PEOPLE’S PROGRESSIVE PARTY
The dawn of a New Year offers an opportune moment for reflection on successes and failures, an assessment of strengths and weaknesses, the charting of relevant courses for personal advancement, and the move forward for the collective prosperity as a nation.
In reflecting on 2017, Guyanese faced many challenges – our democratic gains were challenged and the areas where other gains were made saw setbacks. However, the resoluteness of our people proved unwavering, demonstrating that the spirit of the Guyanese people will not be broken in times of adversity. This is commendable and a hallmark of our people.
While 2018 will bring new challenges, it is the People’s Progressive Party’s fervent hope that the New Year will also bring success and joy to all of our people. It is our Party’s wish that all Guyanese will remain steadfast in hope and that Guyanese will assiduously endeavour to work for the betterment of our nation and fellow citizens.
May we all be imbued with a sense of renewal, activism and enthusiasm as we embark on a New Year. May our humanitarian spirit remain strong as we keep in thoughts and prayers those who have been placed at a disadvantage.
As we herald the beginning of a New Year, the People’s Progressive Party takes this opportunity to extend to Guyanese at home and in the Diaspora and their extended families, best wishes for a peaceful, prosperous and productive 2018. The People’s Progressive Party would also like to take this opportunity to commend and recognise the growing support of our Guyanese brothers and sisters both locally and overseas. This strengthens us and fortifies our resolve so that together we can confront whatever challenges the New Year can bring.
Once again best wishes for a joyous New Year!

PEOPLE’S NATIONAL CONGRESS REFORM
May Prosperity come to every home, family and community across the far-flung regions of our country.
The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) extends greetings for a Happy New Year to all Guyanese at home and in the Diaspora. The PNCR and its coalition partners in government, last year, faced many challenges. Thankfully, we are better together than asunder. As the New Year dawns, the PNCR calls on all Guyanese, regardless of race, ethnicity, political affiliation or religion, to participate in bringing about the transformation of our country so that Guyana’s vast resources may, at last, be made to serve the imperative for development and social advancement of all the people of Guyana.
On this, the first day of the New Year, it is our hope that all of us will realize a measure of prosperity in our personal lives and that each of us, wherever we may be, will endeavour to make some contribution, however small, to the development of our country. The PNCR, therefore, looks forward to participating, as it has successfully done in the past, in the continuing drive for the peaceful development of this dear land of ours. The Party wishes all Guyanese a very Happy New Year and looks forward to 2018 with optimism and hope.
May God Bless our Nation as we strive to provide a Good life for all Guyanese!

