Promising to build on the foundation laid over the last five years, the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) unveiled its 72-page manifesto this evening with a vision to transform Guyana into a respected global leader in climate security, energy security and food security through the effective management of the country’s resources.
At the launch of the manifesto at the Pegasus Hotel, President Irfaan Ali said through sound macroeconomic management, responsible stewardship and strategic deployment of the country’s natural resources, and the continued expansion of the non-oil sectors, the PPP/C will ensure that the economy remains “strong.”
“Every aspect of this plan is based on maintaining macro-economic stability because the survival of our economy, the survival of our businesses, and ensuring that our future is a viable one depends heavily on the macro-economic stability. So, we have looked at many variables and indicators from the macro-economic prospective, looking for example, at monetary policies to promote economic growth and create financial stability, monetary policies that would enhance our competitiveness and stabilize prices and output,” the President said.
He anticipates that by 2030, oil production will skyrocket to 1.7 million barrels per day, generating enormous revenues and opportunities for the people of Guyana in both the oil and non-oil sectors.
Ali, in a passion appeal, said the PPP/C will support the creation of “quality jobs” by advancing economic diversification, improving access to finance, and cutting the cost of energy.
In the Bauxite Industry, the party is looking to refine bauxite to produce alumina, while in the Gold Mining and Logging Industries, President Ali said the PPP/C will make more lands available to small and minimum size miners and loggers.
“In mining, we are not only looking at land for small miners and land for small loggers, we want to help them, help them so that they can get access to capital, and form them to consortium, so they will have optimal utilization of machinery and technology, so that they can get more support. Help them with the infrastructure to get to their land, help them in value creation and value addition, those are the things we want to do,” the President explained.
In the Agriculture Sector, he said in addition to improving the country’s draining and irrigation system, a PPP/C Government will invest heavily in key industries within the Agriculture Sector, including the Sugar Industry. He said Sugar is too big to fail.
“We will continue to support the Sugar Industry because we know with the plan that we have, it is going to be viable, and it is too integrated in our economy for us to abandon it,” the President said.
The incumbent government is also banking on budding sectors like the Corn and Soya Industry.
Additionally, embedded in the manifesto is a regional development and economic transformation plan for every region of the country, the President said.
Those plans are intertwined in the party’s infrastructural plans that the President said would see improved road networks, the opening up of lands and construction of port facilities to further unlock the country’s economic potential while improving the quality of life of citizens.
“We start from Region One, we are already building out a new port facility at Port Kaituma, we are building out port facilities in Moruca and Mabaruma, we are giving them marine transportation, investing in marine transportation for our farmers, so we can reduce their cost of transport to take their products to the market, we are building our cold storage facility there. Already we have a new ferry coming to service the Region One area. We are expanding the cocoa and coffee production there, we are going to the five spices production. We are creating the processing facility and capability and we are bringing that and bridging that with a new regional port that we are developing in Charity,” the President said.
He said the PPP/C’s economic and infrastructure plans will enable families, entrepreneurs, and businesses right across Guyana to earn, save, invest, build, and thrive.
Ali assured that there will be no increase in taxes, or utility fees under the PPP/C Government.
Instead, he said the Government will reduce taxes, increase Old Age Pension, the Because We Care Cash Grant, Public Assistance, and introduce a new transportation grant for children among other fiscal measures intended to improve the lives of citizens.
Ali called on supporters of the PPP/C to remain strong, and to the “undecided” voters, he urged that they study the party’s manifesto and see that the PPP/C means business, and that it is determined to advance the people of Guyana and its people.
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