Let the truth be told: Now is the time for the AFC
Dear Editor,
For its entire life since independence, Guyana has little to show to demonstrate it has evolved as a nation, thanks to the misrule of the PPP and the PNC. Annual rates of population growth have averaged less than one per cent, yet countries that started this race of economic development after us are now at the front of the pack when we are still one of the poorest in the Western Hemisphere.
Guyana is not on the road to meet all the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) notwithstanding that it has above average financial and technical support from the international community. Poverty is on the rise again, child mortality has not reduced by two-thirds as promised by the PPP, while the maternal mortality rate in Guyana remains relatively high.
Too many of our people remain poor, too many children and mothers are dying at childbirth but yet we have money to build the Marriott Hotel but not to fix the basic healthcare system. We have money to build a new airport with only one airline (Caribbean Airlines) to service the more than 500,000 Guyanese in the Diaspora but not to rebuild the road on the East Bank of Berbice. We have money to build a new Specialty Hospital, but the government has poorly managed the public hospitals which are understaffed and without adequate medical supplies.
The world lifted Guyana’s debt relief that moved our debt burden from over 209 percent of the GDP in 2001 to just 60 percent of the GDP in 2007. This was a golden opportunity to invest in job creation projects. Instead the PPP regime has invested in projects that benefit their business buddies and which hired foreigners rather than Guyanese workers.
There are serious social and economic challenges in the form of high crime rates, incessant corruption, and high youth unemployment. While this is a pretty abysmal picture, it is not drawn in permanent ink. Changes could still be made to improve the lives of the masses.
The PNC and the PPP have had 50 years combined and were unable to bring about any change for the better in Guyana. We proudly say let the truth be told, now is the time for the AFC. An AFC government would make the development of Guyana its number one priority
We believe that Guyana could break the vicious cycle of chronic crimes, corruption and poverty if it has a government that will implement and sustain credible reforms, supported by all. This requires a comprehensive economic programme and a deficit reduction strategy – without compromising social expenditure – to attack poverty, child and maternal mortality and improve the quality of education delivery.
As we see it, Guyana needs a government that will grapple with the short-term economic vulnerabilities of borrowing more and running up an unsustainable deficit; basically not living within their means. But even more importantly, Guyana needs a government that will start to address the deep-rooted structural impediments to sustain stronger economic growth.
For example, the country needs a new tax system that is fair and predictable; instilling confidence and promoting investment and employment. Both the PPP and the PNC/ APNU had their chance to develop such a programme and they failed Guyana. Isn’t it time for the people to try the AFC model as outlined in its Action Plan.
Our reading of the utterances of Moses Nagamootoo and Nigel Hughes clearly revealed two mature and deep thinking and sincere leaders who are ready to build support across political lines to progress the people’s ambitions as outlined in the National Development Strategy. Hughes has just revealed his 2020 vision and Nagamootoo has revealed his plans to engage the working class into the new developmental model to fast forward Guyana’s progress.
Unlike the PPP and PNC/APNU, the AFC leaders have signaled their intention to engage the private sector and to get them fully involved in the country’s development process.
We encourage those two men to share their dreams for the masses with the people in the villages, on the culverts and at the street corners as Walter Rodney did during the 1970s. Street-side politics and meeting the people in their communities and at their doorsteps are a sure way of gaining their support. Change is coming to Guyana. 
Dr. Asquith Rose and Harish S. Singh
