OVER the last three years, we have witnessed a National Assembly under a minority Government. The majority Opposition, made up of the Alliance For Change (AFC) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), monopolised the passing of bills and projects within the National Assembly. What we have seen is not an Opposition made of two separate parties, but a sort of unified Opposition to monopolise the National Assembly. They operated under the pretence that they are serving the best interest of the people, while implementing cuts to the budget that will directly impact the lives of Guyanese in a positive way. Among these are the very important Amaila Falls Hydropower Project, The Cheddi Jagan International Airport Expansion Project and the passing of the Anti-Money Laundering/ Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill. I would like to highlight the robbery of Guyanese and how our country has been held back significantly by these opposing parties.
We are at a pivotal time in our history where our country is heavily reliant on electricity. We need electricity to power factories, offices and most personal devices. Guyana’s development has been stymied by our heavy dependency on fossil fuel electricity generation. The import bill for fossil fuels eats large chunks of our GDP. Cheap, renewable and reliable electricity is important to every country. If these conditions are there, development will be fostered in the country. Cheap and reliable power means lower cost of production, more disposable income for families, and an overall better environment for investors. The Government proposed a project, something Guyanese have been dreaming about for decades, a hydroelectric generation facility! The Amaila Falls Hydropower Project is a project with the future in mind. It would’ve provided us with 165 MW of clean and renewable energy. This would’ve led to a transformation of Guyana. Cheaper prices for power means lower cost of locally produced goods, smaller power bills, less blackouts, and overall more money in the pockets of residents of Guyana. By stalling this project, the combined Opposition held us back as a country.
Airports are the heart of international transport networks for people. Airports are important facilities; the first impressions of countries are usually made at the airport. It is therefore pivotal that the airport of a country is kept most modern and up to standard. The Government of Guyana proposed a project to modernise the airport. This project included a modern airport terminal, an expanded runway to accommodate bigger commercial airlines, to offer better security and future proof the airport. In an unexpected move the Opposition turned down this project. This leaves the country lagging behind the rest of the Caribbean in the air transport sector. Why does Guyana have to wait on development?
The Opposition also stalled the passing of the Anti-Money Laundering/ Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill. This bill was designed to meet an international standard. The stalling of this bill almost got our country blacklisted. Guyana was placed on the bill for review. The blacklisting of Guyana would have led to problems with foreign transactions such as difficulties banking. It would have led to increase in prices of commodities locally, and our currency would have inflated. What kind of an Opposition wants this?
It doesn’t end here. The “no confidence” motion that would have been filed means that all the other plans of the current Government are nullified eg. attaining universal secondary education. Had it not been for the Opposition, we would have been well on our way to a lot of great things. It’s a shame that we have been held back over the past three years.

DAVENDRA KISSOON