FOR all the separate and joint acts by the parliamentary Opposition to undermine Guyana’s continuing strides for further social and economic progress, it is heartening to know that investors’ confidence—local and foreign—remain strong.Simultaneously, vital sectors, like education, continue to be a pace-setter, as the latest results of the Caribbean Examinations Council have once again demonstrated. Thanks, of course, to the commitment and competence of our teachers and students and the policies and programmes of the Ministry of Education.
By continuing with their petty acts to sabotage national progress, including their refusal to enable passage of the anti-money laundering legislation, the APNU/AFC coalition must be aware that they are destined to pay a heavy political price in the months ahead for this blackmailing of Guyana’s efforts to have internationally-required fiscal policies in place.
Yesterday, while the Ministry of Education was proudly announcing Guyana’s success in again capturing multiple regional CSEC awards, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment was reporting the conclusion of further investments in the nation’s mining sector.
This time the news related to the US$43 million investment by the Australian mining company, Troy Resources Guyana Inc with a further US$27 million to complete operations as partnership confidence deepens.
Meanwhile, the standoff continues over the childish politicking by the APNU/AFC leadership to jeopardise Guyana’s international standing in relation to have functioning legislation consistent with what’s required by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
A plenary session of the FATF is scheduled for October 18-24 in Paris, and the outcome is expected to  be posted on the institution’s website on October 30.
It is most puzzling why the APNU/AFC coalition remains so stubbornly anti-national in withholding support for required passage of the AMLC/FT bill. It cannot be that they have sunk into a fatalistic mood about their own future, even before preliminary arrangements could begin for new parliamentary elections.
Nevertheless, we join in celebrating, with the successful students, teachers and schools, the inspiring achievements announced for the repeat extraordinary performances for the May/June 2014 CSEC examinations.
They have, once again, done Guyana very proud and it is quite encouraging and appropriate to know that this nation will have the honour to host the forthcoming CXC governance meetings and awards ceremony. In this context, we extend special congratulations to all successful students and schools in particular the quartet of top achievers of Regional awards.
It is a time to celebrate achievements and ignore the traditional spoilers.