By Svetlana Marshall

Painting a picture of gloom, the Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton, in his New Year’s address said the Opposition will continue to heap pressure on the Government until it implements measures to bring down the high cost of living, and simultaneously ensure the fair and equitable allocation of the country’s resources to the citizens of Guyana. 

The Opposition Leader said notwithstanding the country’s abundance of resources, the Government did little in 2023 to cushion the impact of the rise in the cost of living. The majority of Guyanese, he said, continue to live on the poverty line, while depending heavily on remittances.

“Most Guyanese would agree that the PPP made 2023 one of the hardest years in living memory. On the economic front, the cost-of-living kept surging as real incomes declined. Poverty and inequality increased. Living from pay-check to pay-check became a tougher challenge. Many parents, especially single parents, could not afford to properly feed their children,” Mr. Norton said. 

The Opposition Leader also noted that despite the hardships faced by citizens in 2023, the Irfaan Ali Administration showed “no urgency, no capacity, and no concern to ease the burden on the people.” 

Alluding to the country’s lucrative Oil and Gas Sector, the Opposition Leader said the vast majority of citizens of Guyana continue to be left out in the cold while the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) continue to enrich their “families, friends and favorites.”

He said though the budget is now nearing a trillion dollar, the country continues to regress. 

“Last year alone, the PPP spent close to $900 Billion. That is almost one trillion dollars! Yet, our country ranks among the worst on a range of human development or quality-of-life indicators. Guyana remains among the worst countries in which to live in terms of maternal and infant deaths, life expectancy, child poverty, food security, youth unemployment, and educational standards. Even more appalling, the PPP has made it crystal clear that it does not intend to pay a living wage, does not intend to significantly raise the tax-free threshold, and does not intend to significantly raise pensions and public assistance,” Mr Norton reason. 

Mr. Norton said in 2023, Guyanese witnessed further assaults by the PPP/C administration on governance and democracy. 

“Its assault on our freedoms of expression and association reached even more dangerous heights, as the recent court summons served on US-based political activist Rickford Burke starkly demonstrate,” Mr Norton said while accusing the Guyana Police Force of being a political tool. 

He said to make matters worse, the Cabinet Ministers and PPP/C loyalists continue to flout the law and escaping prosecution. 

“From the Dharamlall scandal to the oil audit scam to the unbridled corruption, Guyanese last year saw justice being perverted by those in high office, as the government sunk deeper into immorality, depravity and corruption,” the Opposition Leader said. 

He said throughout those crises, the Opposition carried on the fight, and will continue to heap pressure on the Government, until Guyanese are treated better. 

“For now, as the Opposition, on our agenda for 2024, we will stay the course in the fight for a fair, just and equitable Guyana. We will build more pressure on the government to implement cost of living relief measures and to ensure fair and equitable allocation of resources to citizens. We will persevere in the defense of our democracy and constitutional order and the rights and liberties of citizens and communities. We will continue to expose government corruption, discrimination, and ineptitude. We will intensify our demand for a clean voters list and biometrics at the place of poll,” Mr Norton said. 

According to Mr. Norton, the Opposition will continue to be vigilant to prevent the squandering of the country’s oil wealth, and will not relent. 

“Our people’s livelihood is at stake. The destiny of our country is at stake,” Mr Norton said, while calling on fair-minded Guyanese to join the Opposition in its campaign to rescue the country. He said as a collective, they can transform Guyana into a world-class and prosperous society. 

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