FROM its genesis the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has always championed the cause of the working class; it is even argued that the PPP evolved from the womb of the working class. It is therefore within this framework that successive PPP/C Governments from 1992 have been taking necessary and practical measures at governmental and other levels, in the best interest of workers of Guyana. Some of these measures include regular wage increases on an annual basis, schemes for affordable housing throughout the nation, smothering of escalating fuel prices to keep down the cost of living, improvements in social services and the utilities and overall improvements in health care and medical services.
One can just return to the devastating Global Fuel and Food crisis of 2008/2009 and analyze how Guyana was able to ensure its macroeconomic fundamentals remained intact. Inflation rate for 2008 was 6.40% which was lower than the 14.05% rate in 2007. With increased trade, the total transactions on the foreign exchange market continued to grow and the key monetary aggregates grew with increased economic activity.
Because of the global food and fuel crisis, food prices in Guyana increased by 27.2% last year; and the Government moved to cushion the effects of such a scenario by increasing the tax threshold by 25% from $28,000 to $35,000 per month, and for some time now removed the value added tax (VAT) from a number of items.
In 2009, low-income public servants were offered a monthly stimulus package which included a 5% increase in wages and salaries, and the $4000 temporary cost-of-living adjustment for persons earning below $50,000.
Fast forward to the 2012 budget and we see once again that this budget was primarily crafted with the working class in mind taking into consideration a holistic outlook and matching measures with economic realities. For example the Income Tax Threshold has been increased by 20% which means 21,000 more Guyanese will no longer pay this tax.

Today, the need for some patriotism, commitment and cooperation by the people is necessary to sustain our country’s economic achievements. And so, it is evident from the above, that efforts are being made to maintain a good macroeconomic environment and to ensure that Guyana’s economic and social development continues to propel upwards. Having said that, it is necessary that we as a nation ensure that our successes are not sacrificed at the altar of insular politics that we see being currently played out by the combined opposition. Guyana has come a long way from 1992 and we will continue in this vein.