President Irfaan Ali has promised that his government will continue its pledge to improve the lives of citizens as a new year begins. In his New Year’s address to the nation, the President said the future of Guyana is bright and promising and his government has set Guyana on a course of sustained growth and prosperity.

“The New Year – 2024, will see us advance more rapidly along this path as we shape the destiny of present and future generations. In the next couple of weeks, we will unveil the 2024 Budget. This Budget will detail our expenditure and revenue plans for the coming year. It will deliver on our promise to continuously improve the lives of Guyanese”, President Ali said.

He noted that in addition to continued improvements of infrastructural and public services in 2024, there will also be increased investments in agriculture and additional measures to cushion the effects of the rise in the cost of living.

“Cost-of-living interventions will be made to cushion any spikes in prices in our economy. We want to put more money into the pockets of people. Our policy making matrix will address this ideal and the idea of putting more money in the pockets of our people. Workers will continue to benefit from increases in their wages and salaries, augmenting the other measures, which we will take to enhance household disposable incomes”.

Citizens have been complaining bitterly about the rise in the cost of living, with public servants noting that the 6.5% salary increase announced for them, will do very little to ease the strain of higher prices in the market places.

In 2023, the Government introduced a menu of measures that were aimed at easing the cost of living woes, but the problem persisted with prices rising steadily throughout the year.

The President highlighted a number of planned projects and major initiatives that will be rolled out in this new year, noting that “works will commence on the construction of a new international–branded hotel near the Georgetown Seawall. Ongoing construction of other hotels will be intensified. Guyana’s energy security plans will be advanced through the ongoing works for the building of a gas-to-shore energy plant that will reduce energy costs. The hinterland electrification program will be expanded to bring electricity to more hinterland residents.”

He said there will also be additional investment to build up the country’s defence capabilities, while attention will be paid to social and health programmes to cover the population.

The President said this year will see the roll out of a robust plan to further advance the security architecture and infrastructure of the communities across Guyana and the country itself, while direct policies and policy orientation will be introduced to expand the tourism product.

President Ali also said a national conversation on the use of the roadways will take place, as part of a broader strategy to address the carnage on Guyana’s roads.

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