Celebrating 21 years of the restoration of democracy in Guyana - from a position of hopelessness in 1992, the PPP/C administration has restored pride and hope to Guyanese
Sunday, 06 October 2013 00:48, Source
INTRODUCTION
FROM a nation that had been categorised as undeveloped, and rated as the poorest in the Hemisphere along with Haiti; one that had been declared un-creditworthy, over which a dark night had descended, reducing its citizens to a voiceless mass; denying them the basic rights of freedom of assembly, and of protest; stripping them of their dignity by causing them to join long queues from the midnight hour for basic food items.
This was the land, in which many a brave voice, like the heroic Walter Rodney and others, who dared to challenge the regime, paid the supreme penalty. From a land that promised so much at the dawn of independence, and where hopes were high for a country with a participatory voice for all, Guyana was gradually reduced to a land of infamous incidents, such as Jonestown, where over 900 residents of that hapless commune were forced to commit ritual suicide in one of the darkest chapters of Guyana’s history.
But, there were still brave and patriotic Guyanese for whom freedom and its natural attribute, dignity, was a prize that had worth the struggle. It was this engagement, the natural call of patriots that compelled the undivided attention of the People’s Progressive Party and its great leader, the indomitable Dr. Cheddi Jagan, and other progressive forces.
A GREAT VISION OF LEADERSHIP
Since assuming office in 1992, these years of PPP/C government must be described as a period that has been filled with numerous and richly rewarding achievements. Its determination of not ever allowing the dangerous forces of negativism, and saboteurs to stymie its vision for a better Guyana for all, regardless of ethnicity or party affiliation. It stood its ground. In the end, because of its innovative vision, patriotic dedication and leadership – it has made Guyana a shining success story, worthy of emulation.
A LAND ON ITS BACK!
It is correct to describe Guyana as a country that had no democratic freedoms at the dawn of PPP/C government, apart from the destruction of every facet of social infrastructure. Guyana had sunk to a level of such primitiveness, that it was bracketed with Haiti! As a nation, its internal socio-economic picture was of such that internationally, particularly among CARICOM sister nations; it became a pariah, with Guyanese nationals becoming the butt of much disrespect and discriminatory patterns of behaviour at most Caribbean island ports.
THE GREAT DEMOCRAT AND WORKING CLASS CHAMPION TAKES CHARGE
The revered leader, Dr Cheddi Jagan, always a democrat who believed in the people, envisaged a nation in which all of its citizens must have a voice in its future direction and development.
With the true champion of the nation at its helm, Guyana once again became a nation where all voices of differing shades of political, social and economic opinion mattered. This was exemplified with the re-opening of the media, that re-birthed freedom of expression, allowing all to be heard, including those who had an agenda of open hostility – they still do – to a government that, despite its already plethora of virile critics, was set on its course of restoring the dignity of the people. With another private newspaper in print, the letter columns were inundated, as they still are, with numerous opinions, views and advice of Guyanese, here and afar, as to the directions that their beloved country ought to take. This was also reflective of the State-owned daily. It was the flowering of the true will of the people, an understanding that the great Leader embraced, and which he knew had been necessary for good governance.
POWER BACK TO THE GRASS ROOTS
In any democracy full citizens’ participation is the litmus test of true governance, and this is best reflective at the grass root level, where for the first time in the modern political history of the nation, in 1994, local government elections were held. As a reminder, since local government is about the devolution of authority, this meant in the Guyana context, that the communities were given back their power to make decisions on matters that impacted their daily wellbeing.
REBUILDING THE NATION’S LIFEBLOOD
A country’s infrastructure is indicative of the kind of socio-economic strategy that it engages for its material success and, in the process, its people. Using all the superlatives to describe what has taken place in Guyana in the ensuing 21 years, would be most appropriate as it relates to the miracle/revolution that has occurred, so evident throughout the ten Administrative Regions.
Supported by billions of dollars from the national budget, that has risen exponentially, there has been a massive refurbishment/construction of over 1000 schools, extending to areas where there were none prior; construction of 4 diagnostic and treatment centres; a new national laboratory; a national ophthalmological hospital; a four-fold increase in the number of trained and qualified medical officers, nurses and allied health workers; post-graduate training programmes for doctors; a refurbished and updated central health system that includes a heart care facility, a burns unit, cancer treatment centre, etc, –all designed for a better delivery of quality health care to the nation. The fact that the budgetary allocations for these two very critical social sectors in 2013, have been $19.2B and $28.7B, respectively, is indicative of the highest priorities placed in these two sectors for their central role in the modernisation process. In fact, both sums were given increased levels of $2.5B, and $2.2B over their 2012 figures.
