TODAY begins another new year and after the dust would have settled following the traditional celebrations, frolic and fun it would be time to get back to basics and chart the course of our lives as we strive to improve in various ways.

Looking back at the past year, our country has made tremendous developmental strides, but there are several disappointing and worrisome issues which pose a severe challenge for our future development and advancement.
On the positive side, we have seen another year of solid economic growth of 5% with almost all sectors showing robust growth. It has been another record-breaking year for rice production which was some 532,000 tonnes while gold declaration reached an unprecedented 458,000 ounces. The collapsed bauxite industry has been revitalised through huge investments by the Chinese company BOSAI and its Russian counterpart RUSAL. Also in the mining industry there have been massive foreign direct investments and from all indications, the discovery of oil seems to be very probable and provides an exciting prospect for the future of our socio-economic development.
The housing boom which began several years ago continued last year and even drew commendation from visiting St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves. We once again copped the best student award along with five other top awards at the CXC examination.
On the other side of the balance sheet, crime, traffic congestion and accidents, the narco-trade and its associated negative spin-offs, domestic violence, the horrible state of Georgetown and the unfavourable political climate, which is hindering our national development, are posing severe challenges to our country. Perhaps changing the latter to a more favourable situation is a major prerequisite to resolving all the other major challenges. Unfortunately, we have seen the opposition parties using their combined one-seat majority to further their nefarious political agenda at the expense of the national interest.
In this regard, we have seen the Amaila Falls hydro-project stalled which is a terrible blow to our developmental thrust because singularly it has the potential to dramatically transform and accelerate economic development.
In addition, the refusal of the opposition to support the vital anti-money laundering bill has now placed us in a precarious and vulnerable position with respect to facing financial and economic sanctions much to the nation’s peril.
Attempts have also been made to block crucial projects such as the CJIA expansion and modernisation and the specialty hospital through budgetary cuts.
But worse yet is that the opposition have been using issues of national interests as bargaining chips to further their selfish political agenda. Political competition is the norm in any democracy, but when it degenerates into political acrimony and antagonism it is the entire nation that suffers, rather than just the government.
Therefore, it is hoped that as the new year is ushered in, we would diligently and sincerely work to change the political culture to one where political competition is conducted with civility and putting Guyana first as we embark on a path of peace, progress and prosperity.
The Guyanese people have endured much suffering in the struggle to break the colonial yoke and bring an end to a long reign of dictatorship in that dark period in our history.
The Guyanese people, therefore, deserve better, but this lies in our ability and commitment towards ensuring Guyana comes first rather than the pursuit of narrow and selfish interests.