The astute leadership of the PPP/C Government, with President Bharrat Jagdeo at the helm, has created many buffers to cushion the devastating impacts of external trading and social dynamics from derailing the development programmes, and even growth patterns, of this country’s socio-economic graphs.

Many nations are reeling from the shockwaves of the global recession, but Guyana’s food security is assured, and our economy has been stable, with even some degree of growth.

Despite the dire prognostications of doomsayers and naysayers, the Government’s continuously-increasing investments in the agricultural sector, and the innovative initiatives by its ancillary arms, is redounding, in a major way, towards the enhancement of the lifestyles of citizens.

As the Government strategises to create and accelerate the dynamics of development through the continued investments in people power, President Jagdeo is also seeking a partnership with the citizens of the land to join in Government’s efforts to involve the citizens of the country to be an integral part of the development paradigm of the nation.

“Uniting Communities across the Country” – the theme of the Community Development Councils at its annual conference, held recently to celebrate its tenth anniversary, is evocative of the PPP/C Government’s drive to incorporate people’s power in national development imperatives.

The latest release of tens of millions of dollars to the City Council, as well as the President’s promise of more monetary allocations for CDC’s, is a commitment to the people of the land by the Leader of the land to the enhancement of their existential landscape, the success of which co-operative endeavour at the grassroots level is an imperative.

But working with the grassroots has always been the PPP tradition, and service to the people has always been the paramount consideration in all the endeavours of the PPP, beginning from the first foray into the socio-political arena by the iconic Jagans, who chose well when they chose the young Bharrat Jagdeo to take up the mantle of leadership in the country.

He has not faltered in his responsibilities and his stewardship as guardian of this nation’s welfare is testimony to his commitment to the Jagan legacy of service to the nation above concern for self.

The CDC’s were formed by Government to involve members of communities in the care and development of their own communities, while simultaneously creating and providing jobs for the unemployed. The Councils allow for communities to be responsible for the governance of their designated areas of mandated authority.

If properly managed, with primary goals of self-development and autonomy of environmental, infrastructural and social management, in addition to consideration for sound fiscal practices and uncompromising accountability, each community of the nation can maximize and exploit their peculiar potentials to optimal levels.

This could provide the impetus and serve as a catalyst for the restoration of commitment to personal and communal development whereby citizens could enhance their lives and lifestyles through individual and collective efforts and thus restore the healthy social/economic environment of communities across the land, which will of course redound to the benefit of the entire nation.

Benefits will include a reduced crime rate, unwed pregnancy rate, school dropout rate, suicide rate, abuse rate, stress-related medical rate, among many others.

At the gala flag-raising ceremony on Monday night to usher in Guyana’s 43rd Independence anniversary, President Jagdeo urged older citizens to try to inculcate into future generations the patriotism needed to ensure that Guyana remain a truly free state.

President Jagdeo told the audience that Government’s priority remained the preservation and advancement of the welfare gains attained over the years.

He said the Government will continue to make investments aimed at enhancing the quality of life for our citizens, especially the vulnerable.

Adumbrating the difficulties, challenges and pitfalls that the country has faced over recent years, the President also reiterated that catastrophic international occurrences did not derail Guyana’s momentum of growth, but that the triumphs are defined in the actualization of Government’s developmental programmes.

The President said: “We have come a long way since Independence because of the efforts of our people, but much more progress can be made if we have a supportive political environment. Our people’s desire for a better life imposes upon us the obligation to pursue greater national unity and co-operation.”

However, this has always proven to be an elusive dream of the PPP leaders, so while they urge and encourage other political leaders toward more cooperative endeavours to better the life of the Guyanese people, it is also incumbent upon the peoples of Guyana to recognize that their leaders sometimes fail them and it is to the benefit of everyone if citizens acknowledge that unity and cooperation with Government’s development strategies at the grassroots level, despite diverse political affiliations, can fructify in personal, communal, and national development, where everyone wins.