says; points to rapid, significant advancement of Guyana under PPP/C Gov’t
— emphasises importance of democracy to a successful nation
AUGUST 2, 2024, marks the fourth anniversary of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government assuming office following a prolonged fivemonth dispute over the results of the March 2, 2020 elections.
As the nation reflects on this milestone, PPP General Secretary, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo emphasised the significant strides made by the government, asserting that over 90 per cent of the PPP/C’s manifesto promises have been fulfilled.
Dr. Jagdeo urged citizens to recall the intense struggle to protect Guyana’s demo-
cratic integrity during the 2020 electoral crisis.
He drew parallels with the current situation in Venezuela, highlighting the importance of democracy, particularly as the electoral fraud trial begins for those implicated by the Commission of Inquiry in attempting to manipulate the election results in favour of the APNU+AFC coalition.
The March 2020 General and Regional Elections were marred by delays and allegations of fraud, culminating in a five-month wait for the final results.
The PPP/C’s public release of their GECOM-issued Statements of Poll and the certified recount validated their claims, revealing significant manipulation by the Region Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo, in favour of the APNU+AFC coalition.
In April 2023, a Presidential Commission of Inquiry concluded that senior GECOM officials had colluded to alter the election results, undermining the electoral process. Several individuals, including former Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield and other GECOM employees, are now facing trial for electoral fraud.
OVERCOMING CHALLENGES
Reflecting on the challenges faced over the past four years, Dr. Jagdeo noted the government’s adept handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Upon assuming office, the country was in a precarious state, with widespread job losses and limited capacity for COVID-19 testing and treatment.
Despite these hurdles, the PPP/C government quickly built up healthcare capacity, secured vaccines, and managed to keep the population relatively safe compared to many developed countries.
The general secretary highlighted the rapid economic growth and dynamism in Guyana, attributing it to the government’s effective policies and long-term planning.
He noted the transformative infrastructural. projects, increased employment, and substantial improvements in public services and welfare programmes as key achievements.
MANIFESTO PROMISES DELIVERED
Dr Jagdeo proudly announced that over 90 per cent of the PPP/C’s manifesto
promises have been delivered. Key accomplishments include:
Employment for 50,000 to 60,000 previously jobless individuals.
An increase in disposable income in the public sector by $90 billion.
Delivery of over 33,000 house lots.
Provision of government scholarships to 50,000 persons.
Doubling of the old-age pension.
Restoration and expansion of the ‘Because We Care’ cash grant for all school
Continued on page 3
‘A lesser party would have folded...
children.
Restoration of the Joint Services bonus.
Reversal of over 200 taxes and fees.
(LCDS) 2030.
Rolling out a transformative healthcare plan with 12 new hospitals.
Advancing the Low Carbon Development Strategy
Implementation of a comprehensive infrastructure plan, including 140 kilometres of four-lane roads and over 400 bridges. Stimulating non-oil investments and removing taxes on private healthcare and education.
The politician emphasised that the government’s long-term planning, such as the upcoming completion of the gas-to-energy project, will yield further benefits, including reduced electricity costs and becoming an exporter of cooking gas.
“Today we are in a very different place than we were four years ago when the PPP took office, in spite
of all the challenges we’ve had. A lesser party would have folded up,” Jagdeo remarked, expressing pride in the government’s achievements and optimism for the future.
From page 4
‘Interventions to improve lives of public servants extend beyond wages, salaries’
— President Ali emphasises; reflects on efforts to reverse several
policies that crippled Guyana’s productive sectors — points to transformation in healthcare, education, social services aimed at bettering the quality of life
—
RECOGNISING that workers serve as the bedrock of Guyana’s development, President, Dr. Irfaan Ali has vowed to continue striving to ensure that all lives are improved.
In a Labour Day message, streamed live on his Facebook Page, the President stressed that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration is committed to uplifting the lives of the poor and vulnerable. May 1 is known in Guyana and other countries as Labour Day.
more
than
65,000 jobs created in just over three years
Since assuming office in 2020, the PPP/C government has gone above and beyond in its quest for betterment for all Guyanese, and this has resulted in the creation of more jobs and thriving sectors among other positive developments, according to the Head of State.
While many have attempted to view “a better quality of life” through a narrow lens, President Ali pointed out that the standard of healthcare, education, social services, among other things, are key components in the
definition of better welfare.
