WITH a promise of the creation of thousands of jobs; 5,000 turnkey homes; a number of mega transformational projects; development funds for a number of geographical Regions and a complete overhaul of a number of Government institutions and systems, the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), yesterday launched its 2015-2020 Elections manifesto, all to be bank rolled with no mention of new taxes.Outlined by Presidential and Prime Ministerial Candidates, Donald Ramotar and Elisabeth Harper, the PPP/C’s Elections Manifesto, ‘Guyana Version 2.0’, sets out how the incumbent party seeks to continue serving all the people of Guyana, “so that our country is one where the next generation does even better than the past, with current transformation and modernisation.”

This Manifesto highlights the next phase of the party’s long-term economic plan, which builds on the progress that Guyana has made under successive PPP/C Governments.
“It also highlights how we will stay true to our own core values, and the deep enduring values of the PPP/C – to ensure that nobody get left behind as our country progresses.”
The party outlines its vision for Guyana over the course of the next five years to be pursued if elected to Office, as follows:

VISION 2020
* A united country where all our people regardless of gender, race, ethnicity or religious affiliation can continue to reach new heights in peace and harmony.
* A beacon of environmental stewardship for the rest of the world and a leader in charting a new developmental path for green growth.
* A country that is a model of cultural and religious tolerance.
* A democratic country governed by the rule of law and where the Constitution is sacrosanct; where the rights and freedoms of the individual are safeguarded and where there are effective and efficient law enforcement and judicial systems in place.
* A globally respected, sovereign and independent Guyana with secure borders, enjoying friendly and good relations with our neighbours.
* A country with a sustainable, expanded, modern and diversified economy with new frontiers of economic growth, job-creation programmes and transformative infrastructure.
* A Guyana with modern industries, innovative technologies, attracting investment, improving the competiveness of our goods and services and a Brand Guyana boosting growth.
In its quest to ensure a progressive economy, the PPP/C says: “Our vision for the future is one of an economy that is vibrant, resilient, and that will generate enough wealth to ensure that the aspirations of all our people can be realized in the shortest possible time.”
In its multi-pronged approach to the development of Guyana as outlined in its 2015 Manifesto, the party is seeking to strengthen the tradition sources of growth.
According to the 2015 Manifesto, captioned ‘Our Vision’, the PPP/C says once elected it will Improve Productivity and Competitiveness by:
* Reducing bureaucracy
* Simplifying the tax system
* Improving access to financing
* Promoting the use of technology
* Promoting a highly skilled workforce
* Providing energy security
* Marketing the Brand Guyana
* Expanding infrastructure and polices conducive to business development

The PPP/C said, too, that its economic plan is consistent with key and critical outcomes namely: Strong Economic Growth; Fiscal and Monetary Management; Economic Diversification; Job Creation; and a Strong Private Sector.
In order to catalyse new frontiers for transformative growth, under the next PPP/C Government, once elected, the party says the new economy of Guyana will be driven by buoyant growth and the expansion of the following sectors:
* Environmental and Climate Services
* Large scale mineral, oil, and gas exploration and extraction
* Energy Development, including renewable energy
* Large scale agriculture, agro-processing and agro-business
* Information and Communications Technology Services
* Tourism and Hospitality
* Transformative Infrastructure

As it relates to improving living standards and quality of life for Guyanese, the party in its manifesto documents, said that it “has always argued that the real test of the success of any development process lies in the happiness of all the people.”
According to the PPP/C, “The resources and wealth of Guyana belong to all of us…Social and economic growth must reach all citizens, wherever they live and must lead to greater equity.”
As a result, the party says in order to support growth and new employment generating sectors, the following Infrastructural Developments will be pursued:
* Amaila Falls Hydro Project
* Deep Water Harbour
* New Demerara River Bridge
* Airport Modernization and Expansion
* Corentyne River Bridge to Suriname
* Lethem/Brazil Road Corridor
* East Bank Road Corridor
* East Coast Road Corridor
* Sustainable Urban Transport

The PPP/C in its manifesto said: “Our highest priority will be to create a Guyana where every person of working age is able to obtain gainful and fulfilling employment and/or become self-employed…For this to be realised, we will ensure that educational opportunities expand, placing special emphasis on better alignment with the skill requirements of the new productive sectors.”
As a result, the job creation agenda would be further supported by:
* Strengthening the efficient and transparent delivery of targeted poverty alleviation programmes to end poverty in Guyana
* Identifying the most vulnerable villages of the country for special developmental programmes
* Gainfully employing rural poor in agriculture and allied industrial activities
* Reviewing the impact of taxes and other factors on cost of living
* Periodic review of the regime business taxes to encourage greater investment by large, medium and small scale businesses
* implementing measures to improve financial intermediation and expand opportunities for “development type” finance
* Revitalising existing Industrial Sites, Establish Regional Industrial Sites and provide incentives for job creation opportunities
* Focusing on downstream, value-added industries in agriculture, forestry, and mining sectors
* Incentivising foreign investment specific to employment creation

The PPP/C has also placed emphasis on governance and improved and efficient access to Government services and has placed as priority its vision for all Guyanese to enjoy the goods and services offered by the Government so that the quality of their lives will be consistently improving.
“We need to engage more young people in the benefits of our public service and civic life, while achieving greater diversity at all levels of governance…We aim to restore trust in Parliament and its members, and reform the institutions of our Government to bring people in, not shut them out…We will devolve power from Georgetown down to our regions, towns and local communities.”

The PPP/C holds the view that Guyana is on a journey to a brighter future and “the 2015 Elections provide us with an opportunity to keep moving forward on a development trajectory that guarantees a better and longer life for every citizen. We invite you to join us with Our Vision: Guyana Version 2.0 so that Guyana stays on course to become an upper middle income country.”
According to the PPP/Cs Manifesto, a country is at its best when the bonds between its people are strong, stable, secure, and the sense of national purpose is clear.
“We have never been clearer about what we want – ONE GUYANA, ONE FUTURE: PEACE, PROGRESS AND PROSPERITY. This is Our Vision: Guyana Version 2.0. We can realise it together.”
Over the coming days, the Guyana Chronicle will be providing in-depth analyses of the PPP/C’s Election Manifesto, ‘Guyana Version 2.0’. (Gary Eleazar)