The nation’s roads, bridges, culverts, and street lighting interventions are a revelation in a nation that seeks to become modernised, in its quest for an economy that underpins commerce and business development. It must be explained that the expansion, rehabilitation, and maintenance of especially the road network system is designed to reduce transportation costs, facilitate market access, while concomitantly creating linkages with the Hinterland communities. The extension of the already built four-lane highway on the East Bank Demerara is underway, the aim of which is to extend this from Providence, all the way to Diamond. In the process, 16 bridges and culvert replacement works are also simultaneously in progress throughout this fast emerging transformed and modernised corridor. This entire project carries a price tag of US$17.5M.
A similar construction of a four-lane highway is currently in progress on the East Coast Demerara, from Better Hope to Montrose, at a cost of $463M. For other road works, an investment of $12.6B had been budgeted for 2013. This is testament to a programme that is inclusive of every region.
In keeping with government’s policy of ensuring increase development and production, as well as improving the quality of life for citizens, most of our coastalways are now electrified. In fact, the entire East Coast Demerara, East Bank Demerara, and West Demerara areas are now brightly illuminated. This is part of the Unserved Areas Electricity Programme (UAEP), that have facilitated energy supply to areas, where there had been previously none. In 2013, there has been a budgetary allocation of $16.4B for the installation of Wartsila engines at Vreed-en-Hoop, with the process already started; construction and upgrading of seven substations, and installation of transmission lines from Sophia to Onverwagt.
AMERINDIANS FULLY INCLUDED IN THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
Pursuing a policy of every ethnic group and their community being a part of the national development process, our Amerindian communities have been the focus of a special Hinterland development project series. These individual components inclusive of Agriculture, Education, Electricity, Health, Housing, Water, and Roads, have been designed to build capacity in Hinterland communities, enabling self-sufficiency among its citizens, while in the process bringing Amerindians within the mainstream of national life. This objective has been realised with the latter representing a growing presence in every section of the public service, and in the professions.
A significant success of this Hinterland socio-economic strategy has been the success of its Electrification programme component that has installed almost 11,000 solar panel home systems in 161 communities. This will be extended to other areas such as Batavia, Micobie, Princeville, Murawa, Annai and Aishalton. Call this unprecedented since most Amerindian communities were never electrified. Apart from this, $73M was expended for construction, upgrade and extension of power distribution at Matthews Ridge, Moruca and Barabina. Underlining this special emphasis on Amerindian socio-economic development and the enshrining of their rights, has been the upgrading of the antiquated Amerindian Act. This has resulted in the Amerindian Act, 2006. The unique formulation of the latter has been the full involvement of Amerindian communities in the drafting of this Act, by way of community meetings and discussions.
A WELL MANAGED ECONOMY – THE PIVOT OF THE NATION’S SUCCESS
But the above successes would never have been achieved without a successfully managed economy, whose managers must be commended for their understanding of fiscal prudence and policies that have not impeded growth; created an enabling environment, encouraged very successful private sector participation by offering incentives; public private participation in joint ventures such as the Berbice Bridge and the great building boom; attracted unprecedented investment from the Diaspora, and most important, foreign direct investment. Without doubt, these have been the reasons for the national economy being able to sustain a growth rate of average 5% for the seventh consecutive year, in addition to a current inflation rate of 4.3%. It is even more remarkable that such a positive momentum has been maintained, given the debilitating global meltdown that has wreaked havoc with the economies of many rich industrial nations, and severely constrained those in the CARICOM constellation.
As an indicator of the undeniable confidence in Guyana’s economy, the following sectors returned the following performances for 2012: Gold recorded a record high of 438,645 ounces in 2012; an increase of 20.8% over 2011production; non-production agriculture experienced a growth level of 5.3%; livestock increased by 14.4%; fisheries by 15.5%; wholesale and retail trade notched a 6.7% elevation in growth, while finance and insurance achieved a 13.8% performance.
It must be emphasised, also, that at the end of 2012, there was a healthy Bank of Guyana reserve of US$862.2M, and a balance of payment surplus of $12.4M.
Other noteworthy achievements of the PPP/C government during its continuingly, highly successful tenure in office include – the broadening of Constitutional rights; reducing the national debt burden by 90% , a process that enabled vital sums to be diverted to critical social sector development areas; holding of free and fair elections, on a periodical basis; advancing and consolidating multi-party democracy; improving the security of the nation by involving citizens in policing activities – the installation of community policing groups in all the Ten Administrative regions; increasing basic wages in the Public Service; reducing inflation and creating job opportunities; providing land titles to Amerindian communities, and improving their wellbeing through the implementation of a specialized Hinterland development programme series; a visionary, national housing programme that has resulted in over 100,000 house lots distributed to mostly low income Guyanese, resulting in the regularisation of over 200 squatting settlements into posh housing schemes; and pursuing mutually beneficial trade relations.
These facts, that have illustrated the success of this nation’s transformation, from a position of hopelessness in 1992, tells the story of a government that has clearly delivered, and continue to do so, on its given mandate to govern this nation in the interests of all its peoples, implementing policies for the improvement of their individual lives, while in the process making this country a beacon of which all can be proud.