“A better quality of life cannot only be measured in wages; a better quality of life depends on the holistic development of one’s self, family and community. It depends on the quality of healthcare, the quality of education, the quality of social services, including water, the level of infrastructure and the holistic standard of living that one is able to achieve in a society and a community,” he said.
Dr. Ali related that those were the principles
that formed the fundamentals of the PPP/C’s 2020 Manifesto, which has been almost completed in less than four years.
Guyana was no bed of roses under the previous coalition administration, and thus, the PPP/C, according to Dr Ali, inherited a “broken” economy which saw significant declines within major sectors.
The decline in output in the sugar industry was approximately $21 billion, the bauxite and forestry
President, Dr. Irfaan Ali
‘Interventions to improve lives of public...
sectors reported losses in output equivalent to $31 billion and $9 billion, respectively, during 20152019, he said.
“When we came in, the Forestry Commission was virtually closed, employees were not paid for months, and there was no money in the bank account. The total loss in output for these three sectors amounted to $61.5 billion or eight per cent of GDP in 2019. That is what we inherited between sugar, bauxite and forest,” Dr. Ali lamented.
Further, he highlighted the decline in export revenue within these sectors. The losses were approximately more than US$283 million, and thousands of workers indirectly and directly were without employment.
However, since the PPP/C assumed office, these sectors have been revived, and Guyana is on
a better track than it was, and families have been taken off of the breadline.
JOB CREATION
The bauxite sector, which suffered immensely under the previous APNU+AFC administration, has been turned around, and according to Dr Ali, the PPP/C government has restored more than 1,000 jobs within the sector, and this is expected to grow rapidly before the end of this year.
“So, because of the rapid decline in these key sectors, more than 50,000 persons were without a job during 2019, according to the Bureau of Statistics. Despite widespread unemployment and declining income, the previous government introduced over 200 taxes that saw tax revenue increase from $136 billion to $226 billion. Indeed, their method of economic growth was taxation, taxation, taxation, wasteful spending,
and policies that crippled the productive sector,” Dr. Ali said.
As a result of this high tax burden, there was a decline in consumption, according to the President.
In the PPP/C’s first budget in 2020, the President boasted that they reversed the punitive taxes that the previous government had introduced, and by fulfilling this Manifesto promise, taxpayers saved tens of billions of dollars in taxes.
“Today, all the key sectors are not only reporting higher output levels, but have created countless jobs. If you look at investment in housing, jobs that the government would have created directly is in excess of 65,000 jobs,” the Head of State said.
Further, he reiterated that the government rehired the 2,000 Community Service Officers (CSOs) and thousands of sugar workers that were sacked by the previous adminis-
tration, and also restored the Joint Services bonus.
Aside from the increase in wages and salaries, the government has introduced initiatives that benefit citizens, especially within the public sector.
Additionally, the government restored the ceiling on the mortgage interest relief for housing to $30 million. This initiative has cost the government more than $2.4 billion up to the end of 2023.
He went on to note: “Our interventions to improve the well-being of public servants were not limited to wages and salaries… further initiatives were implemented by the government, including scholarships for citizens, including public servants under the GOAL scholarship programme. Close to 30,000 scholarships issued; 75 per cent of which went to women.”
“These are real stories and real investments that we make continuously
to uplift the lives of the working-class people of our country,” Dr. Ali said.
He added: “Apart from the across-the-board increase in salary… it is important to note the government also adjusted the salaries and allowances of various categories of public servants since it resumed office in 2020,” noting that measures were also introduced to improve the lives of teachers.
This includes the 4,500 teachers who are given education allowances, costing the government more than $500 million and the additional duty-free concessions granted to them, along with the adjustment in their salaries that amount to $1.9 billion.
“By the end of 2025, we will also have more than 5,500 new teachers, fully trained and they will benefit from additional allowances.
The task ahead of us is to continue on this trajectory, to ensure that our
workers and every Guyanese enjoy a prosperous future, ensure they live in prosperity, ensure that their lives and their families’ lives are transformed…,” he said.
Also, with plans to further transform Guyana, the President said: “Let us rally together as we go past 2027 when our revenue stream will increase, when our economy will be diversified and when all of us together as a people will see further prosperity…”
He went on to say:
“My government stays committed in its quest, through targeted interventions, to help the vulnerable, the poor, the oppressed, the working class, whilst at the same time stimulating the economy and building policies that will grow the private sector, expand job creation, open up new opportunity and enhance the welfare and wellbeing of all Guyanese.”
