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WEEKEND MIRROR 6-7 AUGUST, 2022
PPP/C committed to upliftment of all Guyanese – President Ali O
n the second anniversary of the PPP/C Administration’s return to office, President Dr. Irfaan Ali has issued a call for Guyanese to band together under the ‘One Guyana’ umbrella to further advance the transformational agenda that will lead to the betterment of all Guyanese. In an address to the nation on Tuesday (August 2, 2022), the Head of State while reflecting on the fight for democracy, said he remains humbled by the confidence placed in his administration by the people to lead Guyana. “Together we have a lot to
do, together we have already accomplished a lot, together we have overcome many challenges, the mere fact that I sit before you today is as a result of the collective will of the Guyanese people not to allow a few to derail democracy, rob you of your rights, rob you of your fundamental right of placing that vote,” President Ali stated. He noted that the administration has been delivering on all fronts, surpassing many of the targets in the manifesto. President Ali highlighted the transformation ongoing in
the agriculture, energy, education, health and housing and water sectors, as well as strides in human resource development and job creation, among a plethora of other initiatives, which have all led to the shift in the country’s economic and social outlook. However, the Head of State pointed to a bigger task ahead, which requires the involvement of all Guyanese. He said, “We have to change ourselves inside, we can’t only be beautiful as a country outside, we the people, we the citizens of this country, must change
ourselves from the inside so that we can develop the best possible character that can take our country forward, that could build each other as brothers and sisters, that can allow us to have respect for the environment in which we live, that would allow us to do what is right and good for our country, that would allow us to be true patriots.” The President made reference to the ‘Because We Care’ cash grant, increase in pension, efforts to provide better healthcare and his administration’s commitment to
ensuring that public servants have the best possible package that will see improvements in their quality of life. Further, the Head of State assured that there are more benefits to come as government continues on its upward trajectory. He pointed out that all these developments are taking place, while the country was tackling a threat to its democracy, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the national flooding disaster, among other challenges. The President Ali-led government was sworn into
office on August 2, 2020 after months of legal battles following attempts by the former APNU+AFC coalition government to steal the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections. Civil society groups, international organisations and other ordinary Guyanese came together to ensure that democracy prevailed. The PPP/C government has promised to ensure those responsible for the illegal acts are brought to justice. A Commission of Inquiry has since been established to determine those culpable.
GOVERNMENT OF GUYANA
STATEMENT ON 2ND ANNIVERSARY OF THE
‘ TRIUMPH OF DEMOCRACY’
T
he official swearing-in of the newly elected Government of Guyana on August 2, 2020, led by His Excellency, Dr. Mohammed Irfaan Ali, was without question a watershed moment for the preservation of the democratic credentials of Guyana. The PPP/C Administration is already two years into the economic and social transformation of Guyana which will see the empowerment of every citizen in every part of the country. The government has been keeping true to the elections manifesto of the ruling party to build a multi-dimensional economy that is robust for national transformation and
resilient to global shocks. The housing transformation programme which commenced prior to 2015 has been expanded and intensified to meet the needs of a considerable number of Guyanese seeking to become homeowners. Land allocation, affordable turn-key housing, more accessible mortgage facilities with lower interest rates, construction material assistance and a government home construction assistance facility are among the initiatives already available across the country. This government-led drive is being augmented by significant private sec-
tor developments in gated communities and villages, condominiums, and high-rise residential complexes. Diversification of the traditional agriculture sector has been prioritised for transition to more large-scale and scientific approaches to crop production and animal husbandry, while the value-added aspects of the industry rooted in agro-processing have already begun blossoming in several areas, including fresh milk production. The expanded and integrated tourism sector across the areas of hospitality, wellness, sports, and ecological tourism are undergoing rapid transformation.
Several internationally branded hotels are already under construction, while international grade eco resorts will begin taking shape shortly. These will generate jobs for Guyanese. Construction of a specialty paediatric and maternity hospital will commence shortly, and the facility will be furnished with European equipment and managed with Mount Sinai health systems and protocols while supported by a wider health sector complex featuring other specialty services and institutions of learning and research. The sports arena will see several new stadia and sup-
porting facilities in Linden, Berbice and elsewhere. With regards to infrastructure, new interconnecting highways across the east coast and west coast, east and west banks, the Corentyne and the Linden-Soesdyke highway and the Pan-American route to Brazil are all under some phase of development or construction. New bridges across the Demerara and the Corentyne rivers will fully connect the Guyana Shield and the new modern city earmarked for the Timehri-Soesdyke area. Meanwhile, new industrial estates are planned for the east and west coasts and Linden.
Natural gas being piped to shore from the offshore oil and gas basin, along with wind, solar and hydroelectric power will comprise a sustainable energy mix to power the country’s economic transformation at lower costs. Since returning to office, the government has made interventions to remove more than one hundred burdensome taxes that were levied by the APNU-AFC Administration, while restoring many social benefits which the Coalition scrapped. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, cash grants were issued to all Guyanese, while farmers, en(Turn to page 19)