GUYANA PUBLIC SERVICE UNION
May the year 2018 bring all of Guyana the very best in every meaningful way. May our country climb to greater heights and may our people continue to prosper. I extend these sentiments on behalf of the Executive Council of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU). Most deservingly, may our members enjoy an uplifting New Year.
We in the GPSU have every reason to look forward to the New Year. The year that is now behind us was eventful in more ways than one and suffice to say, that we look forward to 2018 being a better year for our members.
Betterment, of course, has to be derived, in the first instance, from our relationship with our members’ employer, the Government of Guyana. We have done our own painstaking evaluation of that relationship and the conclusion that we reached is that much is left to be desired.
In various ways and on various occasions since the accession of the APNU-AFC administration to office, the GPSU had alluded to its desire for a qualitative change in its relationship with government. I say, unhesitatingly that our wish still remains to be fulfilled. We had hoped, perhaps above all else, that the winds of change would bring with them a relationship grounded in principle, in trust and in an enhanced official recognition of the critical importance of our members, the nation’s public servants.
Our biggest, better-sweet disappointment has to do with what we believe to be the volte face executed by the APNU-AFC Administration with regard to its undertaking whilst in opposition to focus frontally on a number of burning issues impacting both on the livelihoods and conducive work environment to augment the performance of public servants. Here, it is apposite to recall some of those issues including: The reinstatement of the agency fees agreement; The issuing of outstanding certifications of recognition; The finalisation of the Recognition Agreement to represent employees of the Guyana Revenue Authority; The restoration of Collective Bargaining; Remuneration of fair and realistic allowances; De-bunching and payment of in scale increments; The full and meaningful implementation of the Cabinet decision for Sweeper/Cleaners AND The return of GPSU real estate seized by the PPP/C Administration and the administration‘s tangible and meaningful support for the full and effective operation of the GPSU Sports Complex which exists for the recreation of its members and adjourning communities.
The neglect of these issues, to this very date, we say unapologetically, is reflective of an unacceptable absence of appreciation for the sacrifice and the attendant suffering which Public Servants continue to endure in the hope of ‘a better day.’
The GPSU had hoped, as well, that the APNU-AFC Administration would set its face against the unwanted intervention by the ‘dead hand’ of political intervention in the workings of the Public Service of our country. That, decidedly, has not been the case. Recently, elements of the incumbent administration deemed it appropriate to ‘engineer’ the return to the Public Service of a functionary who, not a hundred years ago, was removed from government employ for valid disciplinary reasons. Additionally, there have been several acts in conflict with the legitimate decisions of constitutional bodies. We condemn these acts of political interference and the institutions responsible for their administration.
No one can justifiably deny the protracted struggles of our members against the backdrop of numerous challenges. At this time we reflect on those commitments offered by the present political administration during its tenure in opposition to place the welfare and well-being of Public Servants much higher on government’s agenda. We say, regrettably, but without fear of contradiction, that there exists no persuasive evidence that it has kept its word. Politicians on all sides of the political divide continue to evince what, in our view, is an absence of sufficient regard for the value of the Public Servant. Here, it is not only a question of their labour being decidedly undervalued but also the value of their capabilities being cast aside.
It remains the position of the GPSU that the quality of its relationship with government can be measured only in terms of the extent to which the administration holding office demonstrates a strong and transparent mindfulness for the interests of our members. In this regard the GPSU wishes to restate its continued willingness to work with the incumbent administration towards that end though we wish to make clear our determination to remain unrelenting and uncompromising in our quest to compel the government to honour its promises and its obligations.
As we look towards this new year let us not forget, brothers and sisters, but remember that there is strength in numbers, as we work together for the betterment of all.
In closing, I would like to emphasise my sincere wishes for betterment, good health, safety and prosperity – to you, my fellow workers and your families for 2018. Long live the Cooperative Republic of Guyana! Long live the Guyana Public Service Union!

THE INDIAN ACTION COMMITTEE
The Indian Action Committee (IAC) wishes all Guyanese a Happy and Prosperous New Year.
The IAC, in its vision for a happy and prosperous 2018 wishes to have a safer and secure society; to observe improved relations between the government and the opposition; that all matters pertaining to the development of the petroleum industry in Guyana be made transparent and full accountability ensured; that a special public program be established for the benefit of the thousands of dislocated sugar workers who are currently facing severe economic hardship and a bleak future; to see the retraining of and issuing of former sugar lands to retrenched sugar workers; to witness the allocations of commercial space for small vendors; to see the urgent repair of the crumbling Soesdyke/Linden Highway; to have more overseas markets for Guyana’s rice production; to view drastic reductions in incidents of spousal abuse, substance abuse, and suicide; to observe increased gold production to offset decline in gold prices in 2018; to notice improved educational standards to counter declining results especially in Mathematics and English; to have increased youth employment both on the coast and the hinterland; and to see improved living conditions for the less fortunate elderly citizens.
The IAC wishes to inform all Guyanese especially those of Indo-Guyanese origin that the organisation will continue to pursue vigorously its three foci: cultural, educational and social work.
A high point will be the observance of the 180th year since the first batch of Indian indentured immigrants was brought to these shores.
The IAC encourages all citizens and leaders to make 2018 a peaceful and progressive year in which the economy experiences growth and development which is necessary for social cohesion and national unity!