Building the future:
Major infrastructural projects being undertaken
project, which is nearing completion, will stand six meters above water, allowing vessels to pass with not retraction required.
Linden to Mabura hill
The New Demerara River Bridge
This investment amounting to over US$200 million will alleviate long traffic delays and congestion. This
OVER the past four years, the Peoples Progressive Party Government has spearheaded several transformative infrastructural projects to modernize Guyana and improve connectivity. These projects include the construction of the New Demerara River Bridge, the Linden to Mabura Hill road and the Georgetown to Lethem highway. These initiatives are set to enhance transportation, boost economic activity and improve the quality of life for Guyanese.
A significant investment of US190 million is a part of the government’s efforts to improve connectivity. It will facilitate the link of the coastland to the hinterland
and further connect Guyana to Brazil, pushing more regional integration.
Linden-Soesdyke Highway
The Soesdyke/Linden Highway, Rehabilitation Project, is a major infrastructure initiative by the People's Progressive Party Civic-led government aimed at upgrading a critical transportation
route.
Schoonord to Crane Highway
Thousands of commuters on the West Bank and West Coast Demerara should have much less traffic congestion with the completion of the $11.8 billion Schoonord to Crane fourlane roadway.
EAST BANK DEMERARA ROAD PROJECT
Spanning from Good Success to Timehri, this US$75.8 Million groundbreaking initiative, the first of its kind funded by the Inter-American Development Bank in Guyana, aims to enhance climate-resilient infrastructure and alleviate traffic congestion.
This US$75.8 Million groundbreaking initiative, the first of its kind funded by the Inter-American Development Bank in Guyana
An artist impression of the New Demerara River Bridge
To facilitate the Soesdyke/Linden Highway, the government has secured funding from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the United Kingdom
‘We don’t just promise, we deliver’
MORE than $240 billion has been expended to make home-ownership more affordable in Guyana, and according to President Dr. Irfaan Ali, this has resulted in over 35,000 houselots being distributed and persons benefitting from crucial infrastructural development.
Dr. Ali, during a video broadcast on Sunday, said that the government has simultaneously been investing in the country’s infrastructure, enhancing road networks, and improving the availability of water and electricity.
“Housing does not come by itself. It comes with infrastructure to support housing schemes. To support these new housing schemes and these 35,000 houselots and homes that we’ve invested in, we have built 414 kilometers of new roads, 250 kilometers of new water transmission mains and more
than 2,200 kilometers of electricity transmission lines,” President Ali said.
The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government, he highlighted, has implemented measures to make home-ownership more affordable, including subsidies and lower interest rates.
Already over 3,000 houses have been delivered, with a focus on low- and moderate-income segments, and the government is expanding the housing programme to reach every part of the population
“An average low-income house lot is subsidised by almost $4.2 million and we brought down interest rates…. This has led to an increase of about eight to 10 per cent in new housing loans at a value of $56 billion,” he said adding:
“We built more than 3,000 homes, more than 1,000 low-income housing at a cost of
more than $5.9 billion, more than 400 moderate-income homes, 100 middle-income homes and more than 1000 young professional homes.”
In addition to this, the government has ensured support to the vulnerable by investing in core homes. He further highlighted that some $2 billion has been invested in hinterland housing, while more than 16,000 young people have benefitted from the mortgage relief programme.
“We don’t just promise, we deliver, and, on housing, we have delivered in less than four years. We have made home-ownership more affordable, we have created infrastructure, built roads, built electricity networks, given access to water and expanded a housing programme to reach every segment of the Guyanese population,” President Ali said.
Modernisation of Guyana’s health sector remains top priority
WITH the aim of establishing a world-class healthcare system here in Guyana, the government has been making critical investments to improve both the sectors human resources and infrastructure.
The government has undertaken a comprehensive ‘manpower survey’ to evaluate the demand for qualified and skilled personnel.
Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo,recently disclosed that the government has initiated the recruitment and training of individuals to support the upcoming 12 hospitals, scheduled to be operational later this year and in early 2025.
“When those hospitals
start coming online by the end of this year and early next year…we have to have people [and] we are planning for that now. We are planning on management constantly,” the Vice President said.
Recently, he had outlined the government’s master plan to transform the health sector.
To this end, Jagdeo stated that new facilities are being constructed, while some existing ones are being rehabilitated.
The Vice President stated that the initiative was an integral component of the government’s manifesto plans, whereby the proceeds from oil and gas will be utilised for the advancement of infrastructure, healthcare, edu-
cation, support for vulnerable groups, and other sectors.
