THE 2011 budget represents the vision the PPP/C government has for Guyana’s development. It further encapsulates Dr. Jagdeo’s initiative regarding green development based on a Low Carbon Development Strategy. Like every country Guyana has its fair share of problems, but compared to other countries Guyana’s development can easily be classified as exemplary.
From a nation whose treasury was empty, infrastructure was dilapidated and infant mortality rate was perhaps one of the highest, this nation has risen like the perennial phoenix above all odds. The World Bank in its 1994 report referring to the 1988-1992 period asserted that “The government’ capacity to deliver essential services has virtually collapsed. Infrastructure remains severely dilapidated. The supply of potable water is limited to a small proportion of the population, drainage and irrigation systems have deteriorated to the point that they are no longer useful, and health and education services have become so inadequate that social indicators for the country have fallen to among the lowest in the Caribbean.”
Today the distribution of land for housing has continued and the construction of new housing has continued at a brisk pace. Guyana can boast of having one of the largest housing programmes in the world which has not only encompassed new housing schemes but the regularisation of squatter settlements thereby saving them from growing into slums. Guyana’s housing programme can be viewed as a model to be emulated by other so called developed countries that have rendered their citizens homeless as a result of their greed.
Infrastructure development has been an area of significant emphasis of the Government. Quite apart from providing protection (from the Atlantic) and comfort (roads) for our people, development in this area provides necessary aids to investment. Drainage and irrigation works maintenance of airstrips and interior roads, farm to market roads, even a better and cheaper competitive communications system are areas where there have been significant developments.
Our health sector is comparable to any and our education sector can be judged on the face of sheer results in the examinations.
Enter Christopher Ram who has questioned the Honourable Dr. Ashni Singh’s budget presentation where he mentioned inter alia that Guyana experienced growth over the past year. Mr. Ram must be aware of Dr. Singh’s credentials academic as well as professional. It’s impeccable. Mr. Ram has not questioned the IMF and the World Bank in their commendations for the growth of Guyana’s economy, yet he chooses to engage the Honourable Minister. His arguments represent those of a new breed of politicians who have recently emerged, where they view everything from a negative perspective. Ram chooses to nit pick at the Honourable Minister’s presentation ignoring the obvious development that Guyana has recorded since 19992.
It’s as if he cannot see beyond his nose and his comments are by and large politically biased and motivated.