Guyana faces serious challenges in the medium term and to aggressively alleviate poverty we must:
Firstly, reverse the low growth rates of the last decade. That requires incentivising the private sector to become the engine of growth and stop all these wild state investment in project feasible for private sector intervention such as the Marriot Hotel.
Second, complete reconstruction of the key infrastructure deficiencies that were highlighted by the 2005 flood - yes we must complete the Hope Canal ON TIME and IN BUDGET.
This canal is right now running over time, not to engineering specs and running over budget and is shaping up to be an act of mass squander-mania.
We should be investing heavily in the productive capacity of the nation such as launching a full technical commission of inquiry into Guysuco, the functioning of MMA and all other state institutions that are hampering the productive capacity of the nation.
Third, create a business-friendly and politically stable environment that will attract direct foreign investment and stem the migration of its entrepreneurs and professionals.
This clearly means TRIPARTITE TALKS, POLITICAL NEGOTIATION, MATURE LEADERSHIP.
What the PPP must recognize is that is they continue to play to the gallery and pretend that they are still the majority, Guyana shall not progress.
A SPADE MUST BE CALLED A SPADE. Politically Guyana has a majority in opposition and a minority in the executive and thee two centres of political power must find a mechanism to "DANCE TOGETHER IN THE NATION'S INTEREST".
It will mean the PPP cannot operate as if they have a majority and it does mean that the PPP must call off its DOGS OF WAR in the news media and stop assassinating the character of the opposition politicians. Latest victim was Gerhard Ramsaroop. How will they be able to motivate Gerhard as an example to sit with them and mold the nation?
Overcoming these challenges is integral to the nation's capacity to meet its poverty reduction and MDG commitments.