“We believe if you have healthy people, educated people, if you have a diversified economy, that even in the post oil and gas era, the country will continue to do very well,” Jagdeo had said.
Out of the 12 upcoming hospitals, six of them will be replacement facilities.
In region two
In Region Three, a modern hospital at De Kinderen will be constructed
In region four, the construction of the Enmore Regional Hospital along the East Coast of Demerara. Meanwhile, along the East
Bank of Demerara, the Little Diamond Regional Hospital is being constructed to support the Diamond Diagnostic Centre. Meanwhile, at Ogle, a specialised Maternal hospital is also under construction.
In Region Five, a new hospital is being constructed at Bath Settlement.
In Region Six, a brandnew hospital at No. 75 Village. (R), a new Hosipital is also being built at New Amsterdam
“Each of these hospitals will have several operating theatres and a whole range of services that current hospitals can’t provide in a modern environment. You don’t need a study to improve quality of healthcare; we know the
level of services we want to provide,” Jagdeo had said.
Last year marked the initiation of the construction of the Guyana Paediatric and Maternal Hospital at Ogle, East Coast Demerara.
In 2021, it was reported that the government was examining a maternal and children’s hospital that would offer specialised care to Guyanese.
The commencement of construction for the New Amsterdam Hospital, with a budget of US$161 million, took place in January of this year.
Upon its completion, the new facility will be interconnected with the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation
(GPHC), establishing connections with Mount Sinai Hospital in New York and other prominent hospitals worldwide through telemedicine.
The upcoming hospital will incorporate five operating theatres, with one dedicated to cardiac surgery, as well as state-of-the-art digital X-ray and CT scan equipment. This will be the second public facility that will accommodate an MRI machine and will be fully equipped for performing transplants. Two more buildings are set to be erected within the compound --one to serve as a teaching facility and the other as a modern psychiatric facility.
The Skeldon Hospital in Region Six is among the 12 new health facilities being constructed across the country
An artist's impression of the new hospital at New Amsterdam
Gov’t means business in its pursuit of world-class education target
— Dr. Jagdeo says; highlights several initiatives geared at enhancing education sector, improving lives of teachers — over 50 schools being built, rehabilitated
RECOGNISING that children and young people need to have “world-class” education to meet the needs of tomorrow, the government is continuing along its ambitious journey to enhance the sector in order contribute to its future leaders’ successes.
People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary and Vice-President, Dr.
Bharrat Jagdeo, during a recent press conference, highlighted that the government was briskly pursuing new technologies and ideas that will continue to transform the education sector.
In its 2020 manifesto, the PPP/C promised to “deliver quality education for all.” This includes improving access to education at every level from nursery to uni -
versity; raising the quality of education across all levels; and preparing students for the job market, especially at the technical and tertiary levels.
Notably, this promise is not lost, as within four years, the PPP/C administration has piloted a number of initiatives which have not only contributed to the nation’s economic transformation,
but also bettered the lives of its people.
Some initiatives include building, expanding and bettering education facilities across Guyana, improving remuneration and conditions of service for the nation’s educators while also offering them incentives and opportunities to evolve their skills and qualifications.
Dr. Jagdeo was ques -
tioned about the government’s pioneering initiative within the education sector which has led to the New St George’s School of Sciences being on track to opening its doors this September for the 2024-2025 academic year.
In this light, Dr. Jagdeo said that specialised schools are part of the overall plan for the nation.
He emphasised: “But let’s not lose sight of what we are trying to achieve in education as a whole.”
The Vice-President then touched on several initiatives that the government was pursuing.
He said: “So, right at the beginning, we need more people and better trained people to work now before we even get to school. Now, today, the demand of the workforce, our country is changing. The demands for skills are different.”
Dr. Jagdeo said that there are a vast number of opportunities within the emerging sectors and thus, training of citizens needs to be done.
“So, we have embarked on this massive training programme, the 50,000 that I told you, with all the reform of curricula, the short-term skills training, the creation of new institutes, etc…, like the ones I mentioned in Berbice, that’s the force element,” Dr. Jagdeo said.
In February of this year, President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, commissioned Guyana’s first state-of-the-art oil and gas training facility – The FacTor (Facility Simulator) – at Port Mourant, Berbice, Region Six.
The US$13 million (GY$2.6 billion) project is the first phase of the wider Guyana Technical Training College Inc.
The project was constructed through an alliance with the Government of Guyana, ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL), Hess and CNOOC.
The facility is designed to provide practical training for multiple programmes, enabling trainees to execute practice operations, troubleshooting, and maintenance activities in an environment that mirrors real-life plant conditions.
Also, Dr. Jagdeo related that the second element is increasing the budget for the school system. Some $135.2 billion has been allocated this year to realise the government’s vision of having a world-class education system.
Further, under the PPP/C administration, the wages and salaries have grown by 61 per cent. The wage bill increased from $24.4 billion in 2020 to $39 billion in 2023, representing a 61.4 per cent increase in salaries for teachers.
With these investments, Dr. Jagdeo said: “That would allow us to have better classrooms, more comfortable classrooms, equip them with the tools that we need to deliver modern education.”
The third element includes the training of teachers.
The Vice-President said: “So, of the 14,000 teachers, 6,000 are on the GOAL scholarship, 4,000 there and 2,000 have finished Cyril Potter College in the last year.”
Additionally, he noted that the government was looking at an e-school model and apart from this, already the PPP/C government has removed the corporate tax on education.
“So, it’s a combined set of things. And then looking at these specialised schools, maybe where you have an entire focus on a single subject area or a stream where, where children want to go into that particular stream, it would probably yield a better and a higher quality education,” the Vice-President further said.
He went on to say: “When we said a world class education to our people, we mean it and it would involve a ton of other things, including upgrade of teachers.”
50 SCHOOLS BEING BUILT, REHABILBITED Meanwhile, Education Minister Priya Manickchand recently disclosed that over 50 schools across Guyana are being either constructed or extended in a bid to improve access to education.
While Guyana has
Gov’t means business in its pursuit...
From page 10
achieved universal primary education, as noted by the United Nations, Manickchand stated that the country is left to achieve universal nursery and secondary education, and, as such, efforts are underway to facilitate this.
“All over Guyana, we want nursery-aged children to be able to access a nursery school. All over Guyana, we want secondary-aged children to be able to access secondary schools,” she said.
This year, she said the
government is building nursery schools across the country, along with several primary schools and secondary schools.
To this end, she indicated that while many critics have said that building schools mean nothing, this
was one of the promises the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) made in its manifesto.
As such, Manickchand noted, “Building a school allows children to go to school. Where there’s no school, there’s no place for children
to go, so it’s very easy for people to say we could boast about all the schools… To the people in the hinterland, if you don’t have a school, you can’t get a secondary education.”
Meanwhile, as part of increasing access to edu -
cation and improving education overall, the minister revealed that her ministry is working on a number of game-changing initiatives in relation to schools’ curriculum across the country.
The St. Georges School of sciences is among 27 secondary schools that are being built across the country. The new institution would serve as a second pathway for students to develop a passion for the medical sciences and is expected to be operational in September.
Democracy prevails after arduous journey
THREE years after successfully overcoming the efforts of the APNU+AFC to hold on to power, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) has not only
created a vibrant economy that is attractive and respected by people and governments the world over, but has also repaired a once tattered image of the nation by establishing democratic principles that guide the decisions of the administration.
to safeguard and promote democracy:
The following is a recap of the government’s efforts
Additionally, in keeping with its constitutional obligation, President, Dr. Irfaan Ali reconstituted various bodies, including the Public Service Commission, Police Service Commission, the Judicial Service Commission, Teaching Service Commission, Local Government Commission, Ethnic Relations Commission, Procurement Commission and Integrity Commission
The restoration of confidence in the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) with the remov-
al of persons implicated in the efforts to derail the 2020 elections, cleared the way for the successful execution of the Local Government Elections. The PPP/C
won 67 of the 80 Local Authority Areas, after securing significant support in known strongholds of the APNU/PNC. (Continued on pages 18 and 20)
President Dr. Irfaan Ali; Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C. and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira with the new Police Service Commission appointees (Office of the President photo)
Democracy prevails after arduous...
President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, in June 2022, announced that the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the events that followed polling day on March 2, 2020, general and regional elections would be chaired by retired Justice of Appeal, Stanley John, and will include former Attorney-General, High Court judge and acting Justice of Appeal in the Eastern Caribbean, Godfrey P. Smith, S.C.; Former Chair and Chief Elections Commissioner of India, Dr. S.Y. Quraishi, and, Former
Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Carl Singh, OR CCH
In April, 2023, it was reported that the (CoI) into the events of the 2020 General and Regional Elections found that there was collusion and collaboration between senior GECOM
officials to divert votes to the APNU +AFC instead of safeguarding and preserving the integrity of the electoral system.
After careful scrutiny, the CoI commissioners concluded that there was a conscious and deliberate – even brazen
–effort to violate the provisions of section 84(1) of the Representation of the People Act (RoPA)
July 2024 marked the commencement of the trial for nine individuals accused of electoral fraud, in a case that has captured
national attention. The defendants, including prominent political figures and former election officials, are facing charges related to alleged manipulations and irregularities during the 2020 general elections. (Continued on page 20)
President, Dr. Irfaan Ali (third from left) and Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton (left) at the meeting, along with Attorney-General, Anil Nandlall (right) and Member of Parliament, Roysdale Forde
Vice-President, Bharrat Jagdeo led a team that engaged with civil society in December, 2021, on the final consultation on the draft Local Content Policy before it was tabled in the National Assembly
Democracy prevails after arduous...
L-R: Justice of Appeal (Ret’d) of Turks and Caicos, Stanley John; former Justice of Appeal (ag) in the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, Godfrey P. Smith; former Chief Election Commissioner of India, Dr S. Y. Quraishi and former Chancellor of the Judiciary (Guyana), Carl Singh
President Dr. Irfaan Ali receives the elections CoI report from Chairman of the Commission, retired Justice of Appeal, Stanley John (Photo by Adrian Narine)
Youth, middle to low-income families targeted in major agriculture plans
THE development of the agriculture sector and sustainable food security have long been key objectives for Guyana’s current administration. At a press conference on Thursday last, President Mohamed Irfaan Ali shared some of the proactive and commendable advancements currently taking place in the sector and the role the nation’s people will play in it.
The Brackish Water Shrimp project is among the innovative ventures and is reportedly doing exceedingly well. Speaking about this project and others in the aquaculture sector, the President noted, “In 2023, production soared by 54 per cent compared to 2022. From 2021 to 2023, there was an increase of 755 per cent, from 112,000 kg to almost a million kg.”
He further added, “The target is to achieve a production of 1.5 million kg by 2025. The prawns project
is going exceedingly well, with 10 ponds under construction. The first pond is already stocked. With three crop cycles annually for 10 ponds, we can achieve a production of 360 tons of shrimp valued at 1.4 billion Guyana dollars.”
The President emphasised that these endeavours aim to prove the country’s model to the larger banking sector. He added that this is just the first step in developing the sector to provide young Guyanese with better opportunities by supplying them with more than 100 acres of land, with 35 per cent being allocated to women.
“We are going to work with them, with technical support from Indonesia, our support, extension support from the Ministry of Agriculture, and financing from the bank.”
He further added, “We are going to deploy that land as assets to the bank and develop large-scale production
in that area owned by young people of Guyana. Building opportunities in our food production and food security plan and creating business opportunity and growing more young people to middle and upper level of the economic system.”
Low and middle-income
families are also a major focus for the sector. The President gave a detailed outline of a new project said to be developed with low-income individuals and families in mind.
“We are launching a new product for low-income families, a homestead approach. We are looking to develop 50
by 100 plots on the highway, which would be as productive as a five-acre plot. We want to give low-income houses at the same price but add a number of coconut trees or breadfruit in the front yard, linking this to future agro-processing facilities.”
He added, “At the back of the yard, we will have a shade house measuring 20 by 40. We also plan to install solar systems to support low electricity costs for the homes. Economically, this shade house would comfortably carry the load for the home and give that family income. We are targeting 500 families in the first instance, with a project cost of around six billion dollars. We are looking to get the local private sector and the banking sector involved in this so we can create wealth in every level of our society.”
In stating major achievements for the year, the Presidnet added that coconut pro-
duction has increased by 50 per cent; by 2025, the government aims to be self-sufficient in black-eyed peas and red beans. Approximately 450 hectares have been cultivated with an investment of close to US$3 million. The corn and soy project is also progressing rapidly, growing from 125 acres in 2021 to more than 10,000 acres. The sector is on track to cultivate 25,000 acres of corn and soy twice annually.
Addressing feed production and prices, the President explained, “Now we will be able to manufacture feed here, reducing costs for farmers. Similarly, for aquaculture, with the investments we are making, by the second quarter of next year, we should see the cost of feed for the aquaculture sector reducing by 50 per cent. All of this will enhance our competitiveness and create great opportunities